First results on e^+e^- -> 3 jets at NNLO

TL;DR

This paper presents the first calculation of NNLO QCD corrections to three-jet production in electron-positron collisions, significantly improving theoretical precision for experimental data interpretation.

Contribution

It provides the initial NNLO (order alpha_s^3) theoretical predictions for three-jet production and event shapes in e+e- collisions, enhancing QCD analysis accuracy.

Findings

First NNLO corrections computed for e+e- -> 3 jets

Improved agreement between theory and experimental data

Enhanced precision in QCD parameter extraction

Abstract

Precision studies of QCD at $e^+e^-$ colliders are based on measurements of event shapes and jet rates. To match the high experimental accuracy, theoretical predictions to next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) in QCD are needed for a reliable interpretation of the data. We report the first calculation of NNLO corrections (${\cal O}(\alpha_s^3)$) to three-jet production and related event shapes, and discuss their phenomenological impact.