Electroweak effective charges and their relation to physical cross sections

In quantum electrodynamics with fermions f = e, mu...., knowledge of the vacuum polarization spectral function determined from the tree-level e(+)e(-) --> f(+)f(-) cross sections, together with a single low-energy measurement of the fine structure constant alpha, enables the construction of the one-loop effective charge alpha(eff)(q(2)) for all q(2). It is shown how an identical procedure can be followed in the electroweak sector of the Standard Model to construct three gauge-, scale- and scheme-independent one-loop electroweak effective charges and an effective weak mixing angle from the tree-level e(+)e(-) --> W+W-, ZH and e(+)nu(e) --> W(+)Z, W(+)gamma, W+H differential cross sections, together with three low-energy measurements, which may be chosen to be alpha and the masses of the W and Z bosons. It is found that the corresponding proper self-energy-like functions thus constructed are identical to those obtained in the pinch technique framework. In this way, it is shown how the concept of effective charges in the electroweak Standard Model is as well defined and unique as in quantum electrodynamics. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. PACS: 12.15.Lk; 11.55.Fv.