Two-loop $O(N_fα_s^2)$ correction to the decay width of the Higgs boson to two massive fermions

K. Melnikov

Published 1995-11-13, updated 1995-12-10Version 2

We present an analytical calculation of additional real or virtual radiation of the light fermion pair in the fermionic decay of the Higgs boson $ H \to f_1\bar f_1$ for arbitrary ratios of the Higgs boson mass to the $f_1$ fermion mass. This result gives us a value of the $O(N_f \alpha _s^2)$ radiative correction to the inclusive decay rate $ H \to f_1\bar f_1$. Using this result in the framework of the Brodsky-Mackenzie-Lepage scheme, we discuss the scale setting in the one-loop QCD correction to the decay width $ H \to f_1\bar f_1$ for arbitrary relation between the Higgs boson and fermion masses.