arXiv subjects

Christine Davies

Publications and source records attributed to Christine Davies.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Hadronic vacuum polarization for the muon $g-2$ from lattice QCD: Long-distance and full light-quark connected contribution

We present results for the dominant light-quark connected contribution to the long-distance window (LD) of the hadronic vacuum polarization contribution (HVP) to the muon $g-2$ from lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Specifically, with a new determination of the lattice scale on MILC's physical-mass HISQ ensembles, using the $Ω^-$ baryon mass, we obtain a result of $400.2(2.3)_{\mathrm{stat}}(3.7)_{\mathrm{syst}}[4.3]_{\mathrm{total}} \times 10^{-10}$. Summing this result with our recent determinations of the light-quark connected contributions to the short- (SD) and intermediate-distance (W) windows, we obtain a sub-percent precision determination of the light-quark-connected contribution to HVP of $655.5(2.3)_{\mathrm{stat}}(3.9)_{\mathrm{syst}}[4.5]_{\mathrm{total}} \times 10^{-10}$. Finally, as a consistency check, we verify that an independent analysis of the full contribution is in agreement with the sum of individual windows. We discuss our future plans for improvements of our HVP calculations to meet the target precision of the Fermilab $g-2$ experiment.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2025

Hadronic vacuum polarization for the muon $g-2$ from lattice QCD: Complete short and intermediate windows

We present complete results for the hadronic vacuum polarization (HVP) contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment $a_μ$ in the short- and intermediate-distance window regions, which account for roughly 10% and 35% of the total HVP contribution to $a_μ$, respectively. In particular, we perform lattice-QCD calculations for the isospin-symmetric connected and disconnected contributions, as well as corrections due to strong isospin-breaking. For the short-distance window observables, we investigate the so-called log-enhancement effects as well as the significant oscillations associated with staggered quarks in this region. For the dominant, isospin-symmetric light-quark connected contribution, we obtain $a^{ll,\,{\mathrm{SD}}}_μ(\mathrm{conn.}) = 48.139(11)_{\mathrm{stat}}(91)_{\mathrm{syst}}[92]_{\mathrm{total}} \times 10^{-10}$ and $a^{ll,\,{\mathrm{W}}}_μ(\mathrm{conn.}) = 206.90(14)_{\mathrm{stat}}(61)_{\mathrm{syst}}[63]_{\mathrm{total}} \times 10^{-10}$. We use Bayesian model averaging to fully estimate the covariance matrix between the individual contributions. Our determinations of the complete window contributions are $a^{\mathrm{SD}}_μ = 69.05(1)_{\mathrm{stat}}(21)_{\mathrm{syst}}[21]_{\mathrm{total}} \times 10^{-10}$ and $a^{\mathrm{W}}_μ = 236.45(17)_{\mathrm{stat}}(83)_{\mathrm{syst}}[85]_{\mathrm{total}} \times 10^{-10}$. This work is part of our ongoing effort to compute all contributions to HVP with an overall uncertainty at the few permille level.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2025

Muon $g-2$

The story of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, $a_μ$, has been a long and absorbing read, with several unexpected plot twists. The theme: is new physics visible in $a_μ$ or not? is clearly an important one. As we head towards what may be the final chapters, the pace of the narrative has quickened and lattice QCD is providing a critical new perspective on some of the key characters. I will review the story so far, focussing on recent episodes but (spoiler alert) depending on your point of view, it may not be heading to a happy ending.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2023

Light-quark connected intermediate-window contributions to the muon $g-2$ hadronic vacuum polarization from lattice QCD

We present a lattice-QCD calculation of the light-quark connected contribution to window observables associated with the leading-order hadronic vacuum polarization contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, $a_μ^{\mathrm{HVP,LO}}$. We employ the MILC Collaboration's isospin-symmetric QCD gauge-field ensembles, which contain four flavors of dynamical highly-improved-staggered quarks with four lattice spacings between $a\approx 0.06$-$0.15$~fm and close-to-physical quark masses. We consider several effective-field-theory-based schemes for finite-volume and other lattice corrections and combine the results via Bayesian model averaging to obtain robust estimates of the associated systematic uncertainties. After unblinding, our final results for the intermediate and ``W2'' windows are $a^{ll,{\mathrm W}}_μ(\mathrm{conn.})=206.6(1.0) \times 10^{-10}$ and $a^{ll,\mathrm {W2}}_μ(\mathrm{conn.}) = 100.7(3.2)\times 10^{-10}$, respectively.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2022

