Three-loop beta function and non-perturbative $α_s$ in asymmetric momentum scheme

Abstract

We determine the three-loop coefficient of the beta function in the asymmetric momentum subtraction scheme in Landau gauge. This scheme is convenient for lattice studies of α_s, the running coupling constant of QCD. We present high statistics lattice results for α_s in the SU(3) Yang-Mills theory without quark, compare with the three-loop running and extract the value of the corresponding Λ_\msbar parameter. We estimate the systematic error coming from four-loop terms. We obtain the result: Λ_\msbar = 295 (5) (15) {a^{-1}(β=6.0) \over 1.97 GeV} MeV.

9 pages, LaTeX with two figures. The final analysis has been revisited to include an estimation of the systematic error coming from higher-order terms