Four-loop massive cusp anomalous dimension in QCD: a calculation from asymptotics

Abstract

I present a general method for determining the massive cusp anomalous dimension in QCD to a very high degree of accuracy using its asymptotic behavior at small and large quark velocities. I show that the method works exceedingly well at two and three loops where exact results are already known. I then present a calculation of the massive cusp anomalous dimension using its asymptotics at four loops, and I provide a detailed study of the results for different values of the number of flavors and for separate color structures. The method can be further extended and applied to higher numbers of loops.