We use lattice QCD simulations, with MILC configurations (including vacuum polarization from u, d, and s quarks), to update our previous determinations of the QCD coupling constant. Our new analysis uses results from 6 different lattice spacings and 12 different combinations of sea-quark masses to significantly reduce our previous errors. We also correct for finite-lattice-spacing errors in the scale setting, and for nonperturbative chiral corrections to the 22 short-distance quantities from which we extract the coupling. Our final result is alpha_V(7.5GeV,nf=3) = 0.2120(28), which is equivalent to alpha_msbar(M_Z,n_f=5)= 0.1183(8). We compare this with our previous result, which differs by one standard deviation.
A high precision determination of the strong coupling constant in the MS-bar scheme at the Z-mass scale, using low energy quantities, namely pion/kaon decay constants and masses, as experimental input is presented. The computation employs two different massless finite volume renormalization schemes to non-perturbatively trace the scale dependence of the respective running couplings from a scale of about 200 MeV to 100 GeV. At the largest energies perturbation theory is reliable. At high energies the Schroedinger-Functional scheme is used, while the running at low and intermediate energies is c…
We review the determination of the strong coupling alpha_s from the comparison of the perturbative expression for the Quantum Chromodynamics static energy with lattice data. We collect here all the perturbative expressions needed to evaluate the static energy at the currently known accuracy.
We present an update of our determination of the strong coupling alpha_s from the quantum chromodynamics static energy. This updated analysis includes new lattice data, at smaller lattice spacings and reaching shorter distances, the use of better suited perturbative expressions to compare with data in a wider distance range, and a comprehensive and detailed estimate of the error sources that contribute to the uncertainty of the final result. Our updated value for alpha_s at the Z-mass scale, M_Z, is alpha_s(M_Z)=0.1166^{+0.0012}_{-0.0008}, which supersedes our previous result.
We review the ALPHA collaboration strategy for obtaining the QCD coupling at high scale. In the three-flavor effective theory it avoids the use of perturbation theory at $α> 0.2$ and at the same time has the physical scales small compared to the cutoff $1/a$ in all stages of the computation. The result $Λ_\overline{MS}^{(3)}=332(14)$~MeV is translated to $α_\overline{MS}(m_Z)=0.1179(10)(2)$ by use of (high order) perturbative relations between the effective theory couplings at the charm and beauty quark "thresholds". The error of this perturbative step is discussed and estimated as $0.0002$.
We present an overview of the recent lattice determination of the QCD coupling $α_s$ by the ALPHA Collaboration. The computation is based on the non-perturbative determination of the $Λ$-parameter of $N_{\rm f}=3$ QCD, and the perturbative matching of the $N_{\rm f}=3$ and $N_{\rm f}=5$ theories. The final result: $α_s(m_Z)=0.11852(84)$, reaches sub-percent accuracy.
