Precision NNLO determination of alpha_s(M_Z) using an unbiased global parton set
Abstract
We determine the strong coupling alpha_s at NNLO in perturbative QCD using the global dataset input to the NNPDF2.1 NNLO parton fit: data from neutral and charged current deep-inelastic scattering, Drell-Yan, vector boson production and inclusive jets. We find alpha_s(M_Z)=0.1173+- 0.0007 (stat), where the statistical uncertainty comes from the underlying data and uncertainties due to the analysis procedure are negligible. We show that the distribution of alpha_s values preferred by different experiments in the global fit is statistically consistent, without need for rescaling uncertainties by a "tolerance" factor. We show that if deep-inelastic data only are used, the best-fit value of alpha_s is somewhat lower, but consistent within one sigma with the global determination. We estimate the dominant theoretical uncertainty, from higher orders corrections, to be Delta alpha_s (pert) ~ 0.0009.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1110.2483,
title = {Precision NNLO determination of alpha_s(M_Z) using an unbiased global parton set},
author = {Richard D. Ball and Valerio Bertone and Luigi Del Debbio and Stefano Forte and Alberto Guffanti and Jose I. Latorre and Simone Lionetti and Juan Rojo and Maria Ubiali},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1110.2483},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
11 pages, 6 figures. Various small corrections and improvements: Chi2 values for PDF fits provided, discussion of pulls clarified. Final version, to be published in Phys.Lett.B