Accurate estimation of the trilinear gauge couplings using optimal observables including detector effects

This paper describes the definition of maximum-likelihood equivalent estimators of the Trilinear Gauge Couplings which include detector effects. The asymptotic properties of these estimators as well as their unbiasedness and efficiency when dealing with finite statistical samples are demonstrated by Monte Carlo experimentation, using simulated events corresponding to the reaction e(+)e(-) --> q (q) over bar lv at 172 GeV. Emphasis is given to the determination of the expected efficiencies in extracting the alpha(W phi),alpha(W) and alpha(B phi) couplings from LEPII data, which in this particular case found to be close to the maximum possible. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.