Search for unstable heavy and excited leptons in e + e − collisions at ∝s = 170-172 GeV

We have searched for unstable neutral and charged heavy leptons, N and L±, and for excited states of neutral and charged leptons, ν* e*, μ* and τ*, in e+e− collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 170 and 172 GeV using the OPAL detector at LEP. No evidence for their existence was found. From the analysis of charged-current decays of pair-produced unstable heavy leptons, and of charged-current and photonic decays of pair-produced excited leptons, lower limits on their masses are derived. From the analysis of charged-current and photonic decays of singly-produced excited leptons, upper limits on the ratio of the coupling to the compositeness scale, ϕ/λ, are determined for masses up to the kinematic limit.