skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Decoupling of heavy quarks in quantum chromodynamics

Journal Article · · Ann. Phys. (N.Y.); (United States)

Decoupling of heavy quarks in quantum chromodynamics (QCD) defined by mass-independent renormalization is investigated. The structure of the relations between the parameters of f flavour QCD below a heavy-quark threshold is discussed to all orders in the loop expansion, and the relations are computed to two-loop approximation for the minimal subtraction schemes (MS) and to one-loop approximation for some Weinberg schemes. These matching relations can be used to systematically determine the renormalization group (RG)-invariant parameters of the effective theory in terms of the RG-invariant parameters of the theory which includes the heavy quark, or vice versa. For MS scheme the connection between ..lambda../sub f/-1 and ..lambda../sub f/ to two and three loops is given as well as the two-loop connection between the RG-invariant mass parameters of the f-1 and f flavour theory. The effect of heavy quarks on the evolution of the QCQ coupling is of significance for present QCD phenomenology based on next-to-leading-order perturbation theory. This is illustrated with a few examples within the MS scheme.

Research Organization:
Institut fuer Theoretische Physik der Universitaet Heidelberg, D-6900 Heidelberg, West Germany
OSTI ID:
5266897
Journal Information:
Ann. Phys. (N.Y.); (United States), Vol. 151:1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English