arXiv subjects

Danny van Dyk

Publications and source records attributed to Danny van Dyk.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

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.

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arXiv2022

Resolving the Flavor Structure in the MFV-SMEFT

We constrain the flavor structure of Wilson coefficients in the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT) from data. In the SMEFT, new physics effects in couplings of up-type and down-type quarks are related through the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa mixing matrix. We exploit this relation to pin down potential new sources of flavor symmetry breaking in a global analysis of high- and low-energy data from the LHC, LEP, and $b$ factory experiments. We demonstrate the power of such an analysis by performing a combined fit of effective four-quark and two-quark couplings contributing to a large set of flavor, top-quark, electroweak, and dijet observables. All four sectors are needed to fully resolve the flavor structure of the four-quark couplings without leaving blind directions in the parameter space. Although we work in the framework of minimal flavor violation, our strategy applies as well to other flavor patterns, like $U(2)$ flavor symmetry or leptoquark scenarios.

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arXiv2022

Improved Theory Predictions and Global Analysis of Exclusive $\boldsymbol{b\to sμ^+μ^-}$ Processes

We provide improved Standard Model theory predictions for the exclusive rare semimuonic processes $B\to K^{(*)}μ^+μ^-$ and $B_s\toϕμ^+μ^-$. Our results are based on a novel parametrization of the non-local form factors, which manifestly respects a recently developed dispersive bound. We critically compare our predictions to those obtained in the framework of QCD factorization. Our predictions provide, for the first time, parametric estimates of the systematic uncertainties due to non-local contributions. Comparing our predictions within the Standard Model to available experimental data, we find a large tension for $B\to Kμ^+μ^-$. A simple model-independent analysis of potential effects beyond the Standard Model yields results compatible with other approaches, albeit with larger uncertainties for the $B\to K^*μ^+μ^-$ and $B_s\to ϕμ^+μ^-$ decays. Our approach yields systematically improvable predictions, and we look forward to its application in further analyses beyond the Standard Model.

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arXiv2022

Systematic Parametrization of the Leading $B$-meson Light-Cone Distribution Amplitude

We propose a parametrization of the leading $B$-meson light-cone distribution amplitude (LCDA) in heavy-quark effective theory (HQET). In position space, it uses a conformal transformation that yields a systematic Taylor expansion and an integral bound, which enables control of the truncation error. Our parametrization further produces compact analytical expressions for a variety of derived quantities. At a given reference scale, our momentum-space parametrization corresponds to an expansion in associated Laguerre polynomials, which turn into confluent hypergeometric functions ${}_1F_1$ under renormalization-group evolution at one-loop accuracy. Our approach thus allows a straightforward and transparent implementation of a variety of phenomenological constraints, regardless of their origin. Moreover, we can include theoretical information on the Taylor coefficients by using the local operator production expansion. We showcase the versatility of the parametrization in a series of phenomenological pseudo-fits.

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arXiv2021

EOS -- A Software for Flavor Physics Phenomenology

EOS is an open-source software for a variety of computational tasks in flavor physics. Its use cases include theory predictions within and beyond the Standard Model of particle physics, Bayesian inference of theory parameters from experimental and theoretical likelihoods, and simulation of pseudo events for a number of signal processes. EOS ensures high-performance computations through a C++ back-end and ease of usability through a Python front-end. To achieve this flexibility, EOS enables the user to select from a variety of implementations of the relevant decay processes and hadronic matrix elements at run time. In this article, we describe the general structure of the software framework and provide basic examples. Further details and in-depth interactive examples are provided as part of the EOS online documentation.

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arXiv2021

The $\bar{B}\to π$ form factors from QCD and their impact on $|V_{ub}|$

We revisit light-cone sum rules with pion distribution amplitudes to determine the full set of local $B \to π$ form factors. To this end, we determine all duality threshold parameters from a Bayesian fit for the first time. Our results, obtained at small momentum transfer $q^2$, are extrapolated to large $q^2$ where they agree with precise lattice QCD results. We find that a modification to the commonly used BCL parametrization is crucial to interpolate the scalar form factor between the two $q^2$ regions. We provide numerical results for the form factor parameters -- including their covariance -- based on simultaneous fit of all three form factors to both the sum rule and lattice QCD results. Our predictions for the form factors agree well with measurements of the $q^2$ spectrum of the semileptonic decay $\bar{B}^0\to π^+\ell^-\barν$. From the world average of the latter we obtain $|V_{ub}| = (3.77 \pm 0.15)\cdot 10^{-3}$, which is in agreement with the most recent inclusive determination at the $1\,σ$ level.

