arXiv subjects

E. D. Freeland

Publications and source records attributed to E. D. Freeland.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Determination of $|V_{us}|$ from a lattice-QCD calculation of the $K\toπ\ellν$ semileptonic form factor with physical quark masses

We calculate the kaon semileptonic form factor $f_+(0)$ from lattice QCD, working, for the first time, at the physical light-quark masses. We use gauge configurations generated by the MILC collaboration with $N_f=2+1+1$ flavors of sea quarks, which incorporate the effects of dynamical charm quarks as well as those of up, down, and strange. We employ data at three lattice spacings to extrapolate to the continuum limit. Our result, $f_+(0) = 0.9704(32)$, where the error is the total statistical plus systematic uncertainty added in quadrature, is the most precise determination to date. Combining our result with the latest experimental measurements of $K$ semileptonic decays, one obtains the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element $|V_{us}|=0.22290(74)(52)$, where the first error is from $f_+(0)$ and the second one is from experiment. In the first-row test of Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa unitarity, the error stemming from $|V_{us}|$ is now comparable to that from $|V_{ud}|$.

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arXiv2014

Update of $|V_{cb}|$ from the $\bar{B}\to D^*\ell\barν$ form factor at zero recoil with three-flavor lattice QCD

We compute the zero-recoil form factor for the semileptonic decay $\bar{B}^0\to D^{*+}\ell^-\barν$ (and modes related by isospin and charge conjugation) using lattice QCD with three flavors of sea quarks. We use an improved staggered action for the light valence and sea quarks (the MILC \asqtad\ configurations), and the Fermilab action for the heavy quarks. Our calculations incorporate higher statistics, finer lattice spacings, and lighter quark masses than our 2008 work. As a byproduct of tuning the new data set, we obtain the $D_s$ and $B_s$ hyperfine splittings with few-MeV accuracy. For the zero-recoil form factor, we obtain $\mathcal{F}(1)=0.906(4)(12)$, where the first error is statistical and the second is the sum in quadrature of all systematic errors. With the latest HFAG average of experimental results and a cautious treatment of QED effects, we find $|V_{cb}| = (39.04 \pm 0.49_\text{expt} \pm 0.53_\text{QCD} \pm 0.19_\text{QED})\times10^{-3}$. The QCD error is now commensurate with the experimental error.

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arXiv2014

The $D_s$, $D^+$, $B_s$ and $B$ decay constants from $2+1$ flavor lattice QCD

We present a study of the $D$ and $B$ leptonic decay constants on the MILC $N_f=2+1$ asqtad gauge ensembles using asqtad-improved staggered light quarks and clover heavy quarks in the Fermilab interpretation. Our previous analysis \cite{Bazavov:2011aa} computed the decay constants at lattice spacings $a \approx 0.14, 0.11$ and $0.083$ fm. We have extended the simulations to finer $a \approx 0.058$ and $0.043$ fm lattice spacings, and have also increased statistics; this allows us to address many important sources of uncertainty. Technical advances include a two-step two-point fit procedure, better tuning of the heavy quark masses and a better determination of the axial-vector current matching. The present analysis remains blinded, so here we focus on the improvements and their predicted impact on the error budget compared to the prior analysis.

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arXiv2013

Heavy-meson semileptonic decays for the Standard Model and beyond

We calculate the form factors for the semileptonic decays $B_s\to K\ellν$ and $B\to K\ell\ell$ with lattice QCD. We work at several lattice spacings and a range of light quark masses, using the MILC 2+1-flavor asqtad ensembles. We use the Fermilab method for the $b$ quark. We obtain chiral-continuum extrapolations for $E_K$ up to $\sim1.2$ GeV and then extend to the entire kinematic range with the model-independent $z$ expansion.

