Perturbative QCD Corrections to the $Z$ Boson Width and the Higgs Decay Rate

Abstract

Radiative QCD corrections significantly influence the theoretical predictions for the decay rates of the $Z$ and the Higgs boson. The status of the QCD calculations to the hadronic $Z$ width is reviewed. The role of mass corrections from bottom quark final states is emphasized. An estimate of the theoretical uncertainties is given. New results for quartic mass terms of order ${\cal O}(\alpha_s^2)$ are presented. The impact of secondary radiation of bottom quarks on the determination of $\Gamma(Z\rightarrow b\bar{b})$ is discussed. Second order QCD corrections to the partial decay rate $\Gamma(H\rightarrow b\bar{b})$ are also presented in this talk. A recent result for the flavour singlet contribution to this quantity is presented. It includes quark mass effects and completes the otherwise massless calculations of order $\ordas^2)$.