arXiv subjects

G. Peter Lepage

Publications and source records attributed to G. Peter Lepage.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

$B \rightarrow D l ν$ Form Factors at Non-Zero Recoil and Extraction of $|V_{cb}|$

We present a lattice QCD calculation of the $B \rightarrow D l ν$ semileptonic decay form factors $f_+(q^2)$ and $f_0(q^2)$ for the entire physical $q^2$ range. Non-relativistic QCD (NRQCD) bottom quarks and Highly Improved Staggered Quark (HISQ) charm and light quarks are employed together with $N_f = 2+1$ MILC gauge configurations. A joint fit to our lattice and BaBar experimental data allows an extraction of the CKM matrix element $|V_{cb}|$. We also determine the phenomenologically interesting ratio $R(D) = {\cal B}(B \rightarrow D τν_τ) / {\cal B}(B \rightarrow D l ν_l)$ ($l = e, μ$). We find $|V_{cb}|_{excl.}^{B \rightarrow D} = 0.0402(17)(13)$, where the first error consists of the lattice simulation errors and the experimental statistical error and the second error is the experimental systematic error. For the branching fraction ratio we find $R(D) = 0.300(8)$.

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arXiv2015

Lattice calculation of the HVP contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of muon

We report our (HPQCD) progress on the calculation of the Hadronic Vacuum Polarisation contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of muon. In this article we discuss the calculations for the light (up/down) quark connected contribution using our method described in Phys.Rev. D89(2014) 11, 114501 and give an estimate for the disconnected contribution. Our calculation has been carried out on MILC Collaboration's $n_f = 2+1+1$ HISQ ensembles at multiple values of the lattice spacing, multiple volumes and multiple light sea quark masses (including physical pion mass configurations).

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arXiv2015

Phenomenology with Lattice NRQCD b Quarks

The HPQCD collaboration has used radiatively-improved NonRelativistic QCD (NRQCD) for $b$ quarks in bottomonium to determine the decay rate of $Υ$ and $Υ^\prime$ mesons to leptons in lattice QCD. Using time-moments of vector bottomonium current-current correlators, we are also able to determine the $b$ quark mass in the $\overline{\mathrm{MS}}$ scheme. We use the same NRQCD $b$ quarks and Highly Improved Staggered Quark (HISQ) light quarks -- with masses down to their physical values -- to give a complete picture of heavy-light meson decay constants including those for vector mesons. We also study the semileptonic $B\rightarrowπ\ellν$ decay at zero recoil to show that lattice QCD is consistent with the soft pion theorem for this decay: $f_0(q^2_{\mathrm{max}})=f_B/f_π$ in the massless pion limit. Finally, we present preliminary results for the $B_c \rightarrow η_c \ell ν$ semileptonic decay form factors. This is a showcase for the comparison of results for NRQCD $b$ quarks with those from HISQ $b$ quarks (both with HISQ $c$ quarks). We give the first 3-point results from our `heavy HISQ' programme, which will allow us to improve the normalisation of NRQCD-HISQ currents for other calculations.

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arXiv2015

Expected Precision of Higgs Boson Partial Widths within the Standard Model

We discuss the sources of uncertainty in calculations of the partial widths of the Higgs boson within the Standard Model. The uncertainties come from two sources: the truncation of perturbation theory and the uncertainties in input parameters. We review the current status of perturbative calculations and note that these are already reaching the parts-per-mil level of accuracy for the major decay modes. The main sources of uncertainty will then come from the parametric dependences on alpha_s, m_b, and m_c. Knowledge of these parameters is systematically improvable through lattice gauge theory calculations. We estimate the precision that lattice QCD will achieve in the next decade and the corresponding precision of the Standard Model predictions for Higgs boson partial widths.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

The strange and charm quark contributions to the anomalous magnetic moment (g -2) of the muon from current-current correlators

We describe a new technique (presented in arXiv:1403.1778) to determine the contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment (g-2) of the muon coming from the hadronic vacuum polarisation using lattice QCD. Our method uses Padé approximants to reconstruct the Adler function from its derivatives at $q^2=0$. These are obtained simply and accurately from time-moments of the vector current-current correlator at zero spatial momentum. We test the method using strange quark correlators calculated on MILC Collaboration's $n_f$ = 2+1+1 HISQ ensembles at multiple values of the lattice spacing, multiple volumes and multiple light sea quark masses (including physical pion mass configurations).