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arXiv2013

Charmed and strange pseudoscalar meson decay constants from HISQ simulations

We update our determinations of $f_{D^+}$, $f_{D_s}$, $f_K$, and quark mass ratios from simulations with four flavors of HISQ dynamical quarks. The availability of ensembles with light quarks near their physical mass means that we can extract physical results with only small corrections for valence- and sea-quark mass mistunings instead of a chiral extrapolation. The adjusted valence-quark masses and lattice spacings may be determined from an ensemble-by-ensemble analysis, and the results for the quark mass ratios then extrapolated to the continuum limit. Our central values of the charmed meson decay constants, however, come from an alternative analysis, which uses staggered chiral perturbation theory for the heavy-light mesons, and allows us to incorporate data at unphysical quark masses where statistical errors are often smaller. A jackknife analysis propagated through all of these steps takes account of the correlations among all the quantities used in the analysis. Systematic errors from the finite spatial size and EM effects are estimated by varying the parameters in the analysis, and systematic errors from the assumptions in the continuum extrapolation are estimated from the spread of values from different extrapolations.

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arXiv2013

Matrix Elements for $D$- and $B$-Mixing from 2+1 Flavor Lattice QCD

We present the status of our calculation of hadronic matrix elements for $D$- and $B$-meson mixing. We use a large set of the MILC collaboration's $N_f=2+1$ asqtad ensembles, which includes lattice spacings in the range $a\approx0.12$-0.045 fm, and up/down to strange quark mass ratios as low as 0.05. The asqtad action is also employed for the light valence quarks. For the heavy quarks we use the Sheikholeslami-Wohlert action with the Fermilab interpretation. Our calculation covers the complete set of five local operators needed to describe $B$-meson mixing in the Standard Model and Beyond. In the charm sector, our calculation of local mixing matrix elements may be used to constrain new physics models. We present final correlator fit results on the full data set for the $B$-meson mixing project and preliminary fit results for the $D$-meson mixing project.

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arXiv2013

Kaon semileptonic vector form factor and determination of |V_{us}| using staggered fermions

Using staggered fermions and twisted boundary conditions, we calculate the K meson semileptonic decay vector form factor at zero momentum transfer. The HISQ formulation is used for the valence quarks, while the sea quarks are simulated with the asqtad action (MILC N_f=2+1 configurations). For the chiral and continuum extrapolation we use two-loop continuum CHPT, supplemented by partially quenched staggered CHPT at one loop. Our result is f_+^{Kπ}(0) = 0.9667+-0.0023+-0.0033, where the first error is statistical and the second is the sum in quadrature of the systematic uncertainties. This result is the first N_f=2+1 calculation with two lattice spacings and a controlled continuum extrapolation. It is also the most precise result to date for the vector form factor and, although the central value is larger than previous unquenched lattice calculations, it is compatible with them within errors. Combining our value for f_+^{Kπ}(0) with the latest experimental measurements of K semileptonic decays, we obtain |V_{us}| = 0.2238+-0.0009+-0.0005, where the first error is from f_+^{Kπ}(0) and the second one is experimental. As a byproduct of our calculation, we obtain the combination of low-energy constants [C_{12}^r+C_{34}^r-(L_5^r)^2](M_ρ) = (3.62+-1.00)x10^{-6}.

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arXiv2012

Neutral B mixing from 2+1 flavor lattice QCD

We present an update of the Fermilab-MILC Collaboration's calculation of hadronic matrix elements for B^0-\bar{B^0} mixing. This work is a more extended analysis than our recent publication of the SU(3)-breaking ratio xi [arXiv:1205.7013]. We use the asqtad staggered action for light valence quarks in combination with the Fermilab interpretation of the Sheikoleslami-Wohlert action for heavy quarks. The calculations use MILC's 2+1 flavor asqtad ensembles. Ensembles include four lattice spacings from approximately 0.125 fm to 0.045 fm and up/down to strange quark mass ratios as low as 0.05. Our calculation covers the complete set of five operators needed to describe B mixing in the Standard Model and beyond. In addition to an update including a fuller set of analyzed data, we comment on the form of the staggered ChPT extrapolation function.

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arXiv2012

Two-point Correlator Fits on HISQ Ensembles

We present our methods to fit the two point correlators for light, strange, and charmed pseudoscalar meson physics with the highly improved staggered quark (HISQ) action. We make use of the least-squares fit including the full covariance matrix of the correlators and including Gaussian constraints on some parameters. We fit the correlators on a variety of the HISQ ensembles. The lattice spacing ranges from 0.15 fm down to 0.06 fm. The light sea quark mass ranges from 0.2 times the strange quark mass down to the physical light quark mass. The HISQ ensembles also include lattices with different volumes and with unphysical values of the strange quark mass. We use the results from this work to obtain our preliminary results of $f_D$, $f_{D_s}$, $f_{D_s}/f_{D}$, and ratios of quark masses presented in another talk [1].

