QCD studies with $e^{+}e^{-}$ annihilation data from 130 to 183 GeV

QCD studies with e+e- annihilation data from 130 to 183 GeV The ALEPH Collaboration Properties of hadronic events produced at LEP at centre-of-mass energies of 130, 136, 161, 172 and 183 GeV are studied and compared with QCD predictions. Distributions of event-shape observables, jet rates, particle momentum spectra and multiplicities are presented and compared to the predictions of several Monte Carlo models and analytic QCD calculations. From a fit of O(\alpha_s^2)+ NLLA QCD calculations to distributions of event-shape variables, alpha_s has been determined at various energies. The mean charged particle multiplicities and the peak positions xi^* of the xi = -ln x_p distribution have also been determined. These results have been compared to lower energy data and to analytic QCD or Monte Carlo predictions for their energy evolution.