K. G. Chetyrkin

Strong coupling constant with flavor thresholds at four loops in the MS scheme

We present in analytic form the matching conditions for the strong-coupling constant alpha_s^(n_f)(mu) at the flavor thresholds to four loops in the modified minimal-subtraction scheme. Taking into account the present knowledge on the coefficient beta_4 of the Callan-Symanzik beta function of quantum chromo-dynamics, we thus derive a five-loop formula for alpha_s^(n_f)(mu) together with appropriate relationships between the asymptotic scale parameters Lambda^(n_f) for different numbers of flavors n_f.

Order alphas4 QCD corrections to Z and tau decays.

Using recently developed methods for the evaluation of five-loop amplitudes in perturbative QCD, corrections of order alpha_s^4 for the cross section of electron-positron annihilation into hadrons and for the decay rates of the Z-boson and the tau-lepton into hadrons are evaluated. The new terms lead to a significant stabilization of the perturbative series, to a reduction of the theory uncertainly in the strong coupling constant alpha_s, as extracted from these measurements, and to a small shift of the central value, moving two central values closer together. The agreement between two values of alpha_s measured at vastly different energies constitutes a striking test of asymptotic freedom. Combining the results from Z and tau decays we find alpha_s(M_Z)=0.1198 \pm 0.0015 as one of the most precise and presently only result for the strong coupling constant in order alpha_s^4.

Scalar correlator at [symbol: see text](alpha(s)4), Higgs boson decay into bottom quarks, and bounds on the light-quark masses.

We compute, for the first time, the absorptive part of the massless correlator of two quark scalar currents in five loops. As physical applications, we consider the [symbol: see text](alpha(s)4) corrections to the decay rate of the standard model Higgs boson into quarks, as well as the constraints on the strange quark mass following from QCD sum rules.

Mass corrections to the Z decay rate

In this note radiative corrections to the total hadronic decay rate of the τ-lepton are studied employing perturbative QCD and the operator product expansion. We calculate quadratic quark mass corrections to the decay rate rationRτ to the order0(αs2m2) and find that they contribute appreciably to the Cabbibo supressed decay modes of the τ-lepton. We also discuss corrections of mass dimensionD=4, where we emphasize the need of a suitable choice of the renormalization scale of the quark and gluon condensates.

Hadronic Z- and tau-Decays in Order alpha_s^4

Using recently developed methods for the evaluation of five-loop amplitudes in perturbative QCD, corrections of order alpha_s^4 for the cross section of electron-positron annihilation into hadrons and for the decay rates of the Z-boson and the tau-lepton into hadrons are evaluated. The new terms lead to a significant stabilization of the perturbative series, to a reduction of the theory uncertainly in the strong coupling constant alpha_s, as extracted from these measurements, and to a small shift of the central value, moving two central values closer together. The agreement between two values of alpha_s measured at vastly different energies constitutes a striking test of asymptotic freedom. Combining the results from Z and tau decays we find alpha_s(M_Z)=0.1198 \pm 0.0015 as one of the most precise and presently only result for the strong coupling constant in order alpha_s^4.

Scalar Correlator at O({alpha}{sub s}{sup 4}), Higgs Boson Decay into Bottom Quarks, and Bounds on the Light-Quark Masses

We compute, for the first time, the absorptive part of the massless correlator of two quark scalar currents in five loops. As physical applications, we consider the [symbol: see text](alpha(s)4) corrections to the decay rate of the standard model Higgs boson into quarks, as well as the constraints on the strange quark mass following from QCD sum rules.

Adler function, Bjorken sum rule, and the Crewther relation to order alpha(s)(4) in a general gauge theory.

We compute, for the first time, the order alpha(s)(4) contributions to the Bjorken sum rule for polarized electron-nucleon scattering and to the (nonsinglet) Adler function for the case of a generic color gauge group. We confirm at the same order a (generalized) Crewther relation which provides a strong test of the correctness of our previously obtained results: the QCD Adler function and the five-loop beta function in quenched QED. In particular, the appearance of an irrational contribution proportional to zeta(3) in the latter quantity is confirmed. We obtain the commensurate scale equation relating the effective strong coupling constants as inferred from the Bjorken sum rule and from the Adler function at order alpha(s)(4).

Five-Loop Running of the QCD coupling constant

We analytically compute the five-loop term in the beta function which governs the running of α_{s}-the quark-gluon coupling constant in QCD. The new term leads to a reduction of the theory uncertainty in α_{s} taken at the Z-boson scale as extracted from the τ-lepton decays as well as to new, improved by one more order of perturbation theory, predictions for the effective coupling constants of the standard model Higgs boson to gluons and for its total decay rate to the quark-antiquark pairs.

Quartic mass corrections to

The total cross section for the production of massive quarks in electron positron annihilation can be predicted in perturbative QCD. After expansion in m^2/s the quartic terms, i.e. those proportional to m^4/s^2, are calculated up to order \alpha_s^3 for vector and axial current induced rates. Predictions relevant for charm, bottom and top quarks production are presented. The \alpha_s^3 corrections are shown to be comparable to terms of order \alpha_s and \alpha_s^2. As a consequence, the predictions exhibit a sizeable dependence on the renormalization scale. The stability of the prediction is improved and, at the same time, the relative size of the large order terms decreases by replacing the running mass \bar{m}(\mu) with the scheme independent invariant one \hat{m}. By combining these results with the prediction for massless case and the quadratic mass terms the cross section for massive quark production at electron positron colliders is put under control in order \alpha_s^3 from the high energy region down to fairly low energies.

R_{had}

We present the first genuine QCD five-loop calculation of the vacuum polarization functions: analytical terms of order alpha(4)(s)n(2)(f) to the absorptive parts of vector and scalar correlators. These corrections form an important gauge-invariant subset of the full omicron(alpha(4)(s)) correction to e(+)e(-) annihilation into hadrons and the Higgs decay rate into hadrons, respectively. They discriminate between different widely used estimates of the full result.