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arXiv2012

Kaon semileptonic decay form factors with HISQ valence quarks

We report on the status of our kaon semileptonic form factor calculations using the highly-improved staggered quark (HISQ) formulation to simulate the valence fermions. We present results for the form factor f_+^{K π}(0) on the asqtad N_f=2+1 MILC configurations, discuss the chiral-continuum extrapolation, and give a preliminary estimate of the total error. We also present a more preliminary set of results for the same form factor but with the sea quarks also simulated with the HISQ action; these results include data at the physical light quark masses. The improvements that we expect to achieve with the use of the HISQ configurations and simulations at the physical quark masses are briefly discussed.

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arXiv2012

Pseudoscalar meson physics with four dynamical quarks

We present preliminary results for light, strange and charmed pseudoscalar meson physics from simulations using four flavors of dynamical quarks with the highly improved staggered quark (HISQ) action. These simulations include lattice spacings ranging from 0.15 to 0.06 fm, and sea-quark masses both above and at their physical value. The major results are charm meson decay constants f_D, f_{D_s} and f_{D_s}/f_D and ratios of quark masses. This talk will focus on our procedures for finding the decay constants on each ensemble, the continuum extrapolation, and estimates of systematic error.

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arXiv2012

Refining new-physics searches in B -> D tau nu decay with lattice QCD

The semileptonic decay channel B -> D tau nu is sensitive to the presence of a scalar current, such as that mediated by a charged-Higgs boson. Recently the BaBar experiment reported the first observation of the exclusive semileptonic decay B -> D tau nu, finding an approximately 2-sigma disagreement with the Standard-Model prediction for the ratio R(D)=BR(B->D tau nu)/BR(B->D l nu), where l=e,mu. We compute this ratio of branching fractions using hadronic form factors computed in unquenched lattice QCD and obtain R(D) = 0.316(12)(7), where the errors are statistical and total systematic, respectively. This result is the first Standard-Model calculation of R(D) from ab initio full QCD. Its error is smaller than that of previous estimates, primarily due to the reduced uncertainty in the scalar form factor f_0(q^2). Our determination of R(D) is approximately 1-sigma higher than previous estimates and, thus, reduces the tension with experiment. We also compute R(D) in models with electrically charged scalar exchange, such as the type II two-Higgs doublet model. Once again, our result is consistent with, but approximately 1-sigma higher than, previous estimates for phenomenologically relevant values of the scalar coupling in the type II model. As a byproduct of our calculation, we also present the Standard-Model prediction for the longitudinal polarization ratio P_L (D)= 0.325(4)(3).

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arXiv2012

B_s->D_s/B->D Semileptonic Form-Factor Ratios and Their Application to BR(B^0_s->μ^+μ^-)

We calculate form-factor ratios between the semileptonic decays \bar{B}->D^+\ell^-\barν and \bar{B}_s->D_s^+\ell^-\barν with lattice QCD. These ratios are a key theoretical input in a new strategy to determine the fragmentation fractions of the neutral B decays, which are needed for measurements of BR(B^0_s-> μ^+μ^-). We use the MILC ensembles of gauge configurations with 2+1 flavors of sea quarks at two lattice spacings of approximately 0.12 fm and 0.09 fm. We use the model-independent z-parametrization to extrapolate our simulation results at small recoil toward maximum recoil. Our results for the form-factor ratios are $f_0^{(s)}(M^2_π)/f_0^{(d)}(M^2_K) =1.046(44)_{stat.}(15)_{syst.}$ and $f_0^{(s)}(M^2_π)/f_0^{(d)}(M^2_π)=1.054(47)_{stat.}(17)_{syst.}$. In contrast to a QCD sum-rule calculation, no significant departure from U-spin (d<->s) symmetry is observed.