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arXiv2021

Flavor Anomalies in Heavy Quark Decays

Recent measurements of $b$-hadron decays show a pattern of consistent tensions with the respective Standard Model (SM) predictions. These tensions appear both in the sector of rare flavour-changing neutral currents and in tree-level semileptonic $b$-hadron decays. Flavour-changing neutral-current decays are loop-suppressed in the SM and are thus very susceptible to contributions from new heavy particles and/or new interactions beyond the SM. In rare semileptonic decays tensions are observed in measurements of branching fractions and angular observables, as well as in lepton flavour universality tests. Lepton flavour universality is also tested by comparing tree-level $b\to c\ell^-\barν_τ$ processes involving third generation leptons $\ell=τ$ to semileptonic decays with light leptons $\ell=e,μ$ in the final state. These tests also show tensions between measurements and the SM prediction. Taken together, these tensions constitute the so-called flavour anomalies in $b$-hadron decays, and could be first signs of New Physics (NP) beyond the SM, if established beyond any reasonable doubt. This article reviews both the current experimental status of the flavour anomalies and developments for the relevant theoretical predictions. The review concludes with a discussion of future prospects for the field.

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arXiv2021

Non-local matrix elements in $B_{(s)}\to \{K^{(*)},ϕ\}\ell^+\ell^-$

We revisit the theoretical predictions and the parametrization of non-local matrix elements in rare $\bar{B}_{(s)}\to \lbrace \bar{K}^{(*)},ϕ\rbrace\ell^+\ell^-$ and $\bar{B}_{(s)}\to \lbrace \bar{K}^{*}, ϕ\rbrace γ$ decays. We improve upon the current state of these matrix elements in two ways. First, we recalculate the hadronic matrix elements needed at subleading power in the light-cone OPE using $B$-meson light-cone sum rules. Our analytical results supersede those in the literature. We discuss the origin of our improvements and provide numerical results for the processes under consideration. Second, we derive the first dispersive bound on the non-local matrix elements. It provides a parametric handle on the truncation error in extrapolations of the matrix elements to large timelike momentum transfer using the $z$ expansion. We illustrate the power of the dispersive bound at the hand of a simple phenomenological application. As a side result of our work, we also provide numerical results for the $B_s \to ϕ$ form factors from $B$-meson light-cone sum rules.

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arXiv2021

Lepton-flavour non-universality of $\bar{B}\to D^*\ell \barν$ angular distributions in and beyond the Standard Model

We analyze in detail the angular distributions in $\bar{B}\to D^*\ell \barν$ decays, with a focus on lepton-flavour non-universality. We investigate the minimal number of angular observables that fully describes current and upcoming datasets, and explore their sensitivity to physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM) in the most general weak effective theory. We apply our findings to the current datasets, extract the non-redundant set of angular observables from the data, and compare to precise SM predictions that include lepton-flavour universality violating mass effects. Our analysis shows that the current presentation of the experimental data is not ideal and prohibits the extraction of the full set of relevant BSM parameters, since the number of independent angular observables that can be inferred from data is limited to only four. We uncover a $\sim4σ$ tension between data and predictions that is hidden in the redundant presentation of the Belle 2018 data on $\bar{B}\to D^*\ell \barν$ decays. This tension specifically involves observables that probe $e-μ$ lepton-flavour universality. However, we find inconsistencies in these data, which renders results based on it suspicious. Nevertheless, we discuss which generic BSM scenarios could explain the tension, in the case that the inconsistencies do not affect the data materially. Our findings highlight that $e-μ$ non-universality in the SM, introduced by the finite muon mass, is already significant in a subset of angular observables with respect to the experimental precision.

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arXiv2021

The Flavor of UV Physics

New physics not far above the TeV scale should leave a pattern of virtual effects in observables at lower energies. What do these effects tell us about the flavor structure of a UV theory? Within the framework of Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT), we resolve the flavor structure of the Wilson coefficients in a combined analysis of top-quark and $B$-physics observables. Our fit to LHC and $b$-factory measurements shows that combining top and bottom observables is crucial to pin down possible sources of flavor symmetry breaking from UV physics. Our analysis includes the full analytic expansion of SMEFT coefficients in Minimal Flavor Violation and a detailed study of SMEFT effects in $b\to s$ flavor transitions.

