QCD corrections to $e^+ e^- \to u~\bar d~s~\bar c$ at Lep 2 and the Next Linear Collider: CC11 at O(\alpha_s)

Abstract

QCD one-loop corrections to the full gauge invariant set of electroweak diagrams describing the hadronic process $e^+ e^- \to u~\bar d~s~\bar c$ are computed. Four-jet shape variables for $WW$ events are studied at next-to-leading order and the effects of QCD corrections on the determination of the $W$--mass in the hadronic channel at Lep 2 and NLC is discussed. We compare the exact calculation with a ``naive''approach to strong radiative corrections which has been widely used in the literature.