O(\alpha_s) Corrections to Longitudinal Spin-Spin Correlations in e+e- -> q qbar

Abstract

We calculate the $O(\alpha_s)$ corrections to longitudinal spin-spin correlations in $e^+e^-\to q\bar q$. For top quark pair production the $O(\alpha_s)$ corrections to the longitudinal spin-spin asymmetry amount to less than 1% in the $q^2$-range from above $t\bar t$-treshold up to $\sqrt{q^2}= 1000 GeV$. In the $e^+e^-\to b\bar b$ case the $O(\alpha_s)$ corrections reduce the asymmetry value from its $m=0$ value of -1 to approximately -0.96 for $q^2$-values around the Z-peak. This reduction can be traced to finite anomalous contributions from residual mass effects which survive the $m\to 0$ limit. We discuss the role of the anomalous contributions and the pattern of how they contribute to spin-flip and no-flip terms.