alpha_s and the tau hadronic width: fixed-order, contour-improved and higher-order perturbation theory

TL;DR

This paper revisits the extraction of the strong coupling constant from tau decays, comparing fixed-order and contour-improved perturbation theories, and introduces a model to better understand higher-order effects and improve precision.

Contribution

It proposes a model incorporating known coefficients and theoretical constraints to analyze the perturbative series, clarifying the applicability of FOPT and CIPT for alpha_s determination.

Findings

FOPT approaches the Borel sum at higher orders

CIPT cannot fully account for the resummed series

New alpha_s value lower than previous estimates from tau decays

Abstract

The determination of $\alpha_s$ from hadronic $\tau$ decays is revisited, with a special emphasis on the question of higher-order perturbative corrections and different possibilities of resumming the perturbative series with the renormalisation group: fixed-order (FOPT) vs. contour-improved perturbation theory (CIPT). The difference between these approaches has evolved into a systematic effect that does not go away as higher orders in the perturbative expansion are added. We attempt to clarify under which circumstances one or the other approach provides a better approximation to the true result. To this end, we propose to describe the Adler function series by a model that includes the exactly known coefficients and theoretical constraints on the large-order behaviour originating from the operator product expansion and the renormalisation group. Within this framework we find that while CIPT is unable to account for the fully resummed series, FOPT smoothly approaches the Borel sum, before the expected divergent behaviour sets in at even higher orders. Employing FOPT up to the fifth order to determine $\alpha_s$ in the $\MSb$ scheme, we obtain $\alpha_s(M_\tau)=0.320 {}^{+0.012}_{-0.007}$, corresponding to $\alpha_s(M_Z) = 0.1185 {}^{+0.0014}_{-0.0009}$. Improving this result by including yet higher orders from our model yields $\alpha_s(M_\tau)=0.316 \pm 0.006$, which after evolution leads to $\alpha_s(M_Z) = 0.1180 \pm 0.0008$. Our results are lower than previous values obtained from $\tau$ decays.