title: Strong coupling constant from the photon structure function.
abstract: We extract the value of the strong coupling constant alpha(s) from a single-parameter pointlike fit to the photon structure function F(gamma)(2) at large x and Q(2) and from a first five-parameter full (pointlike and hadronic) fit to the complete F(gamma)(2)data set taken at PETRA, TRISTAN, and LEP. In next-to-leading order and the MS renormalization and factorization schemes, we obtain alpha(s)(m(Z))=0.1183+/-0.0050(expt)(+0.0029)(-0.0028)(theor) (pointlike) and alpha(s)(m(Z))=0.1198+/-0.0028(expt)(+0.0034)(-0.0046)(theor) (pointlike and hadronic). We demonstrate that the data taken at LEP have reduced the experimental error by about a factor of 2, so that a competitive determination of alpha(s) from F(gamma)(2) is now possible.
authors.affiliation: II. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, D-22761 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Albino
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klasen
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Söldner-Rembold