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A. Gellrich

Publications and source records attributed to A. Gellrich.

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First measurements of the branching fractions for the decay modes $\Xi_c^{0} \to \Lambda \eta$ and $\Xi_c^0 \to \Lambda \eta'$ and search for the decay $\Xi_c^{0} \to \Lambda \pi^0$ using Belle and Belle II data

Using data samples of 988.4 fb$^{-1}$ and 427.9 fb$^{-1}$ collected with the Belle and Belle II detectors, we present a study of the singly Cabibbo-suppressed decays $\Xi_c^{0} \to \Lambda \eta$, $\Lambda \eta'$, and $\Lambda \pi^0$. We observe the decay $\Xi_c^0 \to \Lambda \eta$ and find evidence for the decay $\Xi_c^0 \to \Lambda \eta'$, with corresponding branching ratios determined to be ${\mathcal{B}(\Xi_c^0 \to \Lambda \eta)}/{\mathcal{B}(\Xi_c^0 \to \Xi^- \pi^+)}= (4.16 \pm 0.91 \pm {0.23})\%$ and ${\mathcal{B}(\Xi_c^0 \to \Lambda \eta')}/{\mathcal{B}(\Xi_c^0 \to \Xi^- \pi^+)}= (2.48 \pm 0.82 \pm {0.12})\%$, respectively. We find no significant signal in the $\Xi_c^0 \to \Lambda \pi^0$ decay mode and set an upper limit at the 90% credibility level of ${\mathcal{B}(\Xi_c^0 \to \Lambda \pi^0)}/{\mathcal{B}(\Xi_c^0 \to \Xi^- \pi^+)}< {3.5\%}$. Multiplying these ratios by the world-average branching fraction of the normalization channel, $\mathcal{B}(\Xi_c^0 \to \Xi^- \pi^+)=(1.43 \pm 0.27)\%$, we obtain the absolute branching fractions of $\mathcal{B}(\Xi_c^0 \to \Lambda \eta)= (5.95 \pm 1.30 \pm {0.32} \pm 1.13) \times 10^{-4}$, $\mathcal{B}(\Xi_c^0 \to \Lambda \eta')= (3.55 \pm 1.17 \pm {0.17} \pm 0.68) \times 10^{-4}$, and an upper limit at the 90% credibility level on the absolute branching fraction of $\mathcal{B}(\Xi_c^0 \to \Lambda \pi^0)< {5.2} \times 10^{-4}$. The quoted first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively, while the third uncertainties arise from the branching fraction of the normalization mode. These results are consistent with most theoretical predictions and further the understanding of the underlying decay mechanisms.

hep-ex

Measurement of time-dependent $CP$ asymmetries in $B^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 \: \pi^{+} \pi^{-} \gamma$ decays at Belle and Belle II

We present a measurement of the time-dependent $CP$ asymmetry in $B^0 \to K_{\rm S}^0 \: \pi^{+} \pi^{-} \gamma$ decays using a data set of 365 fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the Belle II experiment and the final data set of 711 fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the Belle experiment at the ${\rm \Upsilon(4S)}$ resonance. The direct and mixing-induced time-dependent $CP$ violation parameters $C$ and $S$ are determined along with two additional quantities, $S^{+}$ and $S^{-}$, defined in the two halves of the $m^2(K_{\rm S}^0 \pi^{+})-m^2(K_{\rm S}^0 \pi^{-})$ plane. The measured values are $C = -0.17 \pm 0.09 \pm 0.04$, $S = -0.29 \pm 0.11 \pm 0.05$, $S^{+} = -0.57 \pm 0.23 \pm 0.10$ and $S^{-} = 0.31 \pm 0.24 \pm 0.05$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

hep-ex

Search for $CP$ violation in $\Xi_c^+\to\Sigma^+h^+h^-$ and $\Lambda_c^+\to ph^+h^-$ at Belle II