50 Years of Quantum Chromodynamics

This paper presents a comprehensive review of both the theory and experimental successes of Quantum Chromodynamics, starting with its emergence as a well defined theory in 1972-73 and following developments and results up to the present day. Topics include a review of the earliest theoretical and experimental foundations; the fundamental constants of QCD; an introductory discussion of lattice QCD, the only known method for obtaining exact predictions from QCD; methods for approximating QCD, with special focus on effective field theories; QCD under extreme conditions; measurements and predictions of meson and baryon states; a special discussion of the structure of the nucleon; techniques for study of QCD at high energy, including treatment of jets and showers; measurements at colliders; weak decays and quark mixing; and a section on the future, which discusses new experimental facilities or upgrades currently funded. The paper is intended to provide a broad background for Ph.D. students and postdocs starting their career. Some contributions include personal accounts of how the ideas or experiments were developed.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Calculating the QED correction to the hadronic vacuum polarisation on the lattice

Isospin-breaking corrections to the hadron vacuum polarization component of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon are needed to ensure the theoretical precision of $g_μ-2$ is below the experimental precision. We describe the status of our work calculating, using lattice QCD, the QED correction to the light and strange connected hadronic vacuum polarization in a Dashen scheme. We report results using physical $N_f=2+1+1$ HISQ ensembles at three lattice spacings and three heavier-than-light valence quark masses.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2021

Progress report on computing the disconnected QCD and the QCD plus QED hadronic contributions to the muon's anomalous magnetic moment

We report progress on calculating the contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon from the disconnected hadronic diagrams with light and strange quarks and the valence QED contribution to the connected diagrams. The lattice QCD calculations use the highly-improved staggered quark (HISQ) formulation. The gauge configurations were generated by the MILC Collaboration with four flavors of HISQ sea quarks with physical sea-quark masses.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2021

Form factors for the decay processes $B_c^+ \to D^0 \ell^+ ν_{\ell}$ and $B_c^+ \to D_s^+ \ell^+ \ell^-$ from lattice QCD

We present results of the first lattice QCD calculations of the weak matrix elements for the decays $B_c^+ \to D^0 \ell^+ ν_{\ell}$, $B_c^+ \to D_s^+ \ell^+ \ell^-$ and $B_c^+ \to D_s^+ ν\overlineν$. Form factors across the entire physical $q^2$ range are then extracted and extrapolated to the continuum limit with physical quark masses. Results are derived from correlation functions computed on MILC collaboration gauge configurations with three different lattice spacings and including 2+1+1 flavours of sea quarks in the Highly Improved Staggered Quark (HISQ) formalism. HISQ is also used for all of the valence quarks. The uncertainty on the decay widths from our form factors for $B_c^+ \to D^0 \ell^+ ν_{\ell}$ is similar in size to that from the present value for $V_{ub}$. We obtain the ratio $Γ(B_{c}^{+} \rightarrow D^0 μ^{+} ν_μ) /\left|η_{\mathrm{EW}} V_{u b}\right|^{2}=4.43(63) \times 10^{12} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}$. Combining our form factors with those found previously by HPQCD for $B_{c}^{+} \rightarrow J / ψμ^{+} ν_μ$, we find $\left|V_{cb}/V_{ub} \right|^2 Γ( B_c^+ \to D^0 μ^+ ν_μ)/Γ(B_{c}^{+} \rightarrow J / ψμ^{+} ν_μ) = 0.257(36)_{B_c \to D}(18)_{B_c \to J/ψ}$. We calculate the differential decay widths of $B_c^+ \to D_s^+ \ell^+ \ell^-$ across the full $q^2$ range, and give integrated results in $q^2$ bins that avoid possible effects from charmonium and $u \overline{u}$ resonances. For example, we find that the ratio of differential branching fractions integrated over the range $q^2 = 1 \; \mathrm{GeV}^2 - 6 \; \mathrm{GeV}^2$ for $B_c^+ \to D_s^+ μ^+ μ^-$ and $B_{c}^{+} \rightarrow J / ψμ^{+} ν_μ$ is $6.31{\tiny }(90)_{B_c \to D_s}(65)_{B_c \to J/ψ} \times 10^{-6}$. We also give results for the branching fraction of $B_c^+ \to D_s^+ ν\overlineν$.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2019

