The three-loop splitting functions in QCD: the singlet case

We compute the next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) contributions to the splitting functions governing the evolution of the unpolarized flavour-singlet parton densities in perturbative QCD. The exact expressions are presented in both Mellin-N and Bjorken-x space. We also provide accurate parametrizations for practical applications. Our results agree with all partial results available in the literature. As in the non-singlet case, the correct leading logarithmic predictions for small momentum fractions x do not provide good estimates of the respective complete splitting functions. We investigate the size of the corrections and the stability of the NNLO evolution under variation of the renormalization scale. The perturbative expansion appears to converge rapidly at x greater than or similar to 10(-3). Relatively large third-order corrections are found at smaller values of x. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.