Calculation of master integrals by difference equations

In this Letter we describe a new method of calculation of master integrals based on the solution of systems of difference equations in one variable. An explicit example is given, and the generalization to arbitrary diagrams is described. As example of application of the method, we have calculated the values of master integrals for single-scale massive three-loop vacuum diagrams, three-loop self-energy diagrams, two-loop vertex diagrams and two-loop box diagrams. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.