arXiv subjects

Chien-Yeah Seng

Publications and source records attributed to Chien-Yeah Seng.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Future directions in nuclear $\beta$ decay at FRIB and beyond

Motivated by the opportunities presented for studies relevant to nuclear structure, astrophysics, and fundamental symmetries with nuclear $\beta$ decay, the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) Theory Alliance topical program ``Future Directions in Nuclear $\beta$ Decays at FRIB'' was held in September of 2025. This white paper summarizes the main points of discussion over the two-week program, and it aims to provide a snapshot of the current status of the field while also highlighting important questions and opportunities for future work. We provide an overview of the experimental tools and techniques that enable modern $\beta$ decay studies, discuss the current state of nuclear many-body approaches used to study $\beta$ decays, and highlight the important science questions that can be addressed by weak decays.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2026

Taming nuclear size and shape effects in superallowed beta-decay

We present the first combined analysis of the statistical rate function f in superallowed beta decays with ab initio calculations and data. We focus on C10 to 10B, 14O to 14N and 26mAl to 26Mg, all of which are important channels for the precise determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix element Vud. Nuclear charge form factors are obtained by combining experimental data on nuclear charge radii and theory calculations of ratios of moments with the in-medium similarity renormalization group, while the beta decay form factors are derived from exact isospin relations. This enables a rigorous study of the nuclear shape dependence in the statistical rate function f and the quantification of its uncertainties from both experiment and theory. The calculation leads to a more precise test for the first-row CKM unitarity with reduced theoretical uncertainties. This work demonstrates a reliable strategy for combining nuclear many-body calculations with high-precision nuclear data to describe beta decays at tree level for precision tests of the Standard Model.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2026

The Role of Ab Initio Beta-Decay Calculations in Light Nuclei for Probes of Physics Beyond the Standard Model

Precision beta decay experiments serve as powerful probes of physics beyond the Standard Model, enabling stringent tests of fundamental symmetries of nature. In particular, these experiments primarily focus on precise determinations of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element Vud and the search for exotic weak currents, both of which depend critically on theoretical calculations of radiative, recoil-order, and isospin-breaking corrections with quantified uncertainties. In recent years, ab initio nuclear many-body methods--grounded in realistic nucleon-nucleon interactions and systematically improvable approximations--have advanced considerably in their ability to compute these higher-order corrections for various nuclei. This review provides a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art ab initio calculations of beta-decay corrections, encompassing both radiative corrections and recoil-order terms, and examines their significance for precision tests of the Standard Model. We discuss the theoretical formalisms employed, including the integration of effective field theory frameworks with many-body approaches. Particular attention is given to recent results for superallowed Fermi decays (e.g., 10C -> 10B and 14O -> 14C) and allowed Gamow-Teller transitions (e.g., 6He -> 6Li, 8Li -> 8Be, 8B -> 8Be), where ab initio calculations have achieved unprecedented precision. We also highlight emerging calculations for unique forbidden decays, which offer complementary sensitivity to BSM physics. Finally, we outline future directions aimed at extending the reach of ab initio calculations to heavier nuclei and additional decay modes, thereby strengthening the synergy between theory and experiment in the ongoing search for new physics.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2026

Lattice QCD determination of the $\gamma Z$ box contribution to the proton weak charge

We present the first lattice QCD determination of the $\gamma Z$ box contribution to parity-violating electron-proton scattering, $\square_{\gamma Z}$ , a key ingredient for the precise tests of the Standard Model via the proton weak charge. Our calculation covers the electron beam energies up to $E =155 MeV$. For the axial-vector component, we achieve reduced uncertainties across the entire energy range compared with phenomenological estimates. For the vector component, the uncertainties remain slightly larger after continuum extrapolation. At $E = 0$, where the vector part vanishes, we obtain $\square_{\gamma Z}= 0.00412(9)$ , reducing the uncertainty by a factor of $2$ relative to the most precise previous determination. Incorporating this result yields an updated weak charge of $Q_{W}^{p}= 0.06987(50)$ . The calculated energy dependence of $\square_{\gamma Z}$ further provides a first-principles input for the upcoming P2 experiment at Mainz, which will operate at the optimized beam energy of $155 MeV$ to extract $Q_{W}^p$.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2025

High-precision determination of radiative corrections to superallowed nuclear beta decays

Superallowed $0^+\rightarrow 0^+$ transitions between $T=1$ nuclei have been a perfect avenue avenue for determining the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element $V_{ud}$, which imposes powerful constraints on physics beyond the Standard Model at low energies. For a long time, the precision of $V_{ud}$ has been limited by uncertainties in radiative corrections that arise from non-perturbative strong interaction physics at both the hadronic and nuclear levels. In this talk, I will describe some recent efforts to pin down these corrections by combining dispersive analysis with experimental data, lattice QCD, and nuclear many-body calculations.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2025

