Z-]B(B)OVER-BAR AND Z-]C(C)OVER-BAR AS TESTS OF THE STANDARD MODEL AND THE MASS OF THE HIGGS-BOSON

We consider the decays Z --> <b(b)over bar> and Z --> <c(c)over bar> a s tests of the Standard Model (SM). We find that R(b) = 0.2145 and R(c ) = 0.1719. Comparing with recent experimental measurements, we find t hat R(b)(exp) is too high by only (1.4 sigma) and R(c)(exp) is too low by only (0.1 sigma). (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.