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Gino Isidori

Publications and source records attributed to Gino Isidori.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Electromagnetic corrections to non-leptonic two-body B and D decays

We present analytic expressions to evaluate at O(alpha) the effects of soft-photon emission, and the related virtual corrections, in non-leptonic decays of the type B,D -> P1 P2, where P1 and P2 are scalar or pseudoscalar particles. The phenomenological implications of these results are briefly discussed. For B decays into charged pions the effects of soft-photon emission are quite large: the corrections to the rates can easily exceed the 5% level if tight cuts on the photon energy are applied.

hep-ph↗

Minimal Flavor Violation in the Lepton Sector

We extend the notion of Minimal Flavor Violation to the lepton sector. We introduce a symmetry principle which allows us to express lepton flavor violation in the charged lepton sector in terms of neutrino masses and mixing angles. We explore the dependence of the rates for flavor changing radiative charged lepton decays (ell(i) -> ell(j) + gamma) and mu-to-e conversion in nuclei on the scales for total lepton number violation, lepton flavor violation and the neutrino masses and mixing angles. Measurable rates are obtained when the scale for total lepton number violation is much larger than the scale for lepton flavor violation.

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Rare Kaon Decays on the Lattice

We show that long distance contributions to the rare decays K -> pi nu nu-bar and K -> pi l+ l- can be computed using lattice QCD. The proposed approach requires well established methods, successfully applied in the calculations of electromagnetic and semileptonic form factors. The extra power divergences, related to the use of weak four-fermion operators, can be eliminated using only the symmetries of the lattice action without ambiguities or complicated non-perturbative subtractions. We demonstrate that this is true even when a lattice action with explicit chiral symmetry breaking is employed. Our study opens the possibility of reducing the present uncertainty in the theoretical predictions for these decays.

hep-lat↗

KL -> pi0 nu nu-bar as a Probe of New Physics

We summarize the theoretical virtues of the rare K -> pi nu nu-bar decays and emphasize the unique role of KL -> pi0 nu nu-bar in probing the nature of physics beyond the Standard Model, in particular concerning possible new sources of CP violation and flavor-symmetry breaking. A brief summary of the prospects for the measurement of the KL -> pi0 nu nu-bar rate is also given.

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Light-quark Loops in K->pi nu nu

We present a comprehensive analysis of the contributions to K->pi nu nu decays not described by the leading dimension-six effective Hamiltonian. These include both dimension-eight four-fermion operators generated at the charm scale, and genuine long-distance contributions which can be described within the framework of chiral perturbation theory. We show that a consistent treatment of the latter contributions, which turn out to be the dominant effect, requires the introduction of new chiral operators already at O(GF^2 p^2). Using this new chiral Lagrangian, we analyze the long-distance structure of K->pi nu nu amplitudes at the one-loop level, and discuss the role of the dimension-eight operators in the matching between short- and long-distance components. From the numerical point of view, we find that these O(GF^2 LambdaQCD^2) corrections enhance the SM prediction of Br(K+->pi+ nu nu) by about 6%

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Pion-pion scattering and the K->3pi decay amplitudes

We revisit the recently proposed method for the determination of the pi-pi scattering length combination a_{0}-a_{2}, based on the study of the pi0 pi0 spectrum in K+ -> pi+ pi0 pi0. In view of a precision measurement, we discuss here the effects due to smaller absorptive contributions to the K+ -> pi+ pi0 pi0 and K+ -> pi+ pi+ pi- amplitudes. We outline a method of analysis that can lead to a precision determination of a_{0}-a_{2} and is based on very general properties of the S matrix. The discussion of final-state rescattering and cusp effects is also extended to the two K_L -> 3pi coupled channels. Thanks to the present work, the theoretical error on the a_{0}-a_{2} combination extracted from the K+ -> pi+ pi0 pi0 spectrum is reduced to about 5%. A further reduction requires the evaluation of the effects arising from radiative corrections.

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Calorimetric transverse energy-energy correlations as a probe of jet quenching

The sensitivity of calorimetric energy-energy correlation function to the medium-induced energy loss of fast partons in high multiplicity heavy ion interactions is demonstrated at the appropriate selection of events for the analysis, namely, the availability of one high-pt jet in an event at least and using the procedure of ``thermal'' background subtraction. Without jet trigger this correlation function manifests the global structure of transverse energy flux: the correlator is isotropic for central collisions, and for non-central collisions it is sensitive to the azimuthal anisotropy of energy flow reproducing its Fourier harmonics but with the coefficients squared.

