Leading QCD-induced four-loop contributions to the β\beta-function of the Higgs self-coupling in the SM and vacuum stability

We present analytical results for the leading top-Yukawa and QCD contribution to the $\beta$-function for the Higgs self-coupling $\lambda$ of the Standard Model at four-loop level, namely the part $\propto y_t^4 g_s^6$ independently confirming a result given in [1]. We also give the contribution $\propto y_t^2 g_s^6$ of the anomalous dimension of the Higgs field as well as the terms $\propto y_t g_s^8$ to the top-Yukawa $\beta$-function which can also be derived from the anomalous dimension of the top quark mass. We compare the results with the RG functions of the correlators of two and four scalar currents in pure QCD and find a new relation between the anomalous dimension $\gamma_0$ of the QCD vacuum energy and the anomalous dimension $\gamma_m^{SS}$ appearing in the RG equation of the correlator of two scalar currents. Together with the recently computed top-Yukawa and QCD contributions to $\beta_{g_s}$ [2,3] the $\beta$-functions presented here constitute the leading four-loop contributions to the evolution of the Higgs self-coupling. A numerical estimate of these terms at the scale of the top-quark mass is presented as well as an analysis of the impact on the evolution of $\lambda$ up to the Planck scale and the vacuum stability problem.Comment: v2: This is the version accepted by JHEP; extended discussion of the numerics and vacuum stability analysis; references added; plot adde

The structure of generic anomalous dimensions and no-π\pi theorem for massless propagators

Extending an argument of [Baikov:2010hf] for the case of 5-loop massless propagators we prove a host of new exact model-independent relations between contributions proportional to odd and even zetas in generic \MSbar\ anomalous dimensions as well as in generic massless correlators. In particular, we find a new remarkable connection between coefficients in front of $\zeta_3$ and $\zeta_4$ in the 4-loop and 5-loop contributions to the QCD $\beta$-function respectively. It leads to a natural explanation of a simple mechanics behind mysterious cancellations of the $\pi$-dependent terms in one-scale Renormalization Group (RG) invariant Euclidian quantities recently discovered in \cite{Jamin:2017mul}. We give a proof of this no-$\pi$ theorem for a general case of (not necessarily scheme-independent) one-scale massless correlators. All $\pi$-dependent terms in the {\bf six-loop} coefficient of an anomalous dimension (or a $\beta$-function) are shown to be explicitly expressible in terms of lower order coefficients for a general one-charge theory. For the case of a scalar $O(n)$ $\phi^4$ theory all our predictions for $\pi$-dependent terms in 6-loop anomalous dimensions are in full agreement with recent results of [Batkovich:2016jus],[Schnetz:2016fhy],[Kompaniets:2017yct].Comment: 25 page

Four-loop renormalization of QCD with a reducible fermion representation of the gauge group: anomalous dimensions and renormalization constants

We present analytical results at four-loop level for the renormalization constants and anomalous dimensions of an extended QCD model with one coupling constant and an arbitrary number of fermion representations. One example of such a model is the QCD plus gluinos sector of a supersymmetric theory where the gluinos are Majorana fermions in the adjoint representation of the gauge group. The renormalization constants of the gauge boson, ghost and fermion fields are analytically computed as well as those for the ghost-gluon vertex, the fermion-gluon vertex and the fermion mass. All other renormalization constants can be derived from these. Some of these results were already produced in Feynman gauge for the computation of the beta-function of this model, which was recently published. Here we present results for an arbitrary gauge parameter.Comment: v2: version accepted by JHEP, extended discussion of the treatment of Majorana spinor

Singlet Polarization Functions at O(\alpha_s^2)

We consider the three-loop singlet diagrams induced by axial-vector, scalar and pseudo-scalar currents. Expansions for small and large external momentum $q$ are presented. They are used in combination with conformal mapping and Pad\'e approximations in order to arrive at results for the polarization functions valid for all $q^2$. Results are presented for the imaginary parts which are directly related to physical quantities like the production of top quarks or the decay of scalar or pseudo-scalar Higgs bosons.Comment: LaTeX, 15 pages, 10 figures included as ps-files. The complete paper is also available via anonymous ftp at ftp://ttpux2.physik.uni-karlsruhe.de/ , or via www at http://www-ttp.physik.uni-karlsruhe.de/cgi-bin/preprints

Precise Charm- and Bottom-Quark Masses: Theoretical and Experimental Uncertainties

Recent theoretical and experimental improvements in the determination of charm and bottom quark masses are discussed. A new and improved evaluation of the contribution from the gluon condensate $$ to the charm mass determination and a detailed study of potential uncertainties in the continuum cross section for $b\bar b$ production is presented, together with a study of the parametric uncertainty from the $\alpha_s$-dependence of our results. The final results, $m_c(3 \text{GeV})=986(13)$MeV and $m_b(m_b)=4163(16)$MeV, represent, together with a closely related lattice determination $m_c(3\;{\rm GeV})=986(6)$MeV, the presently most precise determinations of these two fundamental Standard Model parameters. A critical analysis of the theoretical and experimental uncertainties is presented.Comment: 12 pages, presented at Quarks~2010, 16th International Seminar of High Energy Physics, Kolomna, Russia, June 6-12, 2010; v2: references adde