We report decay-rate $CP$ asymmetries of the singly-Cabibbo-suppressed decays $\Xi_c^+\to\Sigma^+h^+h^-$ and $\Lambda_c^+\to ph^+h^-$, with $h=K,\pi$, measured using 428 fb$^{-1}$ of $e^+e^-$ collisions collected by the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB collider. The results, \begin{equation} A_{CP}(\Xi_c^+\to\Sigma^+K^+K^-) = (3.7\pm6.6\pm0.6)\%, \end{equation} \begin{equation} A_{CP}(\Xi_c^+\to\Sigma^+\pi^+\pi^-) = (9.5\pm6.8\pm0.5)\%, \end{equation} \begin{equation} A_{CP}(\Lambda_c^+\to pK^+K^-) = (3.9\pm1.7\pm0.7)\%, \end{equation} \begin{equation} A_{CP}(\Lambda_c^+\to p\pi^+\pi^-) = (0.3\pm1.0\pm0.2)\%, \end{equation} where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic, agree with $CP$ symmetry. From these results we derive the sums \begin{equation} A_{CP}(\Xi_c^+\to\Sigma^+\pi^+\pi^-) \, + \, A_{CP}(\Lambda_c^+\to pK^+K^-) = (13.4 \pm 7.0\pm 0.9)\%, \end{equation} \begin{equation} A_{CP}(\Xi_c^+\to\Sigma^+K^+K^-) \, + \, A_{CP}(\Lambda_c^+\to p\pi^+\pi^-) = (\phantom{0}4.0 \pm 6.6\pm 0.7)\%, \end{equation} which are consistent with the $U$-spin symmetry prediction of zero. These are the first measurements of $CP$ asymmetries for individual hadronic three-body charmed-baryon decays.

hep-ex

Measurement of the branching fraction, polarization, and time-dependent $CP$ asymmetry in $B^0 \to ρ^+ρ^-$ decays and constraint on the CKM angle $ϕ_2$

We present a measurement of the branching fraction and fraction of longitudinal polarization of $B^0 \to ρ^+ ρ^-$ decays, which have two $π^0$'s in the final state. We also measure time-dependent {\it CP} violation parameters for decays into longitudinally polarized $ρ^+ ρ^-$ pairs. This analysis is based on a data sample containing $(387\pm6) \times 10^6$ $Υ(4S)$ mesons collected with the Belle~II detector at the SuperKEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ collider in 2019-2022. We obtain $\mathcal{B}(B^0\toρ^+ρ^-) = (2.89 ^{+0.23}_{-0.22} {}^{+0.29}_{-0.27}) \times 10^{-5}, f_{L} = 0.921 ^{+0.024}_{-0.025} {}^{+0.017}_{-0.015}$, \mbox{$S = -0.26\pm0.19\pm0.08$}, and $C = -0.02\pm0.12^{+0.06}_{-0.05}$, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. We use these results to perform an isospin analysis to constrain the CKM angle $ϕ_2$ and obtain two solutions; the result consistent with other Standard Model constraints is $ϕ_2 = (92.6^{+4.5}_{-4.7})^\circ$.

hep-ex

Measurements of the branching fractions of $\Xi_{c}^{+}\to \Sigma^{+}K_{S}^{0}$, $\Xi_{c}^{+}\to \Xi^{0}\pi^{+}$, and $\Xi_{c}^{+}\to \Xi^{0}K^{+}$ at Belle and Belle II

Using 983.0 $\rm{fb}^{-1}$ and 427.9 $\rm{fb}^{-1}$ data samples collected with the Belle and Belle II detectors at the KEKB and SuperKEKB asymmetric energy $e^+e^-$ colliders, respectively, we present studies of the Cabibbo-favored $\Xi_c^+$ decays ${\Xi_{c}^{+}\to \Sigma^{+}K_{S}^{0}}$ and $\Xi_{c}^{+}\to \Xi^{0}\pi^{+}$, and the singly Cabibbo-suppressed decay $\Xi_{c}^{+}\to \Xi^{0}K^{+}$. The ratios of branching fractions of ${\Xi_{c}^{+}\to \Sigma^{+}K_{S}^{0}}$ and $\Xi_{c}^{+}\to \Xi^{0}K^{+}$ relative to that of $\Xi_{c}^{+}\to\Xi^{-}\pi^{+}\pi^{+}$ are measured for the first time, while the ratio ${\cal B}(\Xi_{c}^{+}\to\Xi^{0}\pi^{+})/{\cal B}(\Xi_{c}^{+}\to\Xi^{-}\pi^{+}\pi^{+}) $ is also determined and improved by an order of magnitude in precision. The measured branching fraction ratios are $\frac{\cal{B}(\Xi_{c}^{+} \to \Sigma^{+}K_{S}^{0})}{\cal{B}(\Xi_{c}^{+}\to \Xi^{-}\pi^{+}\pi^+)}= 0.067 \pm 0.007 \pm 0.003$, $\frac{\cal{B}(\Xi_c^{+} \to \Xi^{0}\pi^{+})}{\cal{B}(\Xi_{c}^{+}\to \Xi^{-}\pi^{+}\pi^+)} = 0.251 \pm 0.005 \pm 0.010$, $\frac{\cal{B}(\Xi_c^{+} \to \Xi^{0}K^{+})}{\cal{B}(\Xi_{c}^{+}\to \Xi^{-}\pi^{+}\pi^+)} = 0.017 \pm 0.003 \pm 0.001$. Additionally, the ratio ${\cal B}(\Xi_{c}^{+}\to\Xi^{0}K^{+})/{\cal B}(\Xi_{c}^{+}\to\Xi^{0}\pi^{+})$ is measured to be $ 0.068 \pm 0.010 \pm 0.004$. Here, the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. Multiplying the ratios by the branching fraction of the normalization mode, ${\mathcal B}(\Xi_{c}^{+}\to\Xi^{-}\pi^{+}\pi^+)= (2.9\pm 1.3)\%$, we obtain the following absolute branching fractions ${\cal B}(\Xi_{c}^{+}\to\Sigma^{+}K^{0}_{S}) = (0.194 \pm 0.021 \pm 0.009 \pm 0.087 )%$, ${\cal B}(\Xi_{c}^{+}\to\Xi^{0}\pi^{+}) = (0.728 \pm 0.014 \pm 0.027 \pm 0.326 )%$, ${\cal B}(\Xi_{c}^{+}\to\Xi^{0}K^{+}) = (0.049 \pm 0.007 \pm 0.003 \pm 0.022 )%$.

hep-ex

Measurement of $B^+\to\tau^+\nu_\tau$ branching fraction with a hadronic tagging method at Belle II

We present a measurement of the branching fraction of $B^+\to\tau^+\nu_\tau$ decays using $(387\pm6)\times 10^6$ $\Upsilon(4S)$ collected between 2019 and 2022 with the Belle II detector at the SuperKEKB $e^+e^-$ collider. We reconstruct the accompanying $B^-$ meson using the hadronic tagging method, while $B^+\to\tau^+\nu_\tau$ candidates are identified in the recoil. We find evidence for $B^+\to\tau^+\nu_\tau$ decays at 3.0 standard deviations, including systematic uncertainties. The measured branching fraction is $\mathcal{B}(B^+\to\tau^+\nu_\tau) = [1.24 \pm 0.41 (\text{stat.}) \pm 0.19 (\text{syst.})] \times 10^{-4}$.

hep-ex

Observations of the singly Cabibbo-suppressed decays $Ξ_c^{+} \to pK_{S}^{0}$, $Ξ_c^+ \to Λπ^+$, and $Ξ_c^+ \to Σ^{0} π^+$ at Belle and Belle II

Using data samples of 983.0~$\rm fb^{-1}$ and 427.9~$\rm fb^{-1}$ accumulated with the Belle and Belle~II detectors operating at the KEKB and SuperKEKB asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ colliders, singly Cabibbo-suppressed decays $Ξ_c^{+} \to pK_{S}^{0}$, $Ξ_c^+ \to Λπ^+$, and $Ξ_c^+ \to Σ^{0} π^+$ are observed for the first time. The ratios of branching fractions of $Ξ_{c}^{+}\to p K_{S}^{0}$, $Ξ_{c}^{+}\to Λπ^{+}$, and $Ξ_{c}^{+}\to Σ^{0} π^{+}$ relative to that of $Ξ_c^+ \to Ξ^- π^{+} π^{+}$ are measured to be \begin{equation} \frac{{\cal B}(Ξ_c^+ \to pK_S^0)}{{\cal B}(Ξ_c^{+} \to Ξ^{-} π^+ π^+)} = (2.47 \pm 0.16 \pm 0.07)\% \notag, \end{equation} \begin{equation} \frac{{\cal B}(Ξ_c^+ \to Λπ^+)}{{\cal B}(Ξ_c^{+} \to Ξ^{-} π^+ π^+)} = (1.56 \pm 0.14 \pm 0.09)\% \notag, \end{equation} \begin{equation} \frac{{\cal B}(Ξ_c^+ \to Σ^0 π^+)}{{\cal B}(Ξ_c^{+} \to Ξ^{-} π^+ π^+)} = (4.13 \pm 0.26 \pm 0.22)\% \notag. \end{equation} Multiplying these values by the branching fraction of the normalization channel, ${\cal B}(Ξ_c^{+} \to Ξ^{-} π^+π^+) = (2.9 \pm 1.3)\%$, the absolute branching fractions are determined to be \begin{equation} {\cal B}(Ξ_c^{+} \to p K_{S}^{0}) = (7.16 \pm 0.46 \pm 0.20 \pm 3.21) \times 10^{-4} \notag, \end{equation} \begin{equation} {\cal B}(Ξ_c^{+} \to Λπ^+) = (4.52 \pm 0.41 \pm 0.26 \pm 2.03) \times 10^{-4} \notag, \end{equation} \begin{equation} {\cal B}(Ξ_c^{+} \to Σ^0 π^+) = (1.20 \pm 0.08 \pm 0.07 \pm 0.54) \times 10^{-3} \notag. \end{equation} The first and second uncertainties above are statistical and systematic, respectively, while the third ones arise from the uncertainty in ${\cal B}(Ξ_c^{+} \to Ξ^{-} π^{+} π^{+})$.

hep-ex

Measurement of the $e^+e^- \to π^+π^-π^0$ cross section in the energy range 0.62-3.50 GeV at Belle II

We report a measurement of the $e^+e^- \to π^+π^-π^0$ cross section in the energy range from 0.62 to 3.50 GeV using an initial-state radiation technique. We use an $e^+e^-$ data sample corresponding to 191 $\text{fb}^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity, collected at a center-of-mass energy at or near the $Υ{(4S)}$ resonance with the Belle II detector at the SuperKEKB collider. Signal yields are extracted by fitting the two-photon mass distribution in $e^+e^- \to π^+π^-π^0γ$ events, which involve a $π^0 \to γγ$ decay and an energetic photon radiated from the initial state. Signal efficiency corrections with an accuracy of 1.6% are obtained from several control data samples. The uncertainty on the cross section at the $ω$ and $ϕ$ resonances is dominated by the systematic uncertainty of 2.2%. The resulting cross sections in the 0.62-1.80 GeV energy range yield $ a_μ^{3π} = [48.91 \pm 0.23~(\mathrm{stat}) \pm 1.07~(\mathrm{syst})] \times 10^{-10} $ for the leading-order hadronic vacuum polarization contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment. This result differs by $2.5$ standard deviations from the most precise current determination.

hep-ex

Measurement of the time-integrated CP asymmetry in $D^{0}\rightarrow K^{0}_{S}K^{0}_{S}$ decays using Belle and Belle II data

We measure the time-integrated CP asymmetry in $D^{0} \rightarrow K^{0}_{S}K^{0}_{S}$ decays reconstructed in $e^{+}e^{-} \rightarrow c\overline{c}$ events collected by the Belle and Belle II experiments. The corresponding data samples have integrated luminosities of 980 fb$^{-1}$ and 428 fb$^{-1}$, respectively. The $D^{0}$ decays are required to originate from the $D^{*+} \rightarrow D^{0}\pi^{+}$ decay, which determines the charm flavor at production time. A control sample of $D^{0} \rightarrow K^{+}K^{-}$ decays is used to correct for production and detection asymmetries. The result, $(-1.4\pm1.3{\rm(stat)}\pm0.1{\rm (syst)})\%$, is consistent with previous determinations and with CP symmetry.

hep-ex

Model-independent measurement of $D^0$-$\overline{D}{}^0$ mixing parameters in $D^0\rightarrow K^0_{S}\pi^+\pi^-$ decays at Belle and Belle II

We perform a model-independent measurement of the $D^0$-$\overline{D}{}^0$ mixing parameters using samples of $e^+e^-$-collision data collected by the Belle and Belle II experiments that have integrated luminosities of $951\ \text{fb}^{-1}$ and $408\ \text{fb}^{-1}$, respectively. Approximately $2.05\times10^6$ neutral $D$ mesons are reconstructed in the $D^0\rightarrow K^0_{S}\pi^+\pi^-$ channel, with the neutral $D$ flavor tagged by the charge of the pion in the $D^{*+}\rightarrow D^0\pi^+$ decay. Assuming charge-parity symmetry, the mixing parameters are measured to be $ x = (4.0\pm1.7\pm0.4)\times 10^{-3} $ and $ y = (2.9\pm1.4\pm0.3)\times 10^{-3}$, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The results are consistent with previous determinations.

hep-ex

Search for a dark photon and an invisible dark Higgs boson in $μ^+μ^-$ and missing energy final states with the Belle II experiment

The dark photon $A^\prime$ and the dark Higgs boson $h^\prime$ are hypothetical particles predicted in many dark sector models. We search for the simultaneous production of $A^\prime$ and $h^\prime$ in the dark Higgsstrahlung process $e^{+}e^{-}\rightarrow A^\prime \, h^\prime$ with $A^\prime \rightarrow μ^+μ^-$ and $ h^\prime$ invisible in electron-positron collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 10.58 GeV collected by the Belle II experiment in 2019. With an integrated luminosity of 8.34 fb$^{-1}$, we observe no evidence for signal. We obtain exclusion limits at 90% Bayesian credibility in the range of 1.7--5.0 fb on the cross section and in the range of $1.7 \times10^{-8}$--$200 \times10^{-8}$ on the effective coupling $\varepsilon^2 \times α_D$ for the $A^\prime$ mass in the range of 4.0 GeV/$c^2$ $< M_{A^\prime}< 9.7$ GeV/$c^2$ and for the $h^\prime$ mass $M_{h^\prime} < M_{A^\prime}$, where $\varepsilon$ is the mixing strength between the standard model and the dark photon and $α_D$ is the coupling of the dark photon to the dark Higgs boson. Our limits are the first in this mass range.

hep-ex

A test of light-lepton universality in the rates of inclusive semileptonic $B$-meson decays at Belle II

We present the first measurement of the ratio of branching fractions of inclusive semileptonic $B$-meson decays, $R(X_{e/μ}) = \mathcal{B}(B\to X \, e \, ν) / \mathcal{B}(B\to X \, μ\, ν)$, a precision test of electron-muon universality, using data corresponding to $189\,\mathrm{fb}^{-1}$ from electron-positron collisions collected with the Belle II detector. In events where the partner $B$ meson is fully reconstructed, we use fits to the lepton momentum spectra above $1.3\,\mathrm{GeV}/c$ to obtain $R(X_{e/μ}) = 1.007 \pm 0.009~(\mathrm{stat}) \pm 0.019~(\mathrm{syst})$, which is the most precise lepton-universality test of its kind and agrees with the standard-model expectation.

hep-ex

Measurement of the $Ω_c^0$ lifetime at Belle II

We report on a measurement of the $Ω_c^0$ lifetime using $Ω_c^0 \to Ω^-π^+$ decays reconstructed in $e^+e^-\to c\bar{c}$ data collected by the Belle II experiment and corresponding to $207~{\rm fb^{-1}}$ of integrated luminosity. The result, $\rmτ(Ω_c^0)=243\pm48( stat)\pm11(syst)~fs$, agrees with recent measurements indicating that the $Ω_c^0$ is not the shortest-lived weakly decaying charmed baryon.

hep-ex

Observation of $e^+e^-\toωχ_{bJ}(1P)$ and search for $X_b \to ωΥ(1S)$ at $\sqrt{s}$ near 10.75 GeV

We study the processes $e^+e^-\toωχ_{bJ}(1P)$ ($J$ = 0, 1, or 2) using samples at center-of-mass energies $\sqrt{s}$ = 10.701, 10.745, and 10.805 GeV, corresponding to 1.6, 9.8, and 4.7 fb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity, respectively. These data were collected with the Belle II detector during special operations of the SuperKEKB collider above the $Υ(4S)$ resonance. We report the first observation of $ωχ_{bJ}(1P)$ signals at $\sqrt{s}$ = 10.745 GeV. By combining Belle II data with Belle results at $\sqrt{s}$ = 10.867 GeV, we find energy dependencies of the Born cross sections for $e^+e^-\to ωχ_{b1,b2}(1P)$ to be consistent with the shape of the $Υ(10753)$ state. These data indicate that the internal structures of the $Υ(10753)$ and $Υ(10860)$ states may differ. Including data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 10.653 GeV, we also search for the bottomonium equivalent of the $X(3872)$ state decaying into $ωΥ(1S)$. No significant signal is observed for masses between 10.45 and 10.65 GeV/$c^2$.

hep-ex

Search for $B^{+}\to K^{+}ν\barν$ decays using an inclusive tagging method at Belle II

A search for the flavor-changing neutral-current decay $B^{+}\to K^{+}ν\barν$ is performed at the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB asymmetric energy electron-positron collider. The results are based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $63\,\mbox{fb}^{-1}$ collected at the $Υ{(4S)}$ resonance and a sample of $9\,\mbox{fb}^{-1}$ collected at an energy $60\mathrm{\,Me\kern -0.1em V}$ below the resonance. A novel measurement method is employed, which exploits topological properties of the $B^{+}\to K^{+}ν\barν$ decay that differ from both generic bottom-meson decays and light-quark pair production. This inclusive tagging approach offers a higher signal efficiency compared to previous searches. No significant signal is observed. An upper limit on the branching fraction of $B^{+}\to K^{+}ν\barν$ of $4.1 \times 10^{-5}$ is set at the 90% confidence level.

hep-ex

Search for Axion-Like Particles produced in $e^+e^-$ collisions at Belle II

We present a search for the direct production of a light pseudoscalar $a$ decaying into two photons with the Belle II detector at the SuperKEKB collider. We search for the process ${e^+e^-\toγa, a \toγγ}$ in the mass range ${0.2} \,< m_a < {9.7}\,{\text{GeV/$c$}^2}$ using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $(445\pm 3)\,\text{pb}^{-1}$. Light pseudoscalars interacting predominantly with standard model gauge bosons (so-called axion-like particles or ALPs) are frequently postulated in extensions of the standard model. We find no evidence for ALPs and set 95% confidence level upper limits on the coupling strength $g_{aγγ}$ of ALPs to photons at the level of $10^{-3}\,{\text{GeV}^{-1}}$. The limits are the most restrictive to date for $0.2\,<\,m_a\,<\,1\,{\text{GeV/$c$}^2}$.

hep-ex

Search for an invisibly decaying $Z^{\prime}$ boson at Belle II in $e^+ e^- \to μ^+ μ^- (e^{\pm} μ^{\mp})$ plus missing energy final states

Theories beyond the standard model often predict the existence of an additional neutral boson, the $Z^{\prime}$. Using data collected by the Belle II experiment during 2018 at the SuperKEKB collider, we perform the first searches for the invisible decay of a $Z^{\prime}$ in the process $e^+ e^- \to μ^+ μ^- Z^{\prime}$ and of a lepton-flavor-violating $Z^{\prime}$ in $e^+ e^- \to e^{\pm} μ^{\mp} Z^{\prime}$. We do not find any excess of events and set 90\% credibility level upper limits on the cross sections of these processes. We translate the former, in the framework of an $L_μ-L_τ$ theory, into upper limits on the $Z^{\prime}$ coupling constant at the level of $5 \times 10^{-2}$ -- $1$ $M_{Z^\prime}\leq 6$ GeV/$c^2$.

hep-ex

Lattice QCD Calculations on Commodity Clusters at DESY

Lattice Gauge Theory is an integral part of particle physics that requires high performance computing in the multi-Tflops regime. These requirements are motivated by the rich research program and the physics milestones to be reached by the lattice community. Over the last years the enormous gains in processor performance, memory bandwidth, and external I/O bandwidth for parallel applications have made commodity clusters exploiting PCs or workstations also suitable for large Lattice Gauge Theory applications. For more than one year two clusters have been operated at the two DESY sites in Hamburg and Zeuthen, consisting of 32 resp. 16 dual-CPU PCs, equipped with Intel Pentium 4 Xeon processors. Interconnection of the nodes is done by way of Myrinet. Linux was chosen as the operating system. In the course of the projects benchmark programs for architectural studies were developed. The performance of the Wilson-Dirac Operator (also in an even-odd preconditioned version) as the inner loop of the Lattice QCD (LQCD) algorithms plays the most important role in classifying the hardware basis to be used. Using the SIMD Streaming Extensions (SSE/SSE2) on Intel's Pentium 4 Xeon CPUs give promising results for both the single CPU and the parallel version. The parallel performance, in addition to the CPU power and the memory throughput, is nevertheless strongly influenced by the behavior of hardware components like the PC chip-set and the communication interfaces. The paper covers the physics motivation for using PC clusters as well as a system description, operating experiences, and benchmark results for various hardware.

physics.comp-ph