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arXiv2012

Neutral B-meson mixing from three-flavor lattice QCD: Determination of the SU(3)-breaking ratio ξ

We study SU(3)-breaking effects in the neutral B_d-\bar B_d and B_s-\bar B_s systems with unquenched N_f=2+1 lattice QCD. We calculate the relevant matrix elements on the MILC collaboration's gauge configurations with asqtad-improved staggered sea quarks. For the valence light-quarks (u, d, and s) we use the asqtad action, while for b quarks we use the Fermilab action. We obtain ξ=f_{B_s}\sqrt{B_{B_s}}/f_{B_d}\sqrt{B_{B_d}}=1.268+-0.063. We also present results for the ratio of bag parameters B_{B_s}/B_{B_d} and the ratio of CKM matrix elements |V_{td}|/|V_{ts}|. Although we focus on the calculation of ξ, the strategy and techniques described here will be employed in future extended studies of the B mixing parameters ΔM_{d,s} and ΔΓ_{d,s} in the Standard Model and beyond.

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arXiv2012

Neutral $B$ mixing from 2+1 flavor lattice-QCD: the Standard Model and beyond

We report on the status of our lattice-QCD calculation of the hadronic contribution to $B_d^0$ and $B^0_s$ mixing, with 2+1 flavors of dynamical sea quarks. Preliminary results for hadronic mixing matrix elements are given for a basis of five four-quark, dimension-six, $ΔB=2$ mixing operators that spans the space of all possible hadronic mixing contributions in the Standard Model and beyond. At the intermediate stage of analysis reported on in this work, our errors are competitive with published Standard Model matrix element results. For beyond the Standard Model matrix elements, this is the first unquenched calculation and the first new lattice-QCD calculation in ten years.

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arXiv2011

B- and D-meson decay constants from three-flavor lattice QCD

We calculate the leptonic decay constants of B_{(s)} and D_{(s)} mesons in lattice QCD using staggered light quarks and Fermilab bottom and charm quarks. We compute the heavy-light meson correlation functions on the MILC asqtad-improved staggered gauge configurations which include the effects of three light dynamical sea quarks. We simulate with several values of the light valence- and sea-quark masses (down to ~m_s/10) and at three lattice spacings (a ~ 0.15, 0.12, and 0.09 fm) and extrapolate to the physical up and down quark masses and the continuum using expressions derived in heavy-light meson staggered chiral perturbation theory. We renormalize the heavy-light axial current using a mostly nonperturbative method such that only a small correction to unity must be computed in lattice perturbation theory and higher-order terms are expected to be small. We obtain f_{B^+} = 196.9(8.9) MeV, f_{B_s} = 242.0(9.5) MeV, f_{D^+} = 218.9(11.3) MeV, f_{D_s} = 260.1(10.8) MeV, and the SU(3) flavor-breaking ratios f_{B_s}/f_{B} = 1.229(26) and f_{D_s}/f_{D} = 1.188(25), where the numbers in parentheses are the total statistical and systematic uncertainties added in quadrature.

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arXiv2011

B Mixing in the Standard Model and Beyond: Lattice QCD

We give a brief overview and progress report on our lattice QCD calculation of neutral B mixing hadronic matrix elements needed for Standard Model and Beyond the Standard Model physics. Reference [1] contains more details and results.

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arXiv2011

Tuning Fermilab Heavy Quarks in 2+1 Flavor Lattice QCD with Application to Hyperfine Splittings

We report the non-perturbative tuning of parameters--- kappa_c, kappa_b, and kappa_crit ---that determine the heavy-quark mass in the Fermilab action. This requires the computation of the masses of Ds^(*) and Bs^(*) mesons comprised of a Fermilab heavy quark and a staggered light quark. Additionally, we report the hyperfine splittings for Ds and Bs mesons as a cross-check of our simulation and analysis methods. We find a splitting of 145 +/- 15 MeV for the Ds system and 40 +/- 9 MeV for the Bs system. These are in good agreement with the Particle Data Group average values of 143.9 +/- 0.4 MeV and 46.1 +/- 1.5 MeV, respectively. The calculations are carried out with the MILC 2+1 flavor gauge configurations at three lattice spacings $a$ approximately 0.15, 0.12, and 0.09 fm.

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