Second-order QCD corrections to the thrust distribution

Abstract: We compute the next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) QCD corrections to the thrust distribution in electron-positron annihilation. The corrections turn out to be sizable, enhancing the previously known next-to-leading order prediction by about 15%. Inclusion of the NNLO corrections significantly reduces the theoretical renormalisation scale uncertainty on the prediction of the thrust distribution.