R(s) and Z decay in order \alpha_s^4: complete results

Understand

We report on our calculation of the order \alpha_s^4 axial singlet contributions for the decay rates of the Z-boson as well as the vector singlet contribution to the cross section for electron-positron annihilation into hadrons.

• Together with recently finished O(\alpha_s^4) calculations of the non-signlet corrections [1,2], the new results directly lead us to the first complete O(\alpha_s^4) predictions for the total hadronic decay rate of the Z-boson and the ratio R(s).