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arXiv2014

The strange and charm quark contributions to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon from lattice QCD

We describe a new technique (published in Phys. Rev. D89 114501) to determine the contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon coming from the hadronic vacuum polarisation using lattice QCD. Our method uses Padé approximants to reconstruct the Adler function from its derivatives at $q^2=0$. These are obtained simply and accurately from time-moments of the vector current-current correlator at zero spatial momentum. We test the method using strange quark correlators calculated on MILC Collaboration's $n_f = 2+1+1$ HISQ ensembles at multiple values of the lattice spacing, multiple volumes and multiple light sea quark masses (including physical pion mass configurations). We find the (connected) contribution to the anomalous moment from the strange quark vacuum polarisation to be $a^s_μ=53.41(59)\times 10^{-10}$, and the contribution from charm quarks to be $a^c_μ=14.42(39)\times 10^{-10}$ - 1% accuracy is achieved for the strange quark contribution. The extension of our method to the light quark contribution and to that from the quark-line disconnected diagram is straightforward.

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arXiv2014

$B_s \to K \ell ν$ form factors from lattice QCD

We report the first lattice QCD calculation of the form factors for the standard model tree-level decay $B_s\to K \ellν$. In combination with future measurement, this calculation will provide an alternative exclusive semileptonic determination of $|V_{ub}|$. We compare our results with previous model calculations, make predictions for differential decay rates and branching fractions, and predict the ratio of differential branching fractions between $B_s\to Kτν$ and $B_s\to Kμν$. We also present standard model predictions for differential decay rate forward-backward asymmetries, polarization fractions, and calculate potentially useful ratios of $B_s\to K$ form factors with those of the fictitious $B_s\toη_s$ decay. Our lattice simulations utilize NRQCD $b$ and HISQ light quarks on a subset of the MILC Collaboration's $2+1$ asqtad gauge configurations, including two lattice spacings and a range of light quark masses.

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arXiv2014

Standard Model predictions for B -> Kll with form factors from lattice QCD

We calculate, for the first time using unquenched lattice QCD form factors, the Standard Model differential branching fractions $dB/dq^2(B \to Kll)$ for $l=e, μ, τ$ and compare with experimental measurements by Belle, BABAR, CDF, and LHCb. We report on $\mathcal{B}(B \to Kll)$ in $q^2$ bins used by experiment and predict $\mathcal{B}(B \to K ττ) = (1.44 \pm 0.15) 10^{-7}$. We also calculate the ratio of branching fractions $R^μ_e = 1.00023(63)$ and predict $R^τ_l = 1.159(40)$, for $l=e, μ$. Finally, we calculate the "flat term" in the angular distribution of the differential decay rate $F_H^{e, μ, τ}$ in experimentally motivated $q^2$ bins.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2014

Nonperturbative tests of the renormalization of mixed clover-staggered currents in lattice QCD

The Fermilab Lattice and MILC collaborations have shown in one-loop lattice QCD perturbation theory that the renormalization constants of vector and axial-vector mixed clover-asqtad currents are closely related to the product of those for clover-clover and asqtad-asqtad (local) vector currents. To be useful for future higher precision calculations this relationship must be valid beyond one-loop and very general. We test its validity nonperturbatively using clover and Highly Improved Staggered (HISQ) strange quarks, utilising the absolute normalization of the HISQ temporal axial current. We find that the renormalization of the mixed current differs from the square root of the product of the pure HISQ and pure clover currents by $2-3\%$. We also compare discretization errors between the clover and HISQ formalisms.