Semileptonic kaon decays and the precise determination of $V_{us}$

I will give a brief overview of the Standard Model theory inputs needed for the precise determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element $V_{us}$ from semileptonic kaon decays, focusing on the long-distance electromagnetic corrections. I will then describe our recent effort to pin down this correction at sub-permille level, which further sharpens the so-called ``Cabibbo angle anomaly'', an interesting observation which may point towards new physics.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

Testing for isospin symmetry breaking with extensive calculations of isotope shift factors in potassium

Precise evaluation of the isotope shift (IS) factors for seven low-lying potassium (K) states is achieved using relativistic coupled-cluster (RCC) theory. The energies of these states are assessed and compared with experimental data to confirm the accuracy of the wave functions calculated at varying RCC theory approximations and highlight the significance of many-body and relativistic effects in determining the energies and IS factors of K. Various methods are used to compute the IS factors, with the finite-field (FF) approach yielding results that align with observed and semi-empirical data. This consistency is attributed to orbital relaxation effects that are naturally present in the FF method but emerge only through complex interactions in other techniques. Using the IS factors derived from FF, we review the mean square radius difference between $^{38m}$K and $^{39}$K. From this difference and muonic atom x-ray spectroscopy, we deduce the absolute radius of $^{38m}$K using an updated calculation of the nuclear polarizability effect. Finally, we evaluate the isospin symmetry breaking (ISB) in this isotriplet by integrating the radius of $^{38m}$K with an updated radius of $^{38}$Ca, concluding that the ISB is compatible with zero. This finding offers a stringent benchmark for nuclear model calculations of ISB corrections in nuclear beta decay, which play a key role in determining the $V_{ud}$ matrix element.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2024

Motivations for Early High-Profile FRIB Experiments

This white paper is the result of a collaboration by those that attended a workshop at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), organized by the FRIB Theory Alliance (FRIB-TA), on Theoretical Justifications and Motivations for Early High-Profile FRIB Experiments. It covers a wide range of topics related to the science that will be explored at FRIB. After a brief introduction, the sections address: (II) Overview of theoretical methods, (III) Experimental capabilities, (IV) Structure, (V) Near-threshold Physics, (VI) Reaction mechanisms, (VII) Nuclear equations of state, (VIII) Nuclear astrophysics, (IX) Fundamental symmetries, and (X) Experimental design and uncertainty quantification.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2024

Unique forbidden beta decays at zero momentum transfer

We report an exploratory study of the $\mathcal{O}(\alpha)$ structure-dependent electromagnetic radiative corrections to unique first-forbidden nuclear beta decays. We show that the insertion of angular momentum into the nuclear matrix element by the virtual/real photon exchange opens up the decay at vanishing nuclear recoil momentum which was forbidden at tree level, leading to a dramatic change in the decay spectrum not anticipated in existing studies. We discuss its implications for precision tests on the Standard Model and searches for new physics.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

An $\textit{ab initio}$ strategy for taming nuclear-structure dependence of $ V_{ud} $ extractions: the $ {}^{10}\mathrm{C} \rightarrow {}^{10}\mathrm{B} $ superallowed transition

We report the first \textit{ab initio} calculation of the nuclear-structure-dependent radiative correction $ \delta_{ \mathrm{NS} } $ to the $ {}^{10}\mathrm{C} \rightarrow {}^{10}\mathrm{B} $ superallowed transition, computed with the no-core shell model and chiral effective field theory. We obtain $\delta_{ \mathrm{NS} } = - 0.422 (29)_{ \mathrm{nuc} } (12)_{ n,\mathrm{el} } $ with a $1.6$-times reduction in the total uncertainty when compared to the current literature estimate based on the shell model and Fermi gas picture. This work paves the way for a precise determination of $V_{ud}$ from superallowed beta decays within a systematically improvable framework.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2024

Most general neutron decay correlations: Standard Model recoil and radiative corrections

To continue from our previous work Phys.Rev.D 109(2024),073007, we derive the full Standard Model prediction of the most general free neutron differential decay rate with all massive particles (neutron, proton and electron) polarized, including the $\mathcal{O}(1/m_N)$ recoil corrections and $\mathcal{O}(\alpha/\pi)$ radiative corrections. For the latter we adopt the newly-developed pseudo-neutrino formalism which is compatible to realistic experimental setups, in which neutrinos and photons are not detected. We also provide readily-executable Mathematica notebooks to evaluate these corrections.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

Hybrid analysis of radiative corrections to neutron decay with current algebra and effective field theory

We introduce a useful framework for high-precision studies of the neutron beta decay by merging the current algebra description and the fixed-order effective field theory calculation of the electroweak radiative corrections to the neutron axial form factor. We discuss the advantages of this hybrid method and show that it only requires a minimal amount of lattice QCD inputs to achieve a $10^{-4}$ theory accuracy for the Standard Model prediction of the neutron lifetime and the axial-to-vector coupling ratio $\lambda$, both important to the search for physics beyond the Standard Model.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

