Compton scattering of quasi-real virtual photons at LEP

Compton scattering of quasi-real virtual photons, γe±→γe±, is studied with 0.6 fb−1 of data collected by the L3 detector at the LEP e+e− collider at centre-of-mass energies s=189-209GeV. About 4500 events produced by the interaction of virtual photons emitted by e± of one beam with e∓ of the opposite beam are collected for effective centre-of-mass energies of the photon-electron and photon-positron systems in the range from s′=35GeV up to s′=175GeV, the highest energy at which Compton scattering was ever probed. The cross sections of the γe±→γe± process as a function of s′ and of the rest-frame scattering angle are measured, combined with previous L3 measurements down to s′≃20GeV, and found to agree with the QED expectations.