Production of $D_{s1}^{\pm}$ and $D_{s2} ^{*\pm}$ mesons in hadronic Z decays

In a sample of 4.1 million hadronic Z decays recorded in the years 1991 to 1995 Ds1+- and Ds2*+- mesons are observed in the decay channels Ds1+- -> D*0 K+, Ds1+- -> D*+ K0s, and Ds2*+- -> D0 K+. The production rates for XE>0.3 in hadronic decays are estimated. The production rates of Ds1+- and Ds2*+- from charm quark fragmentation and from decays of b hadrons are derived from the observation in c and b enriched event samples. The Monte Carlo is used to subtract the remaining fraction of Ds** mesons from other flavours and to extrapolate to the full energy region.