On The Difficulty of Computing Higher-Twist Corrections

Abstract

We discuss the evaluation of power corrections to hard scattering and decay processes for which an operator product expansion is applicable. The Wilson coefficient of the leading-twist operator is the difference of two perturbative series, each of which has a renormalon ambiguity of the same order as the power corrections themselves, but which cancel in the difference. We stress the necessity of calculating this coefficient function to sufficiently high orders in perturbation theory so as to make the uncertainty of the same order or smaller than the relevant power corrections. We investigate in some simple examples whether this can be achieved. Our conclusion is that in most of the theoretical calculations which include power corrections, the uncertainties are at least comparable to the power corrections themselves, and that it will be a very difficult task to improve the situation.