arXiv subjects

F. Mescia

Publications and source records attributed to F. Mescia.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

Precision tests of the Standard Model with leptonic and semileptonic kaon decays

We present a global analysis of leptonic and semileptonic kaon decays data, including all recent results by BNL-E865, KLOE, KTeV, ISTRA+, and NA48. Experimental results are critically reviewed and combined, taking into account theoretical (both analytical and numerical) constraints on the semileptonic kaon form factors. This analysis leads to a very accurate determination of Vus and allows us to perform several stringent tests of the Standard Model.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

B, D and K decays

With the advent of the LHC, we will be able to probe New Physics (NP) up to energy scales almost one order of magnitude larger than it has been possible with present accelerator facilities. While direct detection of new particles will be the main avenue to establish the presence of NP at the LHC, indirect searches will provide precious complementary information, since most probably it will not be possible to measure the full spectrum of new particles and their couplings through direct production. In particular, precision measurements and computations in the realm of flavour physics are expected to play a key role in constraining the unknown parameters of the Lagrangian of any NP model emerging from direct searches at the LHC. The aim of Working Group 2 was twofold: on one hand, to provide a coherent, up-to-date picture of the status of flavour physics before the start of the LHC; on the other hand, to initiate activities on the path towards integrating information on NP from high-pT and flavour data.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2006

Lattice study of semileptonic form factors with twisted boundary conditions

We apply twisted boundary conditions to lattice QCD simulations of three-point correlation functions in order to access spatial components of hadronic momenta different from the integer multiples of 2 pi / L. We calculate the vector and scalar form factors relevant to the K -> pi semileptonic decay and consider all the possible ways of twisting one of the quark lines in the three-point functions. We show that the momentum shift produced by the twisted boundary conditions does not introduce any additional noise and easily allows to determine within a few percent statistical accuracy the form factors at quite small values of the four-momentum transfer, which are not accessible when periodic boundary conditions are considered. The use of twisted boundary conditions turns out to be crucial for a precise determination of the form factor at zero-momentum transfer, when a precise lattice point sufficiently close to zero-momentum transfer is not accessible with periodic boundary conditions.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2006

Exploring twisted mass Lattice QCD with the Clover term

It has been shown that in the twisted mass formulation of Lattice QCD at maximal twist large cutoff effects are generated when the quark mass becomes of O(a Lambda_QCD^2). In general, these effects can be suppressed in two ways: either by choosing the critical quark mass in an "optimal way", or by adding the Clover term to the twisted action. We investigate the second option by performing a quenched lattice QCD simulation with twisted Clover fermions and pion masses as low as 280 MeV. We show that the Clover term is indeed efficient in reducing the large cutoff effects. In particular, the so-called bending phenomenon observed in the determination of the pion decay constant is cured in this way. In addition, by using maximally twisted Clover fermions, we provide a non-perturbative determination of the vector current renormalization constant Z_V as well as of the non-perturbatively renormalized light quark masses. Finally, we calculate the connected contribution to the charged-neutral pseudoscalar meson mass splitting, finding that the introduction of the Clover term in the twisted action is also beneficial, in the quenched approximation, in reducing cutoff effects related to the isospin symmetry breaking at finite lattice spacing.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2005

Non-perturbatively Renormalized Light Quark Masses with Two Dynamical Fermions

We present the results of a partially quenched lattice QCD calculation of light quark masses with $N_f=2$ degenerate dynamical flavors. Numerical simulations are carried out using the plaquette gauge action and the Wilson quark action at $β= 5.8$ ($a^{-1} \simeq 3.2\gev$). The spatial extension of the $24^3 \times 48$ lattice is about 1.5 fm. Configurations have been generated at four values of the sea quark masses, for which the ratio of pseudoscalar over vector meson masses is in the range $M_P/M_V \simeq 0.60 ÷0.75$. An important feature of the present study is the use of non-perturbative renormalization, performed with the $\ri$ method. The effects of dynamical sea quarks in the determination of light quark masses have been investigated by performing a quenched calculation on a similar lattice. Our results for the average up-down and strange quark masses are $m_{ud}^{MS} (2\gev) = 4.3(4) (^{+1.1}_{-0.4})\mev$ and $m_s^{MS}(2\gev)=101(8)(^{+25}_{-9}) \mev$. These values are larger than those obtained by evaluating the quark mass renormalization constants with one-loop (boosted) perturbation theory. Our results for the light quark masses are compatible with those obtained in the quenched simulation. No significant sea quark effects are seen, at the values of sea quark masses used in the present study.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2005

