Higher-order QCD corrections to H → b(b)over-bar from rational approximants

We use rational approximants to study missing higher orders in the massless scalar-current quark correlator. We predict the yet unknown six-loop coefficient of its imag inary part, related to Gamma(H -> b (b) over bar), to be c(5) = -6900 +/- 1400. With this result, the perturbative series becomes almost insensitive to renormalization scale variations and the intrinsic QCD truncation uncertainty is tiny. This confirms the expectation that higher-order loop computations for this quantity will not be required in the foreseeable future, as the uncer tainty in Gamma(H -> b (b) over bar) will remain largely dominated by the Standard Model parameters.

Automated summary

In this study, we use rational approximants to investigate missing higher orders in the massless scalar-current quark correlator. We predict the yet unknown six-loop coefficient, related to Gamma(H -> b (b) over bar), to be c(5) = -6900 +/- 1400. Our results show that the perturbative series is almost insensitive to renormalization scale variations and the intrinsic QCD truncation uncertainty is minimal. Therefore, we conclude that higher-order loop computations for this quantity will not be necessary in the foreseeable future, as the uncertainty in Gamma(H -> b (b) over bar) will mainly depend on the Standard Model parameters.