Jet physics at LEP

Abstract

The results of studies of the jet structure of hadronic Z° decays performed in the first year of LEP operation are reviewed. The measurements of the QCD coupling constant α 8 (M z ) and the detection of the presence of the triple gluon vertex are summarized. After a brief review of the promising status of QCD in relation to even the very soft processes, the running of the coupling constants to high energy is considered in the context of grand unified theories. The necessity and importance of further theoretical work is stressed.