Production of charmed mesons in Z decays

The production of charmed mesons {Mathematical expression}, D±, and D*± is studied in a sample of 478,000 hadronic Z decays. The production rates are measured to be {Mathematical expression} where the errors from this analysis are separated from those coming from the D branching ratios (BR). The D*± momentum distribution is extracted separately for {Mathematical expression} and {Mathematical expression} events with the help of event shape variables. It is consistent with the prediction of the JETSET Monte Carlo program after adjustment of the charm fragmentation function. Constraining the shape of the {Mathematical expression} contribution, the average fraction of the beam energy taken by a D* meson produced in the fragmentation of a charm quark is extracted by a parametric fit to be c=0.495±0.011±0.007. Evidence for D**0 (D1(2420)0 and/or D2 *(2460)0) production is found in the {Mathematical expression} channel, accounting for a fraction (18±5±2)% of all D*± production. The relative production of vector and pseudoscalar mesons is dicussed, together with the possible effects of D** production. The c-quark forward-backward Z-pole asymmetry is detrmined from that of high momentum D*± to be AFB 0,c=(7.7±4.4)%.