The strong-coupling scale is defined as the scale at which the one-loop inverse coupling vanishes. Setting gives
Equivalently, in terms of the coupling measured at any scale ,
This dimensional transmutation defines for Quantum chromodynamics.
Strong-coupling scale 2026-09-24
The strong-coupling scale of an asymptotically free gauge theory is the renormalization-group invariant scale at which the one-loop running coupling formally diverges. It replaces a dimensionless ultraviolet coupling through dimensional transmutation.