$B_c \to B_{s(d)}$ form factors

We present results of the first lattice QCD calculations of $B_c \to B_s$ and $B_c \to B_d$ weak matrix elements. Results are derived from correlation functions computed on MILC Collaboration gauge configurations with lattice spacings between $0.12$ [fm] and $0.06$ [fm] including 2+1+1 flavours of dynamical sea quarks in the Highly Improved Staggered Quark (HISQ) formalism. Form factors across the entire physical $q^2$ range are then extracted and extrapolated to the physical-continuum limit. Two different formalisms are employed for the bottom quark: non-relativistic QCD (NRQCD) and heavy-HISQ. Checking agreement between these two approaches is an important test of our strategies for heavy quarks on the lattice.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2018

$B_c$ spectroscopy using highly improved staggered quarks

We report on a calculation of $B_c$ ground state and radial excitation energies, obtained from heavy-charm highly improved staggered quark (HISQ) correlators computed on MILC gauge ensembles, with lattice spacings down to $a=0.044$ fm. Using HISQ valence quarks on progressively finer lattices allows us to simulate up to the $b$-quark mass. In particular we focus on the $B_c(2S)$ energy, which we compare with O(α_s)-improved non-relativistic QCD results computed on the same ensembles and recent experimental results from ATLAS.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2018

Comment on Implications of new physics in the decays $B_c \to (J/ψ,η_c)τν$

As part of a study BSM corrections to leptonic decays of the $B_c$ meson, Tran et al. (arXiv:1801.06927) use the covariant confining quark model (CCQM) to estimate the matrix element of the pseudo-scalar curent between the vacuum and the $B_c$ meson. We note that this matrix element can be determined using existing lattice QCD results.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2018

Lattice QCD calculation of the ${{B}_{(s)}\to D_{(s)}^{*}\ellν}$ form factors at zero recoil and implications for ${|V_{cb}|}$

We present results of a lattice QCD calculation of $B\to D^*$ and $B_s\to D_s^*$ axial vector matrix elements with both states at rest. These zero recoil matrix elements provide the normalization necessary to infer a value for the CKM matrix element $|V_{cb}|$ from experimental measurements of $\bar{B}^0\to D^{*+}\ell^-\barν$ and $\bar{B}^0_s\to D_s^{*+}\ell^-\barν$ decay. Results are derived from correlation functions computed with highly improved staggered quarks (HISQ) for light, strange, and charm quark propagators, and nonrelativistic QCD for the bottom quark propagator. The calculation of correlation functions employs MILC Collaboration ensembles over a range of three lattice spacings. These gauge field configurations include sea quark effects of charm, strange, and equal-mass up and down quarks. We use ensembles with physically light up and down quarks, as well as heavier values. Our main results are $\mathcal{F}^{B\to D^*}(1)= 0.895\pm 0.010_{\mathrm{stat}}\pm{{0.024}_{\mathrm{sys}}}$ and $\mathcal{F}^{B_s\to D_s^*}(1)= 0.883\pm 0.010_{\mathrm{stat}}\pm{0.028_{\mathrm{sys}}}$. We discuss the consequences for $|V_{cb}|$ in light of recent investigations into the extrapolation of experimental data to zero recoil.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2017

Improving the theoretical prediction for the $B_s-\bar{B}_s$ width difference: matrix elements of next-to-leading order $ΔB=2$ operators

We present lattice QCD results for the matrix elements of $R_2$ and other dimension-7, $ΔB = 2$ operators relevant for calculations of $ΔΓ_s$, the $B_s-\bar{B}_s$ width difference. We have computed correlation functions using 5 ensembles of the MILC Collaboration's 2+1+1-flavour gauge field configurations, spanning 3 lattice spacings and light sea quarks masses down to the physical point. The HISQ action is used for the valence strange quarks, and the NRQCD action is used for the bottom quarks. Once our analysis is complete, the theoretical uncertainty in the Standard Model prediction for $ΔΓ_s$ will be substantially reduced.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2017

