Fragmentation Functions at Next-to-Next-to-Leading Order Accuracy

TL;DR

This paper provides a detailed analysis of parton-to-pion fragmentation functions at NNLO accuracy in QCD, improving data description and reducing uncertainties in electron-positron annihilation processes.

Contribution

It is the first analysis of fragmentation functions at NNLO accuracy, including technical developments for scale evolution and cross section calculations in Mellin space.

Findings

Enhanced agreement with experimental data

Reduced theoretical uncertainties

Demonstrated importance of NNLO corrections

Abstract

We present a first analysis of parton-to-pion fragmentation functions at next-to-next-to-leading order accuracy in QCD based on single-inclusive pion production in electron-positron annihilation. Special emphasis is put on the technical details necessary to perform the QCD scale evolution and cross section calculation in Mellin moment space. We demonstrate how the description of the data and the theoretical uncertainties are improved when next-to-next-to-leading order QCD corrections are included.