QCD tests in tau decays with optimized perturbation expansion

The next-to-next-to-leading order perturbative QCD corrections to R_tau and the higher moments of the invariant mass distribution in the hadronic tau decays are considered. The renormalization scheme dependence of these corrections is discussed. The optimized predictions are obtained, using the principle of minimal sensitivity as a guide to select the preferred renormalization scheme. A simplified fit is performed, using R_tau and R^12_tau, to see how the use of the optimized expansion may affect the determination of the alpha_s and the dimension six condensates from the experimental data.Comment: 6 pages in LateX, 4 PostScript figures embedded in text, uses espcrc2.sty (included), to appear in the Proceedings of the Fourth International Workshop on Tau Lepton Physics, 16-19 September 1996, Estes Park, Colorado, U.S.

Resummation of Nonalternating Divergent Perturbative Expansions

A method for the resummation of nonalternating divergent perturbation series is described. The procedure constitutes a generalization of the Borel-Pad\'{e} method. Of crucial importance is a special integration contour in the complex plane. Nonperturbative imaginary contributions can be inferred from the purely real perturbative coefficients. A connection is drawn from the quantum field theoretic problem of resummation to divergent perturbative expansions in other areas of physics.Comment: 5 pages, LaTeX, 2 tables, 1 figure; discussion of the Carleman criterion added; version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Renormalization scheme dependence and the problem of determination of alpha_s and the condensates from the semileptonic tau decays

The QCD corrections to the moments of the invariant mass distribution in the semileptonic $\tau$ decays are considered. The effect of the renormalization scheme dependence on the fitted values of alpha_s(m^2_tau) and the condensates is discussed, using a simplified approach where the nonperturbative contributions are approximated by the dimension six condensates. The fits in the vector and the axial-vector channel are investigated in the next-to-leading and the next-to-next-to-leading order. The next-to-next-to-leading order results are found to be relatively stable with respect to change of the renormalization scheme. A change from the MS-bar scheme to the minimal sensitivity scheme results in the reduction of the extracted value of alpha_s(m^2_tau) by 0.01.Comment: Some typographical errors have been corrected, including two small misprints in table 1 and table 2 and one in Eq.15. 20 pages Latex, 5 figure

Resummation of the Divergent Perturbation Series for a Hydrogen Atom in an Electric Field

We consider the resummation of the perturbation series describing the energy displacement of a hydrogenic bound state in an electric field (known as the Stark effect or the LoSurdo-Stark effect), which constitutes a divergent formal power series in the electric field strength. The perturbation series exhibits a rich singularity structure in the Borel plane. Resummation methods are presented which appear to lead to consistent results even in problematic cases where isolated singularities or branch cuts are present on the positive and negative real axis in the Borel plane. Two resummation prescriptions are compared: (i) a variant of the Borel-Pade resummation method, with an additional improvement due to utilization of the leading renormalon poles (for a comprehensive discussion of renormalons see [M. Beneke, Phys. Rep. vol. 317, p. 1 (1999)]), and (ii) a contour-improved combination of the Borel method with an analytic continuation by conformal mapping, and Pade approximations in the conformal variable. The singularity structure in the case of the LoSurdo-Stark effect in the complex Borel plane is shown to be similar to (divergent) perturbative expansions in quantum chromodynamics.Comment: 14 pages, RevTeX, 3 tables, 1 figure; numerical accuracy of results enhanced; one section and one appendix added and some minor changes and additions; to appear in phys. rev.