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arXiv2013

B and Bs semileptonic decay form factors with NRQCD/HISQ quarks

We discuss our ongoing effort to calculate form factors for several B and Bs semileptonic decays. We have recently completed the first unquenched calculation of the form factors for the rare decay B -> K ll. Extrapolated over the full kinematic range of q^2 via model-independent z expansion, these form factor results allow us to calculate several Standard Model observables. We compare with experiment (Belle, BABAR, CDF, and LHCb) where possible and make predictions elsewhere. We discuss preliminary results for Bs -> K l nu which, when combined with anticipated experimental results, will provide an alternative exclusive determination of |Vub|. We are exploring the possibility of using ratios of form factors for this decay with those for the unphysical decay Bs -> eta_s as a means of significantly reducing form factor errors. We are also studying B -> pi l nu, form factors for which are combined with experiment in the standard exclusive determination of |Vub|. Our simulations use NRQCD heavy and HISQ light valence quarks on the MILC 2+1 dynamical asqtad configurations.

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arXiv2013

Rare decay B -> K ll form factors from lattice QCD

We calculate, for the first time using unquenched lattice QCD, form factors for the rare decay B -> Kll in and beyond the Standard Model. Our lattice QCD calculation utilizes a nonrelativistic QCD formulation for the b valence quarks, the highly improved staggered quark formulation for the light valence quarks, and employs the MILC 2+1 asqtad ensembles. The form factor results, based on the z expansion, are valid over the full kinematic range of q^2. We construct the ratios f0/f+ and fT/f+, which are useful in constraining new physics and verifying effective theory form factor symmetry relations. We also discuss the calculation of Standard Model observables.

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arXiv2012

Matching heavy-light currents with NRQCD and HISQ quarks

We calculate the one loop renormalisation parameters for the heavy-light axial-vector and vector currents using lattice perturbation theory. We use NonRelativistic QCD (NRQCD) heavy quarks and the Highly Improved Staggered Quark (HISQ) action for the light quarks. We present results for heavy-light currents with massless HISQ quarks and briefly discuss the extension to heavy-heavy currents with massive HISQ quarks.

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arXiv2012

Form factors for B and B_s semileptonic decays with NRQCD/HISQ quarks

We discuss preliminaries of a calculation of the form factors for the semileptonic decays B -> pi lv, B_s -> K lv, and B -> K ll. We simulate with NRQCD heavy and HISQ light valence quarks on the MILC 2+1 dynamical asqtad configurations. The form factors are calculated over a range of momentum transfer to allow determination of their shape and the extraction of |V_ub|. Additionally, we are calculating ratios of these form factors to those for the unphysical decay B_s -> eta_s. We are studying the possibility of combining these precisely determined ratios with future calculations of B_s ->eta_s using HISQ b-quarks to generate form factors with significantly reduced errors.

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arXiv2012

The B and B_s Meson Decay Constants from Lattice QCD

We present a new determination of the B and B_s meson decay constants using NRQCD b-quarks, HISQ light and strange valence quarks and the MILC collaboration N_f=2+1 lattices. The new calculations improve on HPQCD's earlier work with NRQCD b-quarks by replacing AsqTad with HISQ valence quarks, by including a more chiral MILC fine ensemble in the analysis, and by employing better tuned quark masses and overall scale. We find f_B = 0.191(9)GeV, f_{B_s} = 0.228(10)GeV and f_{B_s}/f_B = 1.188(18). Combining the new value for f_{B_s}/f_B with a recent very precise determination of the B_s meson decay constant based on HISQ b-quarks, f_{B_s} = 0.225(4)GeV, leads to f_B = 0.189(4)GeV. With errors of just 2.1% this represents the most precise f_B available today.

