QCD SUM-RULE DETERMINATION OF ALPHA(M-Z) WITH MINIMAL DATA INPUT

We present the results of a new evaluation of the running fine structu re constant a at the scale of the Z mass in which the role of the e(+) e(-) annihilation input data needed in this evaluation is minimized. T his is achieved by reducing the weight function M-Z(2) /(s(M-Z(2) - s) ) in the dispersion integral over the e(+)e(-) annihilation data by su btracting a polynomial function from the weight function which mimics its energy dependence in given energy intervals. In order to compensat e for this subtraction the same polynomial weight integral is added ag ain but is now evaluated on a circular contour in the complex plane us ing QCD and global duality. For the hadronic contribution to the shift in the fine structure constant we obtain Delta alpha(had)((5)) = (277 .6 +/- 4.1).10(-4). Adding in the leptonic and top contributions our f inal result is alpha((M)Z)(-1) = 128.925 +/- 0.056. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.