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Theory of radiative and rare B decays

We present a concise theoretical overview of radiative and rare B decays mediated by flavour-changing neutral-current transitions of the type b->s(d)gamma and b->s(d)l+l-.

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Lepton-flavor mixing and $K \to πν\barν$ decays

The impact of possible sources of lepton-flavor mixing on $K \to πν\barν$ decays is analysed. At the one-loop level lepton-flavor mixing originated from non-diagonal lepton mass matrices cannot generate a CP-conserving $K_L \to π^0ν\barν$ amplitude. The rates of these modes are sensitive to leptonic flavor violation when there are at least two different leptonic mixing matrices. New interactions that violate both quark and lepton universalities could enhance the CP-conserving component of $Γ(K_L \to π^0ν\barν)$ and have a substantial impact. Explicit examples of these effects in the context of supersymmetric models, with and without R-parity conservation, are discussed.

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On the short-distance constraints from K_{L,S} -> mu^+ mu^-

Motivated by new precise results on several $K_L$ decays, sensitive to the ${K_L \to γγ}$ form factor, we present a new analysis of the $K_L\to μ^+μ^-$ long-distance amplitude based on a semi-phenomenological approach. Particular attention is devoted to the evaluation of the uncertainties of this method and to the comparison with alternative approaches. Our main result is a conservative upper bound of $2.5 \times 10^{-9}$ on $B(K_L \to μ^+ μ^-)_{\rm short}$, which is compatible with the SM expectation and which provides significant constraints on new-physics scenarios. The possibility to extract an independent short-distance information from future searches on $K_S \to μ^+ μ^-$ is also briefly discussed.

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Extracting short-distance physics from K_{L,S} -> pi0 e+ e- decays

We present a new analysis of the rare decay K_L -> pi0 e+ e- taking into account important experimental progress that has recently been achieved in measuring K_L -> pi0 gamma gamma and K_S -> pi0 e+ e-. This includes a brief review of the direct CP-violating component, a calculation of the indirect CP-violating contribution, which is now possible after the measurement of K_S -> pi0 e+ e-, and a re-analysis of the CP conserving part. The latter is shown to be negligible, based on experimental input from K_L -> pi0 gamma gamma, a more general treatment of the form factor entering the dispersive contribution, and on a comparison with the CP violating rate, which can now be estimated reliably. We predict B(K_L -> pi0 e+ e-) = (3.2 +1.2 -0.8) 10^{-11} in the Standard Model, dominated by CP violation with a sizable contribution (~40%) from the direct effect, largely through interference with the indirect one. Methods to deal with the severe backgrounds for K_L -> pi0 e+ e- using Dalitz-plot analysis and time-dependent K_L-K_S interference are also briefly discussed.

hep-ph↗

K -> pi nu nu-bar decays and CKM fits

After a brief introduction to the so-called flavour problem, we discuss the role of K -> pi nu nu-bar decays in shedding new light on this issue. In particular, we review the theoretical uncertainties in predicting B(K -> pi nu nu-bar) within the SM, the sensitivity of these observables to New Physics scenarios, and the status of their experimental determination.

hep-ph↗

Shedding Light on the "Dark Side" of $B^0_d$--$\bar B^0_d$ Mixing through $B_d\toπ^+π^-$, $K\toπν\barν$ and $B_{d,s}\toμ^+μ^-$

