Non-perturbative QCD effects at large momentum transfers

We calculate the simplest one-instanton correction to the perturbative QCD prediction for e⁺e^? annihilation to hadrons. At high centre-of-mass energies Q we find a contribution to the total cross section from a simple fermion loop of the form

$\text{δR}\text{R}\text{∝}\text{Q}{}^2\text{→∞}\text{Q}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?11?</mtext><mtext>Nf</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}\text{(1n Q}{}^2\text{)}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>6(33?4Nf)</mtext><mtext>(33?2Nf)</mtext><mtext>or</mtext>}}\text{(1n Q}{}^2\text{)}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>6(33?4Nf)</mtext><mtext>(33?2Nf)?1</mtext>}}$

where N_f is the number of quark flavours. The numerical value of this contribution is O(1) for Q ～ 1 to 2 GeV.