NNLO QCD corrections to the $B\to X_s \gamma$ matrix elements using interpolation in $m_c$

One of the most troublesome contributions to the NNLO QCD corrections to B -> X_s gamma originates from three-loop matrix elements of four-quark operators. A part of this contribution that is proportional to the QCD beta-function coefficient beta_0 was found in 2003 as an expansion in m_c/m_b. In the present paper, we evaluate the asymptotic behaviour of the complete contribution for m_c >> m_b/2. The asymptotic form of the beta_0-part matches the small-m_c expansion very well at the threshold m_c = m_b/2. For the remaining part, we perform an interpolation down to the measured value of m_c, assuming that the beta_0-part is a good approximation at m_c=0. Combining our results with other contributions to the NNLO QCD corrections, we find BR(B -> X_s gamma) = (3.15 +_ 0.23) x 10^-4 for E_gamma > 1.6 GeV in the B-meson rest frame. The indicated error has been obtained by adding in quadrature the following uncertainties: non-perturbative (5%), parametric (3%), higher-order perturbative (3%), and the interpolation ambiguity (3%).