Jet Cross Sections in e+e− Annihilation

Abstract

Using an elaborate partial fractioning procedure of all 4-parton matrix elements we calculate 3-jet cross sections in e+e− annihilation with mass-cut jet resolution. All subleading contributions from nonsingular terms are included. We give thrust distributions for O(αs2) 3- and 4-jets. We study integrated cross sections as a function of the cutoff and check the reconstruction of O(αs2) σtot using recently calculated 2-jet cross sections with the same partial fractioning of 4-parton terms.