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Daniel R. Phillips

Publications and source records attributed to Daniel R. Phillips.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
arXiv2015

Power Counting of Contact-Range Currents in Effective Field Theory

We analyze the power counting of two-body currents in nuclear effective field theories (EFTs). We find that the existence of non-perturbative physics at low energies, which is manifest in the existence of the deuteron and the 1S0 NN virtual bound state, combined with the appearance of singular potentials in versions of nuclear EFT that incorporate chiral symmetry, modifies the renormalization-group flow of the couplings associated with contact operators that involve nucleon-nucleon pairs and external fields. The order of these couplings is thereby enhanced with respect to the naive-dimensional-analysis estimate. Consequently, short-range currents enter at a lower order in the chiral EFT than has been appreciated up until now, and their impact on low-energy observables is concomitantly larger. We illustrate the changes in the power counting with a few low-energy processes involving external probes and the few-nucleon systems, including electron-deuteron elastic scattering and radiative neutron capture by protons.

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arXiv2015

The parity-violating nucleon-nucleon force in the 1/N_c expansion

Several experimental investigations have observed parity violation in nuclear systems-a consequence of the weak force between quarks. We apply the $1/N_c$ expansion of QCD to the P-violating T-conserving component of the nucleon-nucleon (NN) potential. We show there are two leading-order operators, both of which affect $\vec{p}p$ scattering at order $N_c$. We find an additional four operators at $O(N_c^0 \sin^2 θ_W)$ and six at $O(1/N_c)$. Pion exchange in the PV NN force is suppressed by $1/N_c$ and $\sin^2 θ_W$, providing a quantitative explanation for its non-observation up to this time. The large-$N_c$ hierarchy of other PV NN force mechanisms is consistent with estimates of the couplings in phenomenological models. The PV observed in $\vec{p}p$ scattering data is compatible with natural values for the strong and weak coupling constants: there is no evidence of fine tuning.

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arXiv2014

Theory Viewpoint on Extracting Nucleon Polarisabilities in Low-Energy Compton Scattering

During the workshop "Compton Scattering off Protons and Light Nuclei: pinning down the nucleon polarisabilities" (ECT*, Trento, Italy, 29 July -- 2 August 2013, http://www.ectstar.eu/node/98), recent developments had been reviewed in experimental and theoretical studies of real and virtual Compton scattering, static and generalized dipole scalar and spin polarisabilities of nucleons, as well as related phenomena in physics of muonic atoms. A vivid topic at the workshop was pathways towards the most precise extraction of the static polarisabilities from low-energy Compton cattering---including pertinent theoretical uncertainties. Being asked by our experimental colleagues, we prepared during the workshop a short letter with conclusions of the discussion, emphasising future prospects.

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arXiv2013

The longitudinal response function of the deuteron in chiral effective field theory

We use chiral effective field theory (EFT) to make predictions for the longitudinal electromagnetic response function of the deuteron, f_L, which is measured in d(e,e'N) reactions. In this case the impulse approximation gives the full chiral EFT result up to corrections that are of O(P^4) relative to leading. By varying the cutoff in the chiral EFT calculations between 0.6 and 1 GeV we conclude that the calculation is accurate to better than 10 % for values of q^2 within 4 fm^{-2} of the quasi-free peak, up to final-state energies E_{np}=60 MeV. In these regions chiral EFT is in reasonable agreement with predictions for f_L obtained using the Bonn potential. We also find good agreement with existing experimental data on f_L, albeit in a more restricted kinematic domain.

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arXiv2013

Three-nucleon forces in the 1/Nc expansion

The operator structures that can contribute to three-nucleon forces are classified in the 1/Nc expansion. At leading order in 1/Nc a spin-flavor independent term is present, as are the spin-flavor structures associated with the Fujita-Miyazawa three-nucleon force. Modern phenomenological three-nucleon forces are thus consistent with this O(Nc) leading force, corrections to which are suppressed by a power series in 1/Nc^2. A complete basis of operators for the three-nucleon force, including all independent momentum structures, is given explicitly up to next-to-leading order in the 1/Nc expansion.

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arXiv2013

Carbon-19 in Halo EFT: Effective-range parameters from Coulomb-dissociation experiments

We study the Coulomb dissociation of the 19C nucleus in an effective field theory that uses the 18C core and the neutron as effective degrees of freedom and exploits the separation of scales in this halo system. We extract the effective-range parameters and the separation energy of the halo neutron from the experimental data taken at RIKEN by Nakamura et al. We obtain a value of (575 +/- 55(stat.) +/- 20(EFT)) keV for the one-neutron separation energy of 19C, and (7.75 +/- 0.35(stat.) +/- 0.3(EFT)) fm for the 18C-neutron scattering length. The width of the longitudinal momentum distribution predicted by EFT using this separation energy agrees well with the experimental data taken at NSCL by Bazin et al., reaffirming the dominance of the s-wave configuration of the valence neutron.