Kaon B-parameter with NF=2 dynamical Wilson fermions

We present a preliminary study of the neutral kaon mixing bag parameter BK using two flavors of dynamical Wilson fermions. We determine the matrix element of the relevant DeltaS=2 operator by using both the conventional approach and the so called ``non-subtraction method'', and find that the latter leads to results with smaller uncertainties. After having implemented non-perturbative renormalization, we study the dependence of BK on the see quark mass. At our relatively heavy values of quark masses (0.60<M_P/M_V<0.75) such a dependence is found to be negligible and the results, within the statistical accuracy, are consistent with a quenched determination. As a preliminary result for the renormalization group invariant parameter we quote BKRGI=1.02(25).

hep-lat↗

arXiv2005

Operator product expansion and quark condensate from LQCD in coordinate space

We perform an exploratory study of the operator product expansion of the quark propagator on the lattice at short distance in coordinate space. This permits a simple determination of the quark condensate, ^MS(2 GeV)=(-265\pm 5\pm 22 MeV)^3, and of the renormalization constant of the quark field, Z^MS(2 GeV)=0.871 \pm 0.003 \pm 0.020. This new method also provides a remarkable non-perturbative test of the OPE predictions at short distance in QCD.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2005

Non-perturbatively renormalised light quark masses from a lattice simulation with N_f=2

We present results for the light quark masses obtained from a lattice QCD simulation with N_f=2 degenerate Wilson dynamical quark flavours. The sea quark masses of our lattice, of spacing a ~ 0.06 fm, are relatively heavy, i.e., they cover the range corresponding to 0.60 <~ M_P/M_V <~ 0.75. After implementing the non-perturbative RI-MOM method to renormalise quark masses, we obtain m_{ud}^{MS}(2 GeV)=4.3 +- 0.4^{+1.1}_{-0} MeV, and m_s^{MS}(2 GeV)=101 +- 8^{+25}_{-0} MeV, which are about 15% larger than they would be if renormalised perturbatively. In addition, we show that the above results are compatible with those obtained in a quenched simulation with a similar lattice.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2005

Operator product expansion and quark condensate from Lattice QCD in coordinate space

We present a Lattice QCD determination of the chiral quark condensate based on a new method. We extract the quark condensate from the operator product expansion of the quark propagator at short euclidean distances, where it represents the leading contribution in the chiral limit. From this study we obtain <\bar q q>^ms(2 GeV)=-(265+-5+-22 MeV)^3$, in good agreement with determinations of this quantity based on different approaches. The simulation is performed by using the O(a)-improved Wilson action at beta=6.45 on a volume 32^3\times70 in the quenched approximation.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2004

SU(3)-breaking effects in kaon and hyperon semileptonic decays from lattice QCD

We discuss the result of a recent quenched lattice calculation of the K -> pi vector form factor at zero-momentum transfer, relevant for the determination of |V_us| from K-> pi l nu decays. Using suitable double ratios of three-point correlation functions, we show that it is possible to calculate this quantity at the percent-level precision. The leading quenched effects are corrected for by means of quenched chiral perturbation theory. The final result, f+(0) = 0.960 +- 0.005_stat +- 0.007_syst, turns out to be in good agreement with the old quark model estimate made by Leutwyler and Roos. In this paper, we discuss the phenomenological impact of the lattice result for the extraction of |V_us|, by updating the analysis of K -> pi l nu decays with the most recent experimental data. We also present a preliminary lattice study of hyperon Sigma -> n l nu decays, based on a similar strategy.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2004

The K -> pi vector form factor at zero momentum transfer on the lattice

We present a quenched lattice study of the form factors $f_+(q^2)$ and $f_0(q^2)$ of the matrix elements $<π| \bar{s} γ_μu | K >$. We focus on the second-order SU(3)-breaking quantity $[1 - f_+(0)]$, which is necessary to extract $|V_{us}|$ from $K_{\ell 3}$ decays. For this quantity we show that it is possible to reach the percent precision which is the required one for a significant determination of $|V_{us}|$. The leading quenched chiral logarithms are corrected for by using analytic calculations in quenched chiral perturbation theory. Our final result, $f_+^{K^0π^-}(0) = 0.960 \pm 0.005_{\rm stat} \pm 0.007_{\rm syst}$, where the systematic error does not include the residual quenched effects, is in good agreement with the estimate made by Leutwyler and Roos. A comparison with other non-lattice computations and the impact of our result on the extraction of $|V_{us}|$ are also presented.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2004

