Compton scattering of quasi-real virtual photons at LEP

Compton scattering of quasi-real virtual photons, gamma e(+/-) -> gamma e(+/-), 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 root s = 189-209 GeV. 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 root s' = 35 GeV up to root s' = 175 GeV, the highest energy at which Compton scattering was ever probed. The cross sections of the gamma e(+/-) -> gamma e(+/-) process as a function of root s' and of the rest-frame scattering angle are measured, combined with previous U measurements down to root s' similar or equal to 20 GeV, and found to agree with the QED expectations. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.