QCD studies using a cone-based jet finding algorithm for e⁺e^- collisons at LEP

We describe a cone-based jet finding algorithm (similar to that used in {Mathematical expression}p experiments), which we have applied to hadronic events recorded using the OPAL detector at LEP. Comparisons are made between jets defined with the cone algorithm and jets found by the "JADE" and "Durham" jet finders usually used in e⁺e^- experiments. Measured jet rates, as a function of the cone size and as a function of the minimum jet energy, have been compared with O(α_s ²) calculations, from which two complementary measurements {Mathematical expression} have been made. The results are {Mathematical expression}=0.116±0.008 and {Mathematical expression}=0.119±0.008 respectively, where the errors include both experimental and theoretical uncertainties. Measurements are presented of the energy flow inside jets defined using the cone algorithm, and compared with equivalent data from {Mathematical expression}p interactions, reported by the CDF collaboration. We find that the jets in e⁺e^- are significantly narrower than those observed in {Mathematical expression}p. The main contribution to this effect appears to arise from differences between quark- and gluon-induced jets.