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arXiv2013

Effective Field Theory Analysis of Three-Boson Systems at Next-To-Next-To-Leading Order

We use an effective field theory for short-range forces (SREFT) to analyze systems of three identical bosons interacting via a two-body potential that generates a scattering length, $a$, which is large compared to the range of the interaction, $\ell$. The amplitude for the scattering of one boson off a bound state of the other two is computed to next-to-next-to-leading order (N$^2$LO) in the $\ell/a$ expansion. At this order, two pieces of three-body data are required as input in order to renormalize the amplitude (for fixed $a$). We apply our results to a model system of three Helium-4 atoms, which are assumed to interact via the TTY potential. We generate N$^2$LO predictions for atom-dimer scattering below the dimer breakup threshold using the bound-state energy of the shallow Helium-4 trimer and the atom-dimer scattering length as our two pieces of three-body input. Based on the convergence pattern of the SREFT expansion, as well as differences in the predictions of two renormalization schemes, we conclude that our N$^2$LO phase- shift predictions will receive higher-order corrections of $< 0.2$%. In contrast, the prediction of SREFT for the binding energy of the "deep" trimer of Helium-4 atoms displays poor convergence.

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arXiv2013

Recent results in chiral effective field theory for the NN system

I describe recent progress towards a theory of the NN force which captures the consequences of QCD's chiral symmetry and the pattern of its breaking, and is formulated as an expansion in a ratio of low and high mass scales, M_{lo}/M_{hi}. This "chiral effective field theory" of the NN system is a firm foundation for explorations of nuclear structure and reactions that are grounded in QCD's low-energy symmetries. While calculations that use a ChiPT expansion for the NN potential have proven very successful, they can only be used with a narrow range of momentum-space cutoffs, which leaves the expansion parameter for observable quantities somewhat murky. Here we seek a truly systematic effective field theory for the NN amplitude, that is manifestly renormalization-group invariant at each order in a demonstrably perturbative expansion.

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arXiv2013

Compton scattering from the proton in an effective field theory with explicit Delta degrees of freedom

We analyse the proton Compton-scattering differential cross section for photon energies up to 325 MeV using Chiral Effective Field Theory and extract new values for the electric and magnetic polarisabilities of the proton. Our EFT treatment builds in the key physics in two different regimes: photon energies around the pion mass ("low energy") and the higher energies where the Delta(1232) resonance plays a key role. The Compton amplitude is complete at N4L0, O(e^2 delta^4), in the low-energy region, and at NLO, O(e^2 delta^0), in the resonance region. Throughout, the Delta-pole graphs are dressed with pi-N loops and gamma-N-Delta vertex corrections. A statistically consistent database of proton Compton experiments is used to constrain the free parameters in our amplitude: the M1 gamma-N-Delta transition strength b_1 (which is fixed in the resonance region) and the polarisabilities alpha and beta (which are fixed from data below 170 MeV). In order to obtain a reasonable fit we find it necessary to add the spin polarisability gammaM1 as a free parameter, even though it is, strictly speaking, predicted in chiral EFT at the order to which we work. We show that the fit is consistent with the Baldin sum rule, and then use that sum rule to constrain alpha+beta. In this way we obtain alpha=[10.65+/-0.35(stat})+/-0.2(Baldin)+/-0.3(theory)]10^{-4} fm^3, and beta =[3.15-/+0.35(stat)-/+0.2(Baldin)-/+0.3(theory)]10^{-4} fm^3, with chi^2 = 113.2 for 135 degrees of freedom. A detailed rationale for the theoretical uncertainties assigned to this result is provided.

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arXiv2012

Isospin breaking in pion-deuteron scattering and the pion-nucleon scattering lengths

In recent years, high-accuracy data for pionic hydrogen and deuterium have become the primary source of information on the pion-nucleon scattering lengths. Matching the experimental precision requires, in particular, the study of isospin-breaking corrections both in pion-nucleon and pion-deuteron scattering. We review the mechanisms that lead to the cancellation of potentially enhanced virtual-photon corrections in the pion-deuteron system, and discuss the subtleties regarding the definition of the pion-nucleon scattering lengths in the presence of electromagnetic interactions by comparing to nucleon-nucleon scattering. Based on the pi^{+/-} p channels we find for the virtual-photon-subtracted scattering lengths in the isospin basis a^{1/2}=(170.5 +/- 2.0) x 10^{-3} mpi^{-1} and a^{3/2}=(-86.5 +/- 1.8) x 10^{-3} mpi^{-1}.

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arXiv2012

Using EFT to analyze low-energy Compton scattering from protons and light nuclei

We discuss the application of an effective field theory (EFT) which incorporates the chiral symmetry of QCD to Compton scattering from the proton and deuteron. We describe the chiral EFT analysis of the proton Compton scattering database presented in our recent review (arXiv:1203.6834), which gives: alpha^{(p)}=10.5 +/- 0.5(stat) +/- 0.8(theory); beta^{(p)}= 2.7 +/- 0.5(stat) +/- 0.8(theory), for the electric and magnetic dipole polarizability of the proton. We also summarize the chiral EFT analysis of the world data on coherent Compton scattering from deuterium presented in arXiv:1203.6834. That yields: alpha^{(s)}=10.5 +/- 2.0(stat) +/- 0.8(theory); beta^{(s)}=3.6 +/- 1.0(stat) +/- 0.8(theory).