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arXiv2020

A puzzle in $\bar{B}_{(s)}^0 \to D_{(s)}^{(*)+} \lbrace π^-, K^-\rbrace$ decays and extraction of the $f_s/f_d$ fragmentation fraction

We provide updated predictions for the hadronic decays $\bar{B}_s^0\to D_s^{(*)+} π^-$ and $\bar{B}^0\to D^{(*)+} K^-$. They are based on $\mathcal{O}(α_s^2)$ results for the QCD factorization amplitudes at leading power and on recent results for the $\bar{B}_{(s)} \to D_{(s)}^{(*)}$ form factors up to order ${\cal O}(Λ_{\rm QCD}^2/m_c^2)$ in the heavy-quark expansion. We give quantitative estimates of the matrix elements entering the hadronic decay amplitudes at order ${\cal O}(Λ_{\rm QCD}/m_b)$ for the first time. Our results are very precise, and uncover a substantial discrepancy between the theory predictions and the experimental measurements. We explore two possibilities for this discrepancy: non-factorizable contributions larger than predicted by the QCD factorization power counting, and contributions beyond the Standard Model. We determine the $f_s/f_d$ fragmentation fraction for the CDF, D0 and LHCb experiments for both scenarios.

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arXiv2020

Heavy-Quark Expansion for $\bar{B}_s\to D^{(*)}_s$ Form Factors and Unitarity Bounds beyond the $SU(3)_F$ Limit

We carry out a comprehensive analysis of the full set of $\bar{B}_q \to D_q^{(*)}$ form factors for spectator quarks $q=u,d,s$ within the framework of the Heavy-Quark Expansion (HQE) to order $\mathcal{O}(α_s, 1/m_b, 1/m_c^2)$. In addition to the available lattice QCD calculations we make use of two new sets of theoretical constraints: we produce for the first time numerical predictions for the full set of $\bar{B}_s \to D_s^{(*)}$ form factors using Light-Cone Sum Rules with $B_s$-meson distribution amplitudes. Furthermore, we reassess the QCD three-point sum rule results for the Isgur-Wise functions entering all our form factors for both $q=u,d$ and $q=s$ spectator quarks. These additional constraints allow us to go beyond the commonly used assumption of $SU(3)_F$ symmetry for the $\bar B_s\to D_s^{(*)}$ form factors, especially in the unitarity constraints which we impose throughout our analysis. We find the coefficients of the IW functions emerging at $\mathcal{O}(1/m_c^2)$ to be consistent with the naive $\mathcal{O}(1)$ expectation, indicating a good convergence of the HQE. While we do not find significant $SU(3)$ breaking, the explicit treatment of $q=s$ as compared to a simple symmetry assumption renders the unitarity constraints more effective. We find that the (pseudo)scalar bounds are saturated to a large degree, which affects our theory predictions. We analyze the phenomenological consequences of our improved form factors by extracting $|V_{cb}|$ from $\bar B\to D^{(*)}\ellν$ decays and producing theoretical predictions for the lepton-flavour universality ratios $R(D)$, $R(D^*)$, $R(D_s)$ and $R(D_s^*)$, as well as the $τ$- and $D_q^*$ polarization fractions for the $\bar B_q\to D_q^{(*)}τν$ modes.

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arXiv2020

$B\to P$ and $B\to V$ Form Factors from $B$-Meson Light-Cone Sum Rules beyond Leading Twist

We provide results for the full set of form factors describing semileptonic $B$-meson transitions to pseudoscalar mesons $π$, $K$, $\bar{D}$ and vector mesons $ρ$, $K^*$, $\bar{D}^*$. Our results are obtained within the framework of QCD Light-Cone Sum Rules with $B$-meson distribution amplitudes. We recalculate and confirm the results for the leading-twist two-particle contributions in the literature. Furthermore, we calculate and provide new expressions for the two-particle contributions up to twist four. Following new developments for the three-particle distribution amplitudes, we calculate and provide new results for the complete set of three-particle contributions up to twist four. The form factors are computed numerically at several phase space points using up-to-date input parameters, including correlations across phase space points and form factors. We use a model ansatz for all contributing $B$-meson distribution amplitudes that is self-consistent up to twist-four accuracy. We find that the higher-twist two-particle contributions have a substantial impact on the results, and dominate over the three-particle contributions. Our numerical results, including correlations, are provided as machine-readable ancillary files. We discuss the qualitative phenomenological impact of our results on the present $b$ anomalies.