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arXiv2012

|V_cd| from D Meson Leptonic Decays

We present an update of the D meson decay constant f_D using the Highly Improved Staggered Quark (HISQ) action for valence charm and light quarks on MILC N_f = 2+1 lattices. The new determination incorporates HPQCD's improved scale r_1^{N_f = 2+1} = 0.3133(23) fm, accurately retuned bare charm quark masses and data from an ensemble that is more chiral than in our previous calculations. We find f_D = 208.3(3.4) MeV. Combining the new f_D with D -> μν branching fraction data from CLEO-c, we extract the CKM matrix element |V_cd| = 0.223(10)_{exp.}(4)_{lat.}. This value is in excellent agreement with |V_cd| from D semileptonic decays and from neutrino scattering experiments and has comparable total errors. We determine the ratio between semileptonic form factor and decay constant and find [f^{D -> π}_+(0) / f_D ]_{lat.} = 3.20(15) GeV^{-1} to be compared with the experimental value of [f^{D -> π}_+(0) / f_D ]_{exp.} = 3.19(18) GeV^{-1}. Finally, we mention recent preliminary but already more accurate D -> μν branching fraction measurements from BES III and discuss their impact on precision |V_cd| determinations in the future.

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arXiv2011

On the Absence of O(a) Errors in Staggered-Quark Discretizations

We demonstrate that the O(a) taste mixing exhibited in standard textbook presentations of staggered quarks is an artifact of the particular definition of the flavor fields in those presentations, and has nothing to do with the underlying precision of staggered-quark actions, despite continuing comments to the contrary in the current literature. To illustrate this point we introduce a new coordinate-space definition of the flavor fields that suppresses the O(a) term by two additional powers of a. In fact there are no errors at all from this mechanism. The only source of taste mixing comes from the exchange of highly-virtual gluons and enters in O(a^2). We review the idiosyncrasies of Symanzik improvement for naive/staggerd-quark actions, and show how these results follow from that program.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2011

The D to K and D to pi semileptonic decay form factors from Lattice QCD

We present a new and very high statistics study of D and D_s semileptonic decay form factors on the lattice. We work with MILC N_f=2+1 lattices and use the Highly Improved Staggered Action (HISQ) for both the charm and the light valence quarks. We use both scalar and vector currents to determine the form factors f_0(q^2) and f_+(q^2) for a range of D and D_s form factors including those for D to pi and D to K semileptonic decays. By using a phased boundary condition we are able to tune accurately to q^2=0. We also compare the shape in q^2 to that from experiment. We show that the form factors are very insensitive to the spectator quark: D to K and D_s to eta_s form factors are essentially the same, and the same is true for D to pi and D_s to K. This has important implications when considering the corresponding B/B_s processes.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2011

$D \rightarrow π, l ν$ Semileptonic Decays, $|V_{cd}|$ and 2$^{nd}$ Row Unitarity from Lattice QCD

We present a new calculation of the $D \rightarrow π, l ν$ semileptonic form factor $f^{D \rightarrow π}_+(q^2)$ at $q^2 = 0$ based on HISQ charm and light valence quarks on MILC $N_f = 2 +1$ lattices. Using methods developed recently for HPQCD's study of $D \rightarrow K, l ν$ decays, we find $f^{D \rightarrow π}_+(0) = 0.666(29)$. This signifies a better than factor of two improvement in errors for this quantity compared to previous calculations. Combining the new result with CLEO-c branching fraction data, we extract the CKM matrix element $|V_{cd}| = 0.225(6)_{exp.}(10)_{lat.}$, where the first error comes from experiment and the second from theory. With a total error of $\sim5.3$\% the accuracy of direct determination of $|V_{cd}|$ from $D$ semileptonic decays has become comparable to (and in good agreement with) that from neutrino scattering. We also check for second row unitarity using this new $|V_{cd}|$, HPQCD's earlier $|V_{cs}|$ and $|V_{cb}|$ from the Fermilab Lattice \& MILC collaborations. We find $|V_{cd}|^2 + |V_{cs}|^2 + |V_{cb}|^2 = 0.976(50)$, improving on the current PDG2010 value.

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