In a wide class of NP models, which can be motivated through generic arguments and within SUSY, we obtain large contributions to $B^0_d$--$\bar B^0_d$ mixing, but not to $ΔB=1$ processes. If we assume such a scenario, the solutions $ϕ_d\sim 47^\circ\lor 133^\circ$ for the $B^0_d$--$\bar B^0_d$ mixing phase implied by $A_{CP}^{mix}(B_d\to J/ψK_S)$ cannot be converted directly into a constraint in the $ρ$--$η$ plane. However, we may complement $ϕ_d$ with $|V_{ub}/V_{cb}|$ and the recently measured CP asymmetries in $B_d\toπ^+ π^-$ to determine the unitarity triangle, with its angles $α$, $β$ and $γ$. To this end, we have also to control penguin effects, which we do by means of the $B_d\toπ^\mp K^\pm$ branching ratio. Interestingly, the present data show a perfectly consistent picture not only for the ``standard'' solution of $ϕ_d\sim 47^\circ$, but also for $ϕ_d\sim 133^\circ$. In the latter case, the preferred region for the apex of the unitarity triangle is in the second quadrant, allowing us to accommodate conveniently $γ>90^\circ$, which is also favoured by other non-leptonic B decays such as $B\toπK$. Moreover, also the prediction for BR$(K^+\toπ^+ν\barν})$ can be brought to better agreement with experiment. Further strategies to explore this scenario with the help of $B_{d,s}\toμ^+μ^-$ decays are discussed as well.

hep-ph↗

Kaon decays and the flavour problem

After a brief introduction to the so-called flavour problem, we discuss the role of rare K decays in probing the mechanism of quark-flavour mixing. Particular attention is devoted to the formulation of the Minimal Flavour Violation hypothesis, as a general and natural solution to the flavour problem, and to the fundamental role of K -> pi nu nu-bar decays in testing this scenario.

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B_{s,d} -> l^+ l^- and K_L -> l^+ l^- in SUSY models with non-minimal sources of flavour mixing

We present a general analysis of B_{s,d}-> l^+ l^- and K_L -> l^+ l^- decays in supersymmetric models with non-minimal sources of flavour mixing. In spite of the existing constraints on off-diagonal squark mass terms, these modes could still receive sizeable corrections, mainly because of Higgs-mediated FCNCs arising at large tan(beta). The severe limits on scenarios with large tan(beta) and non-negligible {tilde d}^i_{R(L)}-{d-tilde}^j_{R(L)} mixing imposed by the present experimental bounds on these modes and Delta B=2 observables are discussed in detail. In particular, we show that scalar-current contributions to K_L -> l^+ l^- and B-{bar B} mixing set non-trivial constraints on the possibility that B_s -> l^+ l^- and B_d -> l^+ l^- receive large corrections.

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Scalar flavour-changing neutral currents in the large-tan(beta) limit

We analyse scalar flavour-changing neutral currents of down-type quarks in models with two Higgs doublets, coupled separately to up- and down-type quarks, in the limit where the ratio of the two expectation values ($\tan β= v_u/v_d$) is large. We clarify the origin of this phenomenon, both in $ΔF=1$ and $ΔF=2$ processes, analysing differences and analogies between supersymmetric and non-supersymmetric models. We confirm previous findings of a sizeable enhancement at large $\tanβ$ of specific $ΔF=1$ and $ΔF=2$ amplitudes in the MSSM and, in these cases, we discuss how large-$\tanβ$ corrections can be controlled beyond lowest order. Finally, we emphasize the unique role of the rare processes $B_{s,d} \to τ^+ τ^-$ and $B_{s,d} \to μ^+ μ^-$ in probing this scenario.

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$K^+\to π^+ν\barν$: a rising star on the stage of flavour physics

Motivated by the new experimental information reported by the BNL--E787 Collaboration, we analyse the present impact and the future prospects opened by the measurement of $\br(K^+\toπ^+ν\barν)$. Although still affected by a large error, the BNL--E787 result favours values of $\br(K^+\to π^+ν\barν)$ substantially larger than what expected within the Standard Model. As a result, this data already provide non-trivial constraints on the unitarity triangle, when interpreted within the Standard Model framework. We stress the importance of the clean relation between $\br(K^+\to π^+ν\barν)$, $\sin2β$ and $ΔM_{B_d}/ΔM_{B_s}$ that in the next few years could provide one of the deepest probes of the Standard Model in the sector of quark-flavour dynamics. A speculative discussion about possible non-standard interpretations of a large $\br(K^+\to π^+ν\barν)$ is also presented. Two main scenarios naturally emerge: those with direct new-physics contributions to the $s \to d ν\barν$ amplitude and those with direct new-physics effects only in $B_d$--$\bar B_d$ mixing. Realistic models originating these two scenarios and possible future strategies to clearly identify them are briefly discussed.

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