TTP97-11 Mass Corrections to the Vector Current Correlator

Three-loop QCD corrections to the vector current correlator are considered. The large momentum procedure is applied in order to evaluate mass corrections up to order $(m^2/q^2)^6$. The inclusion of the first seven terms to the ratio $R=\sigma(e^+e^-\to\mbox{hadrons})/\sigma(e^+e^-\to\mu^+\mu^-)$ leads to reliable predictions from the high energy region down to relatively close to threshold.