Three-loop corrections to the muon and heavy quark decay rates

TL;DR

This paper discusses recent third-order quantum corrections to muon and heavy quark decay rates, revealing a symmetry pattern and confirming complex calculations, marking a significant advancement after over twenty years.

Contribution

It provides the first third-order perturbative calculations for these decay rates in over two decades, identifying symmetry patterns and validating complex computational results.

Findings

Discovered a symmetry pattern in third-order corrections

Confirmed the accuracy of complex evaluation methods

Marked a significant computational advancement in decay rate calculations

Abstract

Recently, $O(\alpha^3)$ corrections to the muon decay rate and $O(\alpha_s^3)$ to heavy quark decays have been determined by Fael, Sch\"onwald, and Steinhauser. This is the first such perturbative improvement of these important quantities in more than two decades. We reveal and explain a symmetry pattern in these new corrections, and confirm the most technically difficult parts of their evaluation.