Light Hadron Spectrum, Renormalization Constants and Light Quark Masses with Two Dynamical Fermions

The results of a preliminary partially quenched (N_f=2) study of the light hadron spectrum, renormalization constants and light quark masses are presented. Numerical simulations are carried out with the LL-SSOR preconditioned Hybrid Monte Carlo with two degenerate dynamical fermions, using the plaquette gauge action and the Wilson quark action at beta = 5.8. Finite volume effects have been investigated employing two lattice volumes: 16^3 x 48 and 24^3 x 48. Configurations have been generated at four values of the sea quark mass corresponding to M_{PS}/M_V ~ 0.6 - 0.8.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2004

Sea quark effects in B_K from N_f=2 clover-improved Wilson fermions

We report calculations of B_K using two flavours of dynamical clover-improved Wilson lattice fermions and look for dependence on the dynamical quark mass at fixed lattice spacing. We see some evidence for dynamical quark effects. In particular B_K decreases as the sea quark masses are reduced towards the up/down quark mass. Our meson masses are quite heavy and a firm prediction of B_K is a task for future simulations.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2004

Sea quark effects in B_K from N_f=2 clover-improved Wilson fermions

We report calculations of the parameter B_K appearing in the Delta S=2 neutral kaon mixing matrix element, whose uncertainty limits the power of unitarity triangle constraints for testing the standard model or looking for new physics. We use two flavours of dynamical clover-improved Wilson lattice fermions and look for dependence on the dynamical quark mass at fixed lattice spacing. We see some evidence for dynamical quark effects and in particular B_K decreases as the sea quark masses are reduced towards the up/down quark mass.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2003

Lifetime Differences and CP Violation Parameters of Neutral B Mesons at the Next-to-Leading Order in QCD

We compute the next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the off-diagonal elements of the decay-width matrix Gamma entering the neutral B-meson oscillations. From this calculation the width differences DeltaGamma and the CP violation parameters (q/p) of Bd and Bs mesons are estimated, including the complete O}(alpha_s) QCD corrections and the 1/mb contributions. For the width difference DeltaGamma_s we agree with previous results. By using the lattice determinations of the relevant hadronic matrix elements we obtain the theoretical predictions DeltaGamma_d/Gamma_d=(2.42+-0.59) x 10^(-3) and DeltaGamma_s/Gamma_s=(7.4+-2.4) x 10^(-2). For the CP violation parameters, we find |(q/p)_d|-1=(2.96+-0.67) x 10^(-4) and |(q/p)_s|-1=(-1.28+-0.27) x 10^(-5). These predictions are compatible with the experimental measurements which, however, suffer at present from large uncertainties.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2003

Spectroscopy of Doubly-Charmed Baryons in Lattice QCD

We present results for masses of spin-1/2 and spin-3/2 double-charm baryons in quenched lattice QCD, from an exploratory study using a non-perturbatively improved clover action at beta=6.2. We have studied local operators and we observe, after appropriate projections, a good signal for the ground states. We also present results for single-charmed baryons and spin-splittings for both double- and single-charmed states.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2002

Heavy to light vector meson semileptonic decays

New (preliminary) results for the form factors relevant for the semileptonic decays of heavy pseudoscalar to a light vector meson are presented. In particular, we discuss the form factors for D --> K* and B --> rho modes.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2002

Lifetime Ratios of Beauty Hadrons at the Next-to-Leading Order in QCD

We compute the next-to-leading order QCD corrections to spectator effects in the lifetime ratios of beauty hadrons. With respect to previous calculations, we take into account the non vanishing value of the charm quark mass. We obtain the predictions tau(B+)/tau(Bd) = 1.06 +- 0.02, tau(Bs)/tau(Bd)= 1.00 +- 0.01 and tau(Lambdab)/tau(Bd) = 0.90 +- 0.05, in good agreement with the experimental results. In the case of tau(Bs)/tau(Bd) and tau(Lambdab)/tau(Bd), however, some contributions, which either vanish in the vacuum insertion approximation or represent a pure NLO corrections, have not been determined yet.

hep-ph↗