alpha_s and the tau hadronic width: fixed-order, contour-improved and higher-order perturbation theory

dc.creatorBeneke, Martin
dc.creatorJamin, Matthias
dc.date2008-06-19
dc.date2008-08-29
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T12:24:18Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T12:24:18Z
dc.descriptionThe determination of $α_s$ from hadronic $τ$ decays is revisited, with a special emphasis on the question of higher-order perturbative corrections and different possibilities of resumming the perturbative series with the renormalisation group: fixed-order (FOPT) vs. contour-improved perturbation theory (CIPT). The difference between these approaches has evolved into a systematic effect that does not go away as higher orders in the perturbative expansion are added. We attempt to clarify under which circumstances one or the other approach provides a better approximation to the true result. To this end, we propose to describe the Adler function series by a model that includes the exactly known coefficients and theoretical constraints on the large-order behaviour originating from the operator product expansion and the renormalisation group. Within this framework we find that while CIPT is unable to account for the fully resummed series, FOPT smoothly approaches the Borel sum, before the expected divergent behaviour sets in at even higher orders. Employing FOPT up to the fifth order to determine $α_s$ in the $\MSb$ scheme, we obtain $α_s(M_τ)=0.320 {}^{+0.012}_{-0.007}$, corresponding to $α_s(M_Z) = 0.1185 {}^{+0.0014}_{-0.0009}$. Improving this result by including yet higher orders from our model yields $α_s(M_τ)=0.316 \pm 0.006$, which after evolution leads to $α_s(M_Z) = 0.1180 \pm 0.0008$. Our results are lower than previous values obtained from $τ$ decays.
dc.description42 pages, 9 figures; appendix on Adler function in the complex plane added. Version to appear in JHEP
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/0806.3156
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/0806.3156
dc.identifierJHEP 0809:044,2008
dc.identifierdoi:10.1088/1126-6708/2008/09/044
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/214283
dc.subjectHigh Energy Physics - Phenomenology
dc.subjectHigh Energy Physics - Experiment
dc.subjectHigh Energy Physics - Lattice
dc.titlealpha_s and the tau hadronic width: fixed-order, contour-improved and higher-order perturbation theory
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