Measurement of σ total in e+e− annihilations below 10.56 GeV

Using the CLEO III detector, we measure absolute cross sections for e+e− → hadrons at seven center-of-mass energies between 6.964 and 10.538 GeV. R, the ratio of hadronic and muon pair production cross sections, is measured at these energies with a r.m.s. error <2% allowing determinations of the strong coupling α s. Using the expected evolution of α s with energy we find α s (MZ2 = 0.126 ± -0.011+0.015, and Λ = 0.31 -0.08-0.21+0.09+0.29.