We report the first direct measurement of $b\overline{b}$ rapidity correlations in $p\overline{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=1.8\mathrm{}\mathrm{TeV}.$ We select events with a high transverse momentum muon accompanied by a jet, and a second jet associated with a decay vertex displaced from the $p\overline{p}$ interaction vertex. Two independent samples are obtained corresponding to events with a forward $(2.0<|\eta |<2.6)$ or central $(|\eta |<0.6)$ muon. We measure the ratio of forward to central $b\overline{b}$ production to be $0.361\pm 0.033\left(\mathrm{stat}{)}_{-0.031}^{+0.015\mathrm{}}\right(\mathrm{syst}),$ in good agreement with the next-to-leading order QCD prediction ${0.338}_{-0.097}^{+0.014\mathrm{}}.$

• Received 7 December 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.61.032001