Resummation analysis of the τ decay width using the four-loop β-function

We extract the strong coupling constant $\alpha_s(m_\tau^2)$ from the semileptonic $\tau$ decay width taking into account resummation effects from the running of the strong coupling constant. In the $\overline{\rm MS}$ scheme the result reads $\alpha_s=0.375\pm 0.007$ to third order and $\alpha_s=0.378\pm 0.007$ to fourth order in the $\beta$-function, respectively, where we use the recently computed four-loop coefficient $\beta_3$. These values for the coupling constant have to be compared with the value $\alpha_s=0.354\pm 0.005$ derived from a third order analysis of $\tau$ decays. We determine the exact value of the convergence radius of the perturbation series by analyzing the singularity structure of the complex coupling constant plane.