arXiv subjects

Harvey B. Meyer

Publications and source records attributed to Harvey B. Meyer.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Iso-vector axial form factors of the nucleon in two-flavour lattice QCD

We present a lattice calculation of the nucleon iso-vector axial and induced pseudoscalar form factors on the CLS ensembles using $N_{\rm f}=2$ dynamical flavours of non-perturbatively $\mathcal{O}(a)$-improved Wilson fermions and an $\mathcal{O}(a)$-improved axial current together with the pseudoscalar density. Excited-state effects in the extraction of the form factors are treated using a variety of methods, with a detailed discussion of their respective merits. The chiral and continuum extrapolation of the results is performed both using formulae inspired by Heavy Baryon Chiral Perturbation Theory (HBChPT) and a global approach to the form factors based on a chiral effective theory (EFT) including axial vector mesons. Our results indicate that careful treatment of excited-state effects is important in order to obtain reliable results for the axial form factors of the nucleon, and that the main remaining error stems from the systematic uncertainties of the chiral extrapolation. As final results, we quote $g_{\rm A} = 1.278 \pm 0.068\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{1}{+0.000}{-0.087}$, $\langle r_{\rm A}^2\rangle = 0.360 \pm 0.036\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{1}{+0.080}{-0.088}~\mathrm{fm}^2$, and $g_{\rm P} = 7.7 \pm 1.8 \genfrac{}{}{0pt}{1}{+0.8}{-2.0}$ for the axial charge, axial charge radius and induced pseudoscalar charge, respectively, where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic.

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arXiv2019

Lattice QCD and the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon

The anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, a_mu, has been measured with an overall precision of 540 ppb by the E821 experiment at BNL. Since the publication of this result in 2004 there has been a persistent tension of 3.5 standard deviations with the theoretical prediction of a_mu based on the Standard Model. The uncertainty of the latter is dominated by the effects of the strong interaction, notably the hadronic vacuum polarisation (HVP) and the hadronic light-by-light (HLbL) scattering contributions, which are commonly evaluated using a data-driven approach and hadronic models, respectively. Given that the discrepancy between theory and experiment is currently one of the most intriguing hints for a possible failure of the Standard Model, it is of paramount importance to determine both the HVP and HLbL contributions from first principles. In this review we present the status of lattice QCD calculations of the leading-order HVP and the HLbL scattering contributions, a_mu^hvp and a_mu^hlbl. After describing the formalism to express a_mu^hvp and a_mu^hlbl in terms of Euclidean correlation functions that can be computed on the lattice, we focus on the systematic effects that must be controlled to achieve a first-principles determination of the dominant strong interaction contributions to a_mu with the desired level of precision. We also present an overview of current lattice QCD results for a_mu^hvp and a_mu^hlbl, as well as related quantities such as the transition form factor for pi0 -> gamma*gamma*. While the total error of current lattice QCD estimates of a_mu^hvp has reached the few-percent level, it must be further reduced by a factor 5 to be competitive with the data-driven dispersive approach. At the same time, there has been good progress towards the determination of a_mu^hlbl with an uncertainty at the 10-15%-level.

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arXiv2018

The leading hadronic contribution to the running of the Weinberg angle using covariant coordinate-space methods

We present a preliminary study of the leading hadronic contribution to the running of the Weinberg angle $θ_{\mathrm{W}}$. The running is extracted from the correlation function of the electromagnetic current with the vector part of the weak neutral current using both the standard time-momentum representation method and the Lorentz-covariant coordinate-space method recently introduced by Meyer. Both connected and disconnected contributions have been computed on $N_{\mathrm{f}}=2+1$ non-perturbatively $O(a)$-improved Wilson fermions configurations from the CLS initiative. Similar covariant coordinate-space methods can be used to compute the leading hadronic contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon $(g-2)_μ$ and to the running of the QED coupling $α$.

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arXiv2018

Hadronic light-by-light scattering in the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon

Hadronic light-by-light scattering in the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon $a_μ$ is one of two hadronic effects limiting the precision of the Standard Model prediction for this precision observable, and hence the new-physics discovery potential of direct experimental determinations of $a_μ$. In this contribution, we report on recent progress in the calculation of this effect achieved both via dispersive and lattice QCD methods.

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arXiv2018

A new method for suppressing excited-state contaminations on the nucleon form factors

One of the most challenging tasks in lattice calculations of baryon form factors is the analysis and control of excited-state contaminations. Taking the isovector axial form factors of the nucleon as an example, both a dispersive representation and a calculation in chiral effective field theory show that the excited-state contributions become dominant at fixed source-sink separation when the axial current is spatially distant from the nucleon source location. We address this effect with a new method in which the axial current is localized by a Gaussian wave-packet and apply it on a CLS ensemble with $N_f=2+1$ flavors of O($a$) improved Wilson fermions with a pion mass of $m_π=200\,$MeV.

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arXiv2018

Euclidean correlators at imaginary spatial momentum and their relation to the thermal photon emission rate

The photon emission rate of a thermally equilibrated system is determined by the imaginary part of the in-medium retarded correlator of the electromagnetic current transverse to the spatial momentum of the photon. In a Lorentz-covariant theory, this correlator can be parametrized by a scalar function ${\cal G}_R(u\cdot {\cal K},{\cal K}^2)$, where $u$ is the fluid four-velocity and ${\cal K}$ corresponds to the momentum of the photon. We propose to compute the analytic continuation of ${\cal G}_R(u\cdot {\cal K},{\cal K}^2)$ at fixed, vanishing virtuality ${\cal K}^2$, to imaginary values of the first argument, $u\cdot {\cal K}= iω_n$. At these kinematics, the retarded correlator is equal to the Euclidean correlator $G_E(ω_n, k=iω_n)$, whose first argument is the Matsubara frequency and the second is the spatial momentum. The Euclidean correlator, which is directly accessible in lattice QCD simulations, must be given an imaginary spatial momentum in order to realize the photon on-shell condition. Via a once-subtracted dispersion relation that we derive in a standard way at fixed ${\cal K}^2=0$, the Euclidean correlator with imaginary spatial momentum is related to the photon emission rate. The relation allows for a more direct probing of the real-photon emission rate of the quark-gluon plasma in lattice QCD than the dispersion relations which have been used so far, the latter being at fixed spatial photon momentum $k$ and thus involving all possible virtualities of the photon.

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arXiv2018

Hadronic light-by-light scattering contribution to the muon g-2 on the lattice

We briefly review several activities at Mainz related to hadronic light-by-light scattering (HLbL) using lattice QCD. First we present a position-space approach to the HLbL contribution in the muon g-2, where we focus on exploratory studies of the pion-pole contribution in a simple model and the lepton loop in QED in the continuum and in infinite volume. The second part describes a lattice calculation of the double-virtual pion transition form factor F_{pi^0 gamma^* gamma^*}(q_1^2, q_2^2) in the spacelike region with photon virtualities up to 1.5 GeV^2 which paves the way for a lattice calculation of the pion-pole contribution to HLbL. The third topic involves HLbL forward scattering amplitudes calculated in lattice QCD which can be described, using dispersion relations (HLbL sum rules), by gamma^* gamma^* -> hadrons fusion cross sections and then compared with phenomenological models.

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arXiv2017

The pion quasiparticle in the low-temperature phase of QCD

We extend our previous studies [PhysRevD.90.054509, PhysRevD.92.094510] of the pion quasiparticle in the low-temperature phase of two-flavor QCD with support from chiral effective theory. This includes the analysis performed on a finite temperature ensemble of size $20\times 64^3$ at $T\approx 151$MeV and a lighter zero-temperature pion mass $m_π \approx 185$ MeV. Furthermore, we investigate the Gell-Mann--Oakes-Renner relation at finite temperature and the Dey-Eletsky-Ioffe mixing theorem at finite quark mass.

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arXiv2017

Hadronic light-by-light scattering amplitudes from lattice QCD versus dispersive sum rules

The hadronic contribution to the eight forward amplitudes of light-by-light scattering ($γ^*γ^*\to γ^*γ^*$) is computed in lattice QCD. Via dispersive sum rules, the amplitudes are compared to a model of the $γ^*γ^*\to {\rm hadrons}$ cross sections in which the fusion process is described by hadronic resonances. Our results thus provide an important test for the model estimates of hadronic light-by-light scattering in the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, $a_μ^{\rm HLbL}$. Using simple parametrizations of the resonance $M\to γ^*γ^*$ transition form factors, we determine the corresponding monopole and dipole masses by performing a global fit to all eight amplitudes. Together with a previous dedicated calculation of the $π^0\to γ^*γ^*$ transition form factor, our calculation provides valuable information for phenomenological estimates of $a_μ^{\rm HLbL}$. The presented calculations are performed in two-flavor QCD with pion masses extending down to 190\,MeV at two different lattice spacings. In addition to the fully connected Wick contractions, on two lattice ensembles we also compute the (2+2) disconnected class of diagrams, and find that their overall size is compatible with a parameter-free, large-$N$ inspired prediction, where $N$ is the number of colors. Motivated by this observation, we estimate in the same way the disconnected contribution to $a_μ^{\rm HLbL}$.

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arXiv2017

Exploratory studies for the position-space approach to hadronic light-by-light scattering in the muon $g-2$

The well-known discrepancy in the muon $g-2$ between experiment and theory demands further theory investigations in view of the upcoming new experiments. One of the leading uncertainties lies in the hadronic light-by-light scattering contribution (HLbL), that we address with our position-space approach. We focus on exploratory studies of the pion-pole contribution in a simple model and the fermion loop without gluon exchanges in the continuum and in infinite volume. These studies provide us with useful information for our planned computation of HLbL in the muon $g-2$ using full QCD.

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arXiv2017

Light-by-light forward scattering amplitudes in Lattice QCD

We present our preliminary results on the calculation of hadronic light-by-light forward scattering amplitudes using vector four-point correlation functions computed on the lattice. Using a dispersive approach, forward scattering amplitudes can be described by $γ^* γ^* \to$ hadrons fusion cross sections and then compared with phenomenology. We show that only a few states are needed to reproduce our data. In particular, the sum rules considered in this study imply relations between meson$-γγ$ couplings and provide valuable information about individual form factors which are often used to estimate the meson-pole contributions to the hadronic light-by-light contribution to the $(g-2)$ of the muon.

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arXiv2017

An estimate for the thermal photon rate from lattice QCD

We estimate the production rate of photons by the quark-gluon plasma in lattice QCD. We propose a new correlation function which provides better control over the systematic uncertainty in estimating the photon production rate at photon momenta in the range πT/2 to 2πT. The relevant Euclidean vector current correlation functions are computed with $N_{\mathrm f}$ = 2 Wilson clover fermions in the chirally-symmetric phase. In order to estimate the photon rate, an ill-posed problem for the vector-channel spectral function must be regularized. We use both a direct model for the spectral function and a model-independent estimate from the Backus-Gilbert method to give an estimate for the photon rate.

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arXiv2017

Lorentz-covariant coordinate-space representation of the leading hadronic contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon

We present a Lorentz-covariant, Euclidean coordinate-space expression for the hadