arXiv subjects

Bruno El-Bennich

Publications and source records attributed to Bruno El-Bennich.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Chiral first order phase transition at finite baryon density and zero temperature from self-consistent pole masses in the linear sigma model with quarks

We use the two-flavor Linear Sigma Model with quarks as an effective description of QCD to investigate the nature of the chiral phase transition at finite baryon chemical potential and zero temperature. We work at one-loop order to set up and solve the system of self-consistent coupled equations for the particle pole masses. The chemical potential-dependent value of the chiral order parameter is obtained by minimizing the one-loop effective potential. This treatment goes beyond the conventional ring-diagram approximation and provides a description valid for arbitrary values of the chemical potential. We find that the phase transition is of first order, and occurs when the quark chemical potential reaches the value of the vacuum quark mass for the chosen set of parameters. The first order nature of the transition is signaled by the discontinuous behavior of the chiral condensate, the masses and the couplings. The thermodynamics of the system is readily implemented and in particular, we find that the square of the speed of sound exhibits a discontinuity at the phase transition and then smoothly approaches the conformal limit from below.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2026

Charm and strange meson fragmentation functions

Quark fragmentation functions describe the hadronization process of a quark where any of the final-state hadrons carries a fraction of its initial momentum. We compute these fragmentation functions for a cascade that includes pions, kaons, and the charmed $D$ and $D_s$ mesons, starting from the elementary quark-to-meson fragmentation process. The latter is obtained from the relevant cut diagram, and employs Poincar\'e covariant Bethe-Salpeter wave functions and quark propagators. We derive a set of twenty-five coupled jet equations that describe the cascade of emitted mesons in the fragmentation process. Their solutions yield full fragmentation functions that offer a consistent picture of the quark fragmentations across the light and heavy sectors.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

The quark gap equation in light-cone gauge

We calculate the quark self-energy correction in light-cone gauge motivated by distribution amplitudes whose definition implies a Wilson line. The latter serves to preserve the gauge invariance of the hadronic amplitudes and becomes trivial in light-cone gauge. Therefore, the calculation of the distribution amplitudes simplifies significantly provided that wave functions and propagators are obtained in that gauge. In here, we explore the corresponding Dyson-Schwinger equation in its leading truncation and with a dressed vertex derived from a Ward identity in light-cone gauge. The quark's mass and wave renormalization functions, as well as a third complex-valued amplitude, are found to depend on the relative orientation of the quark momentum and a light-like four-vector, which expresses a geometric gauge dependence of the propagator.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Charge dependence of mesons with flavored contact-interaction couplings

Effective interaction models of quantum chromodynamics, based on quark degrees of freedom, have been successfully employed to compute the properties of a large array of ground and excited meson and baryon states, along with their electromagnetic form factors, distribution functions and thermal behavior. Amongst them, the contact-interaction model, while non-renormalizable, implements confinement, satisfies Lorentz covariance and correctly describes chiral symmetry and its dynamical breaking pattern. Original studies focused on the light hadron sector in the isospin limit and were thereafter extended to heavy mesons and baryons. The strong effective couplings, as well as infrared and ultraviolet regulators, are flavor-dependent model parameters adjusted to reproduce hadronic observables. In contrast, in this study we combine SU(4) flavor-symmetry breaking couplings, obtained from one-loop vacuum polarization amplitudes in the presence of background constituent quark currents, with the contact-interaction model. This allows us to reduce the number of mass-dimensioned parameters and to consistently relate all flavored couplings to a single mass scale, while the masses and weak decay constants of the pions, kaons, $D$ and $D_s$ mesons are in good agreement with average reference values. Allowing for realistic isospin breaking, $m_d/m_u = 1.7$, in conjunction with the effect of the flavored couplings, leads to a mass splitting, $m_{\pi^+}- m_{\pi^0} \approx 0.3$ MeV, that agrees with lattice QCD values. For the kaons, the mass difference is $m_{K^0}- m_{K^\pm} \approx 2.3$ MeV, whereas $m_{D^\pm} - m_{D^0} \approx 0.5$ MeV and the $\eta_c$ is 6\% lighter than the experimental mass.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Parton distribution and fragmentation functions with massive gluons

The correct description of the hadron's structure requires understanding how quarks and gluons form the observable hadrons and how they are distributed within them. Two key nonperturbative quantities encapsulate this information: parton distribution functions (PDFs) and fragmentation functions (FFs). The former define a probabilistic light-front momentum distribution of partons within a hadron, whereas the latter describe the hadronization process of high-energy partons. Computing these functions analytically poses significant challenges, as it demands models that accurately incorporate the nonperturbative infrared dynamics of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). In this work, we compute the pion PDF and its elementary and full FFs using the Curci-Ferrari (CF) model. This model enables the exploration of nonperturbative QCD effects by introducing a gluon-mass scale within the Landau gauge QCD Lagrangian. The two-point quark and gluon correlation functions derived from the CF model agree well with lattice QCD results and reproduce the pion decay constant in the chiral limit, consistent with chiral perturbation theory. The resulting pion PDF and FFs computed with the CF quark propagator and pion Bethe-Salpeter amplitude are in good qualitative and quantitative agreement with those obtained using the Qin-Chang model, a benchmark approach to nonperturbative QCD. These findings support the broader applicability of the Curci-Ferrari model in hadron phenomenology.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Pion fragmentation functions from a quark-jet model in a functional approach

The elementary fragmentation function that describes the process $q\to π$ is predicted applying crossing and charge symmetry to the cut diagram of the pion valence quark distribution function. This elementary probability distribution defines the ladder-kernel of a quark jet fragmentation equation, which is solved self-consistently to obtain the full pion fragmentation function. The hadronization into a pion employs the complete Poincaré invariant Bethe-Salpeter wave function, though the overwhelming contribution to the fragmentation function is due the leading Bethe-Salpeter amplitude. Compared to a Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model prediction, the fragmentation function we obtain is enhanced in the range $z \lesssim 0.8$ but otherwise in good qualitative agreement. The full pion fragmentation function is overall greater than the elementary fragmentation function below $z\lesssim 0.6$.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Gauge covariance of the gap equation: from the rainbow truncation to gauge symmetry constraints

The gauge covariance of the quark gap equation is compared for three quark-gluon vertices: the bare vertex, a Ball-Chiu like vertex constrained by the corresponding Slavnov-Taylor identity, and a full vertex including the transverse components derived from transverse Slavnov-Taylor identities. The covariance properties are verified with the chiral quark condensate and the pion decay constant in the chiral limit.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

Parton distribution functions and transverse momentum dependence of heavy mesons

The leading Fock state light-front wave functions of heavy quarkonia and $D$ and $B$ mesons are obtained from the projections of their Bethe-Salpeter wave functions on the light front. We compute therefrom their leading-twist time-reversal even transverse momentum distributions and parton distribution functions. Mirroring the behavior of parton distribution amplitudes, the support of both distributions is increasingly narrower and shifted towards larger $x$ as a function of the meson mass. The dependence of $x$ and $\k_\perp^2$ of the transverse distributions does not factorize into separate functions, and their fall-off with $\k_\perp^2$ is much slower than that of light mesons.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

The case for an EIC Theory Alliance: Theoretical Challenges of the EIC

We outline the physics opportunities provided by the Electron Ion Collider (EIC). These include the study of the parton structure of the nucleon and nuclei, the onset of gluon saturation, the production of jets and heavy flavor, hadron spectroscopy and tests of fundamental symmetries. We review the present status and future challenges in EIC theory that have to be addressed in order to realize this ambitious and impactful physics program, including how to engage a diverse and inclusive workforce. In order to address these many-fold challenges, we propose a coordinated effort involving theory groups with differing expertise is needed. We discuss the scientific goals and scope of such an EIC Theory Alliance.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Gauge dependence of the quark gap equation: an exploratory study

We study the gauge dependence of the quark propagator in quantum chromodynamics by solving the gap equation with a nonperturbative quark-gluon vertex which is constrained by longitudinal and transverse Slavnov-Taylor identities, the discrete charge conjugation and parity symmetries and which is free of kinematic singularities in the limit of equal incoming and outgoing quark momenta. We employ gluon propagators in renormalizable $R_ξ$ gauges obtained in lattice QCD studies. We report the dependence of the nonperturbative quark propagator on the gauge parameter, in particular we observe an increase, proportional to the gauge-fixing parameter, of the mass function in the infrared domain, whereas the wave renormalization decreases within the range $0 \leq ξ\leq 1$ considered here. The chiral quark condensate reveals a mild gauge dependence in the region of $ξ$ investigated. We comment on how to build and improve upon this exploratory study in future in conjunction with generalized gauge covariance relations for QCD.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Strong two-meson decays of light and charmed vector mesons

We calculate the strong decay couplings for $ρ\to ππ$, $ϕ\to KK$, $K^* \to Kπ$ and $D^*\to Dπ$ in a unified and consistent approach based on the impulse approximation, nonperturbative solutions of the quark-gap equation and the Poincaré invariant Bethe-Salpeter amplitudes of vector and pseudoscalar mesons. In particular, we obtain the coupling $g_{D^*\!Dπ} = 17.24^{+3.06}_{-2.30} $ in very good agreement with the experimental value by CLEO, which corresponds to a strong effective coupling between heavy vector and pseudoscalar mesons to the pion of $\hat g = 0.58^{+0.10}_{-0.08}$.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

$D^$ and $D^_s$ distribution amplitudes from Bethe-Salpeter wave functions

We report on the first calculation of the longitudinal and transverse light front distribution amplitudes of the $D^*$ and $D^*_s$ mesons and their first four moments. As a byproduct, we also obtain these distribution amplitudes for the $ρ$, $ϕ$, $K^*$ and $J/Ψ$ mesons and confirm a prediction of lattice QCD for the vector kaon: while the longitudinal distribution amplitude is almost symmetric, the transverse one is oblique implying that the strange quark carries more momentum.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Dressed quark-gluon vertex form factors from gauge symmetry

We present preliminary results on the longitudinal $and$ transverse form factors of the quark-gluon vertex as functions of the incoming and outgoing quark momenta and an angle $θ=2π/3$ between them. The expressions for these form factors were previously derived from Slavnov-Taylor identities, gauge covariance and multiplicative renormalizability that firmly constrain the fermion-boson vertex.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

The impact of transverse Slavnov-Taylor identities on dynamical chiral symmetry breaking

We extend earlier studies of transverse Ward-Fradkin-Green-Takahashi identities in QED, their usefulness to constrain the transverse fermion-boson vertex and their importance for multiplicative renormalizability, to the equivalent gauge identities in QCD. To this end, we consider transverse Slavnov-Taylor identities that constrain the transverse quark-gluon vertex and derive its eight associated scalar form factors. The complete vertex can be expressed in terms of the quark's mass and wave-renormalization functions, the ghost-dressing function, the quark-ghost scattering amplitude and a set of eight form factors. The latter parametrize the hitherto unknown nonlocal tensor structure in the transverse Slavnov-Taylor identity which arises from the Fourier transform of a four-point function involving a Wilson line in coordinate space. We determine the functional form of these eight form factors with the constraints provided by the Bashir-Bermudez vertex and study the effects of this novel vertex on the quark in the Dyson-Schwinger equation using lattice QCD input for the gluon and ghost propagators. We observe significant dynamical chiral symmetry breaking and a mass gap that leads to a constituent mass of the order of 500 MeV for the light quarks. The flavor dependence of the mass and wave-renormalization functions as well as their analytic behavior on the complex momentum plane is studied and as an application we calculate the quark condensate and the pion's weak decay constant in the chiral limit. Both are in very good agreement with their reference values.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2021

Heavy-meson chiral Lagrangians, effective flavored couplings, SU(4) flavor breaking and their consequences

We review heavy quark flavor and spin symmetries, their exploitation in heavy meson effective theories and the flavored couplings of charmed and light mesons in the definition of their effective Lagrangians. We point out how nonperturbative continuum QCD approaches based on Dyson-Schwinger and Bethe-Salpeter equations can be used to calculate strong and leptonic decays of open-charm mesons and heavy quarkonia. The strong decay $D^*\to Dπ$ serves as a benchmark, as it is the only physical open-charm observable that can be related to the effective Lagrangian's couplings. Nonetheless, a quantitative comparison of $D^*Dπ$, $ρDD$, $ρD^*D$ and $ρD^* D^*$ couplings for a range of off-shell momenta of the $ρ$-meson invalidates SU(4)$_F$ symmetry relations between these couplings. Thus, besides the breaking of flavor symmetry by mass terms in the Lagrangians, the flavor-symmetry breaching in couplings and their dependence on the $ρ$-meson virtuality cannot be ignored. We also take the opportunity to present new results for the effective $J/ψDD$ and $J/ψD^*D$ couplings. We conclude this contribution with a discussion on how the description of pseudoscalar and vector $D$, $D_s$, $B$ and $B_s$ meson properties can be drastically improved with a modest modification of the flavor-dependence in the Bethe-Salpeter equation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Intrinsic Glue and Wilson lines within Dressed Quarks

We construct a quark target model (QTM) to incorporate intrinsic glue into effective low-energy models of QCD, which often contain only quark degrees of freedom. This method guarantees the gauge invariance of observables order-by-order in the strong coupling. The quark and gluon PDFs for the dressed quarks are obtained in the QTM at leading order. We demonstrate gauge invariance of the results by comparing both covariant and light cone gauges, with the former including an explicit Wilson line contribution. A key finding is that in covariant gauges the Wilson line can carry a significant amount of the light cone momentum. With coupling strength $α_s = 0.5$ and dressed quark mass $M_q = 0.4\,$GeV, we find quark and gluon momentum fractions of $\left _q = 0.81$ and $\left _g = 0.19$, where the Wilson line contribution to the quark momentum fraction is $-0.18$. We use the on-shell renormalization scheme and find that at one-loop this Wilson line contribution does not depend on the covariant gauge but does vanish in light cone gauge as expected. This result demonstrates that it is crucial to account for Wilson line contributions when calculating quantum correlation functions in covariant gauges. We also consider the impact of a gluon mass using the gauge invariant formalism proposed by Cornwall, and combine these QTM results with two quark-level models to obtain quark and gluon PDFs for the pion.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Light Cone Distribution Amplitudes of Heavy-Light Mesons and Quarkonia

In this work we use the framework of the Dyson-Schwinger and Bethe-Salpeter equations to compute Light-Cone Distribution Amplitudes of heavy-light mesons and quarkonia. In studying the meson properties, we introduce a flavor dependence in the heavy-quark sector of the Bethe-Salpeter ladder kernel which yields improved numerical results for masses and leptonic decay constants of the pseudoscalar $D$, $D_s$, $B$ and $B_s$ mesons. Finally, the corresponding heavy-light Bethe-Salpeter amplitudes are projected onto the light front and we reconstruct the distribution amplitudes of the mesons in the full theory.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

The Podolsky propagator in gap and bound-state equations

Based on the Generalized Quantum Electrodynamics expression for the Podolsky propagator, which preserves gauge invariance for massive photons, we propose a model for the massive gluon propagator that reproduces well-known features of established strong-interaction models in the framework of the Dyson-Schwinger equation. By adjusting the Podolsky mass and the coupling strength we thus construct a model with simple analytical properties known from perturbative theory, yet well suited to describe a confining interaction. We obtain solutions of the Dyson-Schwinger equation for the quark at space-like momenta on the real axis as well as on the complex plane and solving the bound-state problem with the Bethe-Salpeter equation yields masses and weak decay constants of the $π, K$ and $η_c$ in excellent agreement with experimental values, while the $D$ and $D_s$ are reasonably well described. The analytical simplicity of this effective interaction has the potential to be useful for phenomenological applications and may facilitate calculations in Minkowski space.

hep-ph↗