Light meson form factors at high $Q^2$ from lattice QCD

Measurements and theoretical calculations of meson form factors are essential for our understanding of internal hadron structure and QCD, the dynamics that bind the quarks in hadrons. The pion electromagnetic form factor has been measured at small space-like momentum transfer $|q^2| < 0.3$~GeV$^2$ by pion scattering from atomic electrons and at values up to $2.5$~GeV$^2$ by scattering electrons from the pion cloud around a proton. On the other hand, in the limit of very large (or infinite) $Q^2=-q^2$, perturbation theory is applicable. This leaves a gap in the intermediate $Q^2$ where the form factors are not known. As a part of their 12 GeV upgrade Jefferson Lab will measure pion and kaon form factors in this intermediate region, up to $Q^2$ of $6$~GeV$^2$. This is then an ideal opportunity for lattice QCD to make an accurate prediction ahead of the experimental results. Lattice QCD provides a from-first-principles approach to calculate form factors, and the challenge here is to control the statistical and systematic uncertainties as errors grow when going to higher $Q^2$ values. Here we report on a calculation that tests the method using an $η_s$ meson, a 'heavy pion' made of strange quarks, and also present preliminary results for kaon and pion form factors. We use the $n_f=2+1+1$ ensembles made by the MILC collaboration and Highly Improved Staggered Quarks, which allows us to obtain high statistics. The HISQ action is also designed to have small discretisation errors. Using several light quark masses and lattice spacings allows us to control the chiral and continuum extrapolation and keep systematic errors in check.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2017

$D \rightarrow Klν$ semileptonic decay using lattice QCD with HISQ at physical pion masses

The quark flavor sector of the Standard Model is a fertile ground to look for new physics effects through a unitarity test of the Cabbibo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix. We present a lattice QCD calculation of the scalar and the vector form factors (over a large $q^2$ region including $q^2 = 0$) associated with the $D \rightarrow Klν$ semi-leptonic decay. This calculation will then allow us to determine the central CKM matrix element, $V_{cs}$ in the Standard Model, by comparing the lattice QCD results for the form factors and the experimental decay rate. This form factor calculation has been performed on the $N_f =2+1+1$ MILC HISQ ensembles with the physical light quark masses.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2017

Numerical experiments using deflation with the HISQ action

We report on numerical experiments using deflation to compute quark propagators for the highly improved staggered quark (HISQ) action. The method is tested on HISQ gauge configurations, generated by the MILC collaboration, with lattice spacings of 0.15 fm, with a range of volumes, and sea quark masses down to the physical quark mass.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2017

$|V_{cb}|$ from the $\bar{B}^0 \to D^{*+} \ell^- \barν$ zero-recoil form factor using $2+1+1$ flavour HISQ and NRQCD

We present the status of our ongoing calculation of the zero-recoil form factor for the semileptonic decay $\bar{B}^0\rightarrow D^{*+}l^-\barν$ using lattice QCD with 2+1+1 flavours of highly improved staggered quarks in the sea (the MILC HISQ configurations) and using non-relativistic QCD for the bottom quark. We combine our result for $ F(1)$ with the latest HFAG average of $η_{EW} F(1)|V_{cb}|$ to get a preliminary value for $|V_{cb}|$.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2016

$B_c$ decays from highly improved staggered quarks and NRQCD

We calculate semileptonic form factors for the decays $B_c \to η_c \, l ν$ and $B_c \to J/ψ\, l ν$ over the entire $q^2$ range, using a highly improved lattice quark action for charm at several lattice spacings down to $a=0.045$ fm. We have two ways of treating the $b$ quark: either with an $O(α_s)$ improved NRQCD formalism or by extrapolating a heavy mass $m_h$ to $m_b$ in the relativistic formalism. Comparison of the two approaches provides an important cross-check of methodologies in lattice QCD. Nonperturbative renormalisation of the currents in the relativistic theory also allows us then to fix NRQCD-charm normalisation for $b$ to $c$ decays such as $B \to D$ and $B \to D^*$.

hep-lat↗