Indications for an Anomalous Right-Handed Coupling of the b-Quark from a Model Independent Analysis of LEP and SLD Data on Z-Decays

A model independent analysis is made using the LEP and SLD data on Z decays available at the end of 1996. The effective weak coupling constants of leptons, c quarks and b quarks are extracted. Except for the right-handed b quark coupling, they all agree well with the predictions of the Standard Electroweak Model for $m_t=172$ GeV and $m_H=263$ GeV. The right-handed b quark coupling is found to be 42% and 3.2 standard deviations above the Standard Model prediction.