6533b855fe1ef96bd12b1421
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Precision physics with inclusive QCD processes
Antonio Pichsubject
Quantum chromodynamicsPhysicsNuclear and High Energy PhysicsParticle physics010308 nuclear & particles physicsElectroweak interactionStrong interactionHigh Energy Physics::PhenomenologyFOS: Physical sciences01 natural sciencesAsymptotic freedomHigh Energy Physics - ExperimentStandard ModelHigh Energy Physics - PhenomenologyHigh Energy Physics - Experiment (hep-ex)High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)0103 physical sciencesHiggs bosonHigh Energy Physics::Experiment010306 general physicsLeptonBosondescription
The inclusive production of hadrons through electroweak currents can be rigorously analysed with short-distance theoretical tools. The associated observables are insensitive to the involved infrared behaviour of the strong interaction, allowing for very precise tests of Quantum Chromodynamics. The theoretical predictions for $\sigma(e^+e^-\to\mathrm{hadrons})$ and the hadronic decay widths of the $\tau$ lepton and the $Z$, $W$ and Higgs bosons have reached an impressive accuracy of $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s^4)$. Precise experimental measurements of the $Z$ and $\tau$ hadronic widths have made possible the accurate determination of the strong coupling at two very different energy scales, providing a highly significant experimental verification of asymptotic freedom. A detailed discussion of the theoretical description of these processes and their current phenomenological status is presented. The most precise determinations of $\alpha_s$ from other sources are also briefly reviewed and compared with the fully-inclusive results.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-03-01 |