Testing effective field theory with the most general neutron decay correlations

Built on the seminal works by Jackson-Treiman-Wyld and Ebel-Feldman, we derive the most general free neutron differential decay rate where all massive particles (neutron, proton and electron) are polarized. This introduces 33 new correlations in addition to the 18 existing ones, which over-constrain the coupling constants in the low-energy effective field theory of charged weak interactions, and thus provides stringent tests of the validity of the theory framework itself. We classify the correlation coefficients in terms of their Standard Model limit and discrete symmetries, and study their expansion with respect to the new physics coupling strengths, supplemented by the experiment-independent $\mathcal{O}(\alpha)$ virtual electromagnetic radiative corrections.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Pseudo-neutrino versus recoil formalism for 4-body phase space and applications to nuclear decay

It is well-known that the traditional treatment of radiative corrections that utilizes the "true" neutrino momentum $\vec{p}_\nu$ in the differential decay rate formula could lead to a $\sim \alpha/\pi$ systematic error in certain observables due to the mistreatment of 4-body kinematics. We investigate the theory structure of one of the proposed solutions, the "$\nu'$-formalism", in the non-recoil limit appropriate for neutron and nuclear beta decays. We derive an elegant master formula for the 4-body phase space and use it to re-analyze the spectrum-dependent "outer" radiative corrections to the beta decay of a polarized spin-half nucleus; a complete set of analytic expressions is provided for readers to straightforwardly obtain the final numerical results. We compare it to the "recoil formalism" where the energy of the recoil nucleus is fixed.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2023

Quark mass difference effects in hadronic Fermi matrix elements from first principles

It was recently estimated that the strong isospin-symmetry breaking (ISB) corrections to the Fermi matrix element in free neutron decay could be of the order $10^{-4}$, one order of magnitude larger than the na\"ıve estimate based on the Behrends-Sirlin-Ademollo-Gatto theorem. To investigate this claim, we derive a general expression of the leading ISB correction to hadronic Fermi matrix elements, which takes the form of a four-point correlation function in lattice gauge theory and is straightforward to compute from first principles. Our formalism paves the way for the first determination of such correction in the neutron sector with fully-controlled theory uncertainties.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

The Standard Model theory of neutron beta decay

We review the status of the Standard Model theory of neutron beta decay. Particular emphasis is put on the recent developments in the electroweak radiative corrections. Given that some existing approaches give slightly different results, we thoroughly review the origin of discrepancies, and provide our recommended value for the radiative correction to the neutron and nuclear decay rates. The use of dispersion relation, lattice Quantum Chromodynamics and effective field theory framework allows for high-precision theory calculations at the level of $10^{-4}$, turning neutron beta decay into a powerful tool to search for new physics, complementary to high-energy collider experiments. We offer an outlook to the future improvements.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Data-driven reevaluation of $ft$-values in superallowed $\beta$ decays

We present a comprehensive re-evaluation of the $ft$ values in superallowed nuclear $\beta$ decays crucial for the precise determination of $V_{ud}$ and low-energy tests of the electroweak Standard Model. It consists of the first, fully data-driven analysis of the nuclear $\beta$ decay form factor, that utilizes isospin relations to connect the nuclear charged weak distribution to the measurable charge distributions. This prescription supersedes previous shell-model estimations, and allows for a rigorous quantification of theory uncertainties in $f$ which is absent in the existing literature. Our new evaluation shows an overall downward shift of the central values of $f$ at the level of 0.01\%.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2023

Lattice QCD Calculation of Electroweak Box Contributions to Superallowed Nuclear and Neutron Beta Decays

We present the first lattice QCD calculation of the universal axial $\gamma W$-box contribution $\square_{\gamma W}^{VA}$ to both superallowed nuclear and neutron beta decays. This contribution emerges as a significant component within the theoretical uncertainties surrounding the extraction of $|V_{ud}|$ from superallowed decays. Our calculation is conducted using two domain wall fermion ensembles at the physical pion mass. To construct the nucleon 4-point correlation functions, we employ the random sparsening field technique. Furthermore, we incorporate long-distance contributions to the hadronic function using the infinite-volume reconstruction method. Upon performing the continuum extrapolation, we arrive at $\square_{\gamma W}^{VA}=3.65(8)_{\mathrm{lat}}(1)_{\mathrm{PT}}\times10^{-3}$. Consequently, this yields a slightly higher value of $|V_{ud}|=0.97386(11)_{\mathrm{exp.}}(9)_{\mathrm{RC}}(27)_{\mathrm{NS}}$, reducing the previous $2.1\sigma$ tension with the CKM unitarity to $1.8\sigma$. Additionally, we calculate the vector $\gamma W$-box contribution to the axial charge $g_A$, denoted as $\square_{\gamma W}^{VV}$, and explore its potential implications.

hep-lat↗