Related papers: Extraction of $\alpha_s$ using Borel-Laplace sum r…
We propose a modified procedure for extracting the numerical value for the strong coupling constant $\alpha_s$ from the $\tau$ lepton hadronic decay rate into non-strange particles in the vector channel. We employ the concept of the…
The semihadronic tau decay width allows a clean extraction of the strong coupling constant at low energies. We present a modification of the standard "contour improved" method based on a derivative expansion of the Adler function. The…
By exploiting the analyticity properties of the two-point current-current correlator we obtain numerical predictions for the $e^+e^-$ moments in terms of the $\tau$ decay rate. We perform a partial resummation of the pertinent perturbative…
After discussing difficulties in determining $\alpha_s$ from tau decay due to the existence of Duality Violations and the associated asymptotic nature of the OPE, we describe a new determination based on an improved vector isovector…
The interpretation of results of recent tau decay determinations of |V_us|, which yield values ~3 sigma low compared to 3-family unitarity expectations, is complicated by the slow convergence of the relevant integrated D=2 OPE series. We…
Different choices exist for the renormalisation group resummation in the determination of $\alpha_s$ from hadronic $\tau$ decays: namely fixed-order (FOPT) and contour-improved perturbation theory (CIPT). The two approaches lead to…
Using the most recent release of the ALEPH $\tau$ decay data, we present a very detailed phenomenological update of the $\alpha_s(m_\tau^2)$ determination. We have exploited the sensitivity to the strong coupling in many different ways,…
The ALEPH data on the vector and axial-vector spectral functions, extracted from tau-lepton decays is used in order to test local and global duality, as well as a set of four QCD chiral sum rules. These are the Das-Mathur-Okubo sum rule,…
I review sum rule determinations of |V_us| employing hadronic tau decay data, taking into account recent HFAG updates of exclusive tau branching fractions and paying special attention to the impact of the slow convergence of the relevant…
The operator product expansion (OPE), truncated in dimension, is employed in many contexts. An example is the extraction of the strong coupling, $\alpha_s$, from hadronic $\tau$-decay data, using a variety of analysis methods based on…
We review the current status of the determination of the strong coupling from tau decay. Using the most recent release of the ALEPH data, a very comprehensive phenomenological analysis has been performed, exploring all strategies previously…
Using recently developed methods for the evaluation of five-loop amplitudes in perturbative QCD, corrections of order alpha_s^4 for the cross section of electron-positron annihilation into hadrons and for the decay rates of the Z-boson and…
The four-loop determination of the strong coupling from fully inclusive observables is reviewed. Special attention is given to the low-energy measurement extracted from the hadronic $\tau$ decay width. A recent exhaustive analysis of the…
The polarisation of $\tau$'s produced in Z decay is measured using 160 pb$^{-1}$ of data accumulated at LEP by the ALEPH detector between 1990 and 1995. The variation of the polarisation with polar angle yields the two parameters ${\cal…
We use a new compilation of the hadronic $R$-ratio from available data for the process $e^+e^-\to$ hadrons below the charm mass to determine the strong coupling $\alpha_s$, using finite-energy sum rules. Quoting our results at the $\tau$…
The operator product expansion (OPE) for the difference of vector and axial current correlators is analyzed for complex values of momentum q^2. The vector and axial spectral functions, taken from hadronic tau-decay data, are treated with…
We revisit the extraction of $\alpha_s(M_\tau^2)$ from the QCDperturbative corrections to the hadronic $\tau$ branching ratio, using an improved fixed-order perturbation theory based on the explicit summation of all renormalization-group…
We summarize a comparison of the two strategies which are currently available in the literature for determining the value of $\alpha_s(m_\tau)$. We will refer to these as the truncated Operator Product Expansion model and the Duality…
We discuss the issue of duality violations in hadronic tau decay. After introducing a physically motivated ansatz for duality violations, we estimate their possible size by fitting this ansatz to the tau experimental data provided by the…
We use a new compilation of the hadronic $R$-ratio from available data for the process $e^+e^-\to\mbox{hadrons}$ to determine the strong coupling, $\alpha_s$. We make use of all data for the $R$-ratio from threshold to a center-of-mass…