R(s) and hadronic tau-Decays in Order alpha_s^4: technical aspects

We report on some technical aspects of our calculation of alpha_s^4 corrections to R(s) and the semi-leptonic tau decay width [1-3]. We discuss the inner structure of the result as well as the issue of its correctness. We demonstrate recently appeared independent evidence positively testing one of two components of the full result

Quartic Mass Corrections to RhadR_{had}

The influence of nonvanishing quark masses on the total cross section in electron positron collisions and on the $Z$ decay rate is calculated. The corrections are expanded in $m^2/s$ and \as. Methods similar to those applied for the quadratic mass terms allow to derive the corrections of order \as m^4/s^2 and \as^2m^4/s^2. Coefficients which depend logarithmically on $m^2/s$ and which cannot be absorbed in a running quark mass arise in order \as^2. The implications of these results on electron positron annihilation cross sections at LEP and at lower energies in particular between the charm and the bottom threshold and for energies several GeV above the $b\bar b$ threshold are discussed.Comment: 17 pages, LaTex (uses epsf.sty, figures appended as uuencoded ps- and eps-files). A complete postscript file, including figures, is available via anonymous ftp at ttpux2.physik.uni-karlsruhe.de (129.13.102.139) as /pub/ttp94-08/ttp94-08.ps, Local preprint# TTP94-0

Multi-Loop Results, Charm- and Bottom-Quark Masses and the Strong Coupling Constant

The impact of recent multi-loop calculations on precise determinations of charm- and bottom-quark masses and the strong coupling constant is discussed.Comment: ICHEP08 proceedin

Moments of heavy-light current correlators up to three loops

We consider moments of the non-diagonal vector, axial-vector, scalar and pseudo-scalar current correlators involving two different massive quark flavours up to three-loop accuracy. Expansions around the limits where one mass is zero and the equal-mass case are computed. These results are used to construct approximations valid for arbitrary mass values.Comment: 21 page

Beta functions and anomalous dimensions up to three loops

We derive an algorithm for automatic calculation of perturbative $\beta$-functions and anomalous dimensions in any local quantum field theory with canonical kinetic terms. The infrared rearrangement is performed by introducing a common mass parameter in all the propagator denominators. We provide a set of explicit formulae for all the necessary scalar integrals up to three loops.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figures, uses epsf.st

MATAD: a program package for the computation of MAssive TADpoles

In the recent years there has been an enormous development in the evaluation of higher order quantum corrections. An essential ingredient in the practical calculations is provided by vacuum diagrams, i.e. integrals without external momenta. In this paper a program package is described which can deal with one-, two- and three-loop vacuum integrals with one non-zero mass parameter. The principle structure is introduced and the main parts of the package are described in detail. Explicit examples demonstrate the fields of application.Comment: 37 pages, to be published in Comp. Phys. Commu

QCD Decoupling at Four Loops

We present the matching condition for the strong coupling contant alpha_s at a heavy quark threshold to four loops in the modified minimal subtraction scheme. Our results lead to further decrease of the theoretical uncertainty of the evolution of the strong coupling constant through heavy quark thresholds. Using a low energy theorem we furthermore derive the effective coupling of the Higgs boson to gluons (induced by a virtual heavy quark) in four- and (partially) through five-loop approximation.Comment: 21 pages, 2 figures, the complete paper is also available via the www at http://www-ttp.physik.uni-karlsruhe.de/Preprints

Recent progress in computing four-loop massive correlators

We report about recent progress in computing four-loop massive correlators. The expansion of these correlators in the external momentum leads to vacuum integrals. The calculation of these vacuum integrals can be used to determine Taylor expansion coefficients of the vacuum polarization function and decoupling functions in perturbative Quantum chromodynamics. New results at four-loop order for the lowest Taylor expansion coefficient of the vacuum polarization function and for the decoupling relation are presented.Comment: 4 pages, talk given at the 12th International Conference on Quantum Chromodynamics, Montpellier, 4-8th July 200