Bose-Einstein correlations in W-pair decays with an event-mixing technique

Bose-Einstein correlations in W-pair decays are studied using data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP at e+e− centre-of-mass energies from 183 to 209 GeV. The analysis is based on the comparison of WW→qq¯qq¯ events to “mixed” events constructed with the hadronic part of WW→qq¯ℓν events. The data are in agreement with the hypothesis that Bose-Einstein correlations are present only for pions from the same W decay. The JETSET model with Bose-Einstein correlations between pions from different W bosons is disfavoured.