The Algebraic Method

Combining the effect of an intermediate renormalization prescription (zero momentum subtraction) and the background field method (BFM), we show that the algebraic renormalization procedure needed for the computation of radiative corrections within non-invariant regularization schemes is drastically simplified. The present technique is suitable for gauge models and, here, is applied to the Standard Model. The use of the BFM allows a powerful organization of the counterterms and avoids complicated Slavnov-Taylor identities. Furthermore, the Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) variation of background fields plays a special role in disentangling Ward-Takahashi identities (WTI) and Slavnov-Taylor identities (STI). Finally, the strategy to be applied to physical processes is exemplified for the process $b\to s\gamma$.Comment: Latex, 38 page

Ghost contributions to charmonium production in polarized high-energy collisions

In a previous paper [Phys. Rev. D 68, 034017 (2003)], we investigated the inclusive production of prompt J/psi mesons in polarized hadron-hadron, photon-hadron, and photon-photon collisions in the factorization formalism of nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics providing compact analytic results for the double longitudinal-spin asymmetry A_{LL}. For convenience, we adopted a simplified expression for the tensor product of the gluon polarization four-vector with its charge conjugate, at the expense of allowing for ghost and anti-ghosts to appear as external particles. While such ghost contributions cancel in the cross section asymmetry A_{LL} and thus were not listed in our previous paper, they do contribute to the absolute cross sections. For completeness and the reader's convenience, they are provided in this addendum.Comment: 5 page

Four-loop relation between the MSˉ\bar{\rm MS} and on-shell quark mass

In this contribution we discuss the four-loop relation between the on-shell and $\bar{\rm MS}$ definition of heavy quark masses which is applied to the top, bottom and charm case. We also present relations between the $\bar{\rm MS}$ quark mass and various threshold mass definitions and discuss the uncertainty at next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, to appear in the proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Radiative Corrections (Radcor 2015) and LoopFest XIV (Radiative Corrections for the LHC and Future Colliders

A planar four-loop form factor and cusp anomalous dimension in QCD

We compute the fermionic contribution to the photon-quark form factor to four-loop order in QCD in the planar limit in analytic form. From the divergent part of the latter the cusp and collinear anomalous dimensions are extracted. Results are also presented for the finite contribution. We briefly describe our method to compute all planar master integrals at four-loop order.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures, v2: typo in (2.3) fixed and coefficients in (2.6) corrected; references added and correcte

Quark mass relations to four-loop order

We present results for the relation between a heavy quark mass defined in the on-shell and $\bar{\rm MS}$ scheme to four-loop order. The method to compute the four-loop on-shell integral is briefly described and the new results are used to establish relations between various short-distance masses and the $\bar{\rm MS}$ quark mass to next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order accuracy. These relations play an important role in the accurate determination of the $\bar{\rm MS}$ heavy quark masses.Comment: 6 pages, v2: references added, typos in eq.(16) fixed, matches published versio

Four-loop quark form factor with quartic fundamental colour factor

We analytically compute the four-loop QCD corrections for the colour structure $(d_F^{abcd})^2$ to the massless non-singlet quark form factor. The computation involves non-trivial non-planar integral families which have master integrals in the top sector. We compute the master integrals by introducing a second mass scale and solving differential equations with respect to the ratio of the two scales. We present details of our calculational procedure. Analytical results for the cusp and collinear anomalous dimensions, and the finite part of the form factor are presented. We also provide analytic results for all master integrals expanded up to weight eight.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figure

Three-loop massive form factors: complete light-fermion and large-NcN_c corrections for vector, axial-vector, scalar and pseudo-scalar currents

We compute the three-loop QCD corrections to the massive quark form factors with external vector, axial-vector, scalar and pseudo-scalar currents. All corrections with closed loops of massless fermions are included. The non-fermionic part is computed in the large-$N_c$ limit, where only planar Feynman diagrams contribute.Comment: 33 page