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arXiv2012

What different variants of chiral EFT predict for the proton Compton differential cross section - and why

We compare the predictions of different variants of chiral effective field theory for the gamma-p elastic scattering differential cross section. We pay particular attention to the role of pion loops, and the impact that a heavy-baryon expansion has on the behavior of those loops. We also correct erroneous results for these loops that were published in Phys. Rev. C 67, 055202 (2003) [ arXiv:nucl-th/0212024 ].

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arXiv2012

Using effective field theory to analyse low-energy Compton scattering data from protons and light nuclei

Compton scattering provides important insight into the structure of the nucleon. For photons up to about 300 MeV, it is parameterised by six dynamical dipole polarisabilities which characterise the response of the nucleon to a monochromatic photon of fixed frequency and multipolarity. Their zero-energy limit yields the well-known static electric and magnetic dipole polarisabilities αand β, and the four dipole spin polarisabilities. Chiral Effective Field Theory (ChiEFT) describes nucleon, deuteron and 3-He Compton scattering, using consistent nuclear currents, rescattering and wave functions. It can thus also be used to extract useful information on the neutron amplitude from Compton scattering on light nuclei. We summarise past work in ChiEFT on all of these reactions and compare with other theoretical approaches. We also discuss all proton experiments up to about 400 MeV, as well as the three modern elastic deuteron data sets, paying particular attention to precision and accuracy of each set. Constraining the Delta(1232) parameters from the resonance region, we then perform new fits to the proton data up to omega(lab)=170 MeV, and a new fit to the deuteron data. After checking in each case that a two-parameter fit is compatible with the respective Baldin sum rules, we obtain, using the sum-rule constraints in a one-parameter fit, α=10.7\pm0.3(stat)\pm0.2(Baldin)\pm0.8(theory), β=3.1\mp0.3(stat)\pm0.2(Baldin)\pm0.8(theory), for the proton polarisabilities, and α=10.9\pm 0.9(stat)\pm0.2(Baldin)\pm0.8(theory), β=3.6\mp 0.9(stat)\pm0.2(Baldin)\pm0.8(theory), for the isoscalar polarisabilities, each in units of 10^(-4) fm^3. We discuss plans for polarised Compton scattering, their promise as tools to access spin polarisabilities, and other future avenues for theoretical and experimental investigation.

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arXiv2012

The three-boson system at next-to-leading order in an effective field theory for systems with a large scattering length

We analyze how corrections linear in the effective range, r_0, affect quantities in the three-body sector within an effective field theory for short-range interactions. We demonstrate that observables can be obtained straightforwardly using a perturbative expansion in powers of r_0. In particular, we show that two linear-in-r_0 counterterms are needed for renormalization at this order if scattering-length-dependent observables are considered. We exemplify the implications of this result using various three-body observables. Analytic results for the running of the next-to-leading-order portion of the three-body force in this effective field theory are provided. Expressions which incorporate O(r_0) corrections and relate the positions of features observed in three-atom recombination near a Feshbach resonance are presented.

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arXiv2011

Roy-Steiner equations for gamma gamma -> pi pi

Starting from hyperbolic dispersion relations, we derive a system of Roy--Steiner equations for pion Compton scattering that respects analyticity, unitarity, gauge invariance, and crossing symmetry. It thus maintains all symmetries of the underlying quantum field theory. To suppress the dependence of observables on high-energy input, we also consider once- and twice-subtracted versions of the equations, and identify the subtraction constants with dipole and quadrupole pion polarizabilities. Based on the assumption of Mandelstam analyticity, we determine the kinematic range in which the equations are valid. As an application, we consider the resolution of the $γγ\toππ$ partial waves by a Muskhelishvili--Omnès representation with finite matching point. We find a sum rule for the isospin-two $S$-wave, which, together with chiral constraints, produces an improved prediction for the charged-pion quadrupole polarizability $(α_2-β_2)^{π^\pm}=(15.3\pm 3.7)\cdot 10^{-4} {\rm fm}^5$. We investigate the prediction of our dispersion relations for the two-photon coupling of the $σ$-resonance $Γ_{σγγ}$. The twice-subtracted version predicts a correlation between this width and the isospin-zero pion polarizabilities, which is largely independent of the high-energy input used in the equations. Using this correlation, the chiral perturbation theory results for pion polarizabilities, and our new sum rule, we find $Γ_{σγγ}=(1.7\pm 0.4)\,{\rm keV}$.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2011

Roy-Steiner equations for $γγ\toππ$

Starting from hyperbolic dispersion relations, we present a system of Roy--Steiner equations for pion Compton scattering that respects analyticity and unitarity requirements, gauge invariance, as well as crossing symmetry, and thus all symmetries of the underlying quantum field theory. To suppress the dependence on the high-energy region, we also consider once- and twice-subtracted versions of the equations, where the subtraction constants are identified with dipole and quadrupole pion polarizabilities. We consider the resolution of the $γγ\toππ$ partial waves by a Muskhelishvili-Omnès representation with finite matching point, and discuss the consequences for the two-photon coupling of the $σ$ resonance as well as its relation to pion polarizabilities.

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