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arXiv2019

Bayesian analysis of $b\to sμ^+μ^-$ Wilson coefficients using the full angular distribution of $Λ_b\to Λ(\to p\, π^-)μ^+μ^-$ decays

Following updated and extended measurements of the full angular distribution of the decay $Λ_b\to Λ(\to p\,π^-)μ^+μ^-$ by the LHCb collaborations, as well as a new measurement of the $Λ\to p π^-$ decay asymmetry parameter by the BESIII collaboration, we study the impact of these results on searches for non-standard effects in exclusive $b\to sμ^+μ^-$ decays. To this end, we constrain the Wilson coefficients $\mathcal{C}_{9}$ and $\mathcal{C}_{10}$ of the numerically leading dimension-six operators in the weak effective Hamiltonian, in addition to the relevant nuisance parameters. In stark contrast to previous analyses of this decay mode, the changes in the updated experimental results lead us to find very good compatibility with both the Standard Model and with the $b\to sμ^+μ^-$ anomalies observed in rare $B$-meson decays. We provide a detailed analysis of the impact of the partial angular distribution, the full angular distribution, and the $Λ_b\to Λμ^+μ^-$ branching fraction on the Wilson coefficients. In this process, we are also able to constrain the size of the production polarization of the $Λ_b$ baryon at LHCb.

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arXiv2019

Computing Tools for the SMEFT

The increasing interest in the phenomenology of the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT), has led to the development of a wide spectrum of public codes which implement automatically different aspects of the SMEFT for phenomenological applications. In order to discuss the present and future of such efforts, the "SMEFT-Tools 2019" Workshop was held at the IPPP Durham on the 12th-14th June 2019. Here we collect and summarize the contents of this workshop.

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arXiv2019

Theory determination of $\bar{B}\to D^{(*)}\ell^-\barν$ form factors at $\mathcal{O}(1/m_c^2)$

We carry out an analysis of the full set of ten $\bar{B}\to D^{(*)}$ form factors within the framework of the Heavy-Quark Expansion (HQE) to order $\mathcal{O}(α_s,\,1/m_b,\,1/m_c^2)$, both with and without the use of experimental data. This becomes possible due to a recent calculation of these form factors at and beyond the maximal physical recoil using QCD light-cone sum rules, in combination with constraints from lattice QCD, QCD three-point sum rules and unitarity. We find good agreement amongst the various theoretical results, as well as between the theoretical results and the kinematical distributions in $\bar{B}\to D^{(*)}\lbrace e^-,μ^-\rbrace\barν$ measurements. The coefficients entering at the $1/m_c^2$ level are found to be of $\mathcal{O}(1)$, indicating convergence of the HQE. The phenomenological implications of our study include an updated exclusive determination of $|V_{cb}|$ in the HQE, which is compatible with both the exclusive determination using the BGL parametrization and with the inclusive determination. We also revisit predictions for the lepton-flavour universality ratios $R_{D^{(*)}}$, the $τ$ polarization observables $P_τ^{D^{(*)}}$, and the longitudinal polarization fraction $F_L$. Posterior samples for the HQE parameters are provided as ancillary files, allowing for their use in subsequent studies.

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arXiv2019

Angular Analysis of \boldmath $Λ_b\to Λ_c (\to Λπ)\ell\barν$

We revisit the decay $Λ_b^0\to Λ_c^+ \ell^-\barν$ ($\ell = e,μ,τ$) with a subsequent two-body decay $Λ_c^+ \to Λ^0 π^+$ in the Standard Model and in generic New Physics models. The decay's joint four-differential angular distribution can be expressed in terms of ten angular observables, assuming negligible polarization of the initial $Λ_b$ state. We present compact analytical results for all angular observables, which enables us to discuss their possible New Physics reach. We find that the decay at hand probes more and complementary independent combinations of Wilson coefficients compared to its mesonic counter parts $\bar{B}\to D^{(*)}\ell^-\barν$. Our result for the angular distribution is at variance with some of the results on scalar-vector interference terms in the literature. We provide numerical estimates for all angular observables based on lattice-QCD results for the $Λ_b \to Λ_c$ form factors and account for a recent measurement of the parity-violating parameter in $Λ_c^+\to Λ^0π^+$ decays by BESIII. A numerical implementation of our results is made publicly available as part of the EOS software.

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arXiv2018

WCxf: an exchange format for Wilson coefficients beyond the Standard Model

We define a data exchange format for numerical values of Wilson coefficients of local operators parameterising low-energy effects of physics beyond the Standard Model. The format facilitates interfacing model-specific Wilson coefficient calculators, renormalisation group (RG) runners, and observable calculators. It is designed to be unambiguous (defining a non-redundant set of operators with fixed normalisation in each basis), extensible (allowing the addition of new EFTs or bases by the user), and robust (being based on industry standard file formats with parsers implemented in many programming languages). We have implemented the format for the Standard Model EFT (SMEFT) and for the weak effective theory (WET) below the electroweak scale and have added interfaces to a number of public codes dealing with SMEFT or WET. We also provide command-line utilities and a Python module for convenient manipulation of WCxf files, including translation between different bases and matching from SMEFT to WET.

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