The Bjorken Sum Rule in the Analytic Approach to Perturbative QCD

Results of applying analytic perturbation theory (APT) to the Bjorken sum rule are presented. We study the third-order QCD correction within the analytic approach and investigate its renormalization scheme dependence. We demonstrate that, in the framework of the method, theoretical predictions of the Bjorken sum rule are, practically, scheme independent for the entire interval of momentum transfer.Comment: 12 pages, 3 eps figures, uses elsart.cl

Can the QCD Effective Charge Be Symmetrical in the Euclidean and the Minkowskian Regions?

We study a possible symmetrical behavior of the effective charges defined in the Euclidean and Minkowskian regions and prove that such symmetry is inconsistent with the causality principle.Comment: 5 pages, REVTe

Analytic Properties of the QCD Running Coupling Constant and τ\tau Decay

A non-perturbative expansion method which gives a well-defined analytic continuation of the running coupling constant from the spacelike to the timelike region is applied to the inclusive semileptonic decay of the $\tau$--lepton. The method allows us to evaluate $R_{\tau}$ by integration over the non-perturbative physical region, rather than by using Cauchy's theorem, and hence to incorporate threshold effects in a very direct way. Within our framework the difference between the effective coupling constants in the timelike and spacelike domains can be substantial and is not simply a matter of the standard $\pi^2$ terms.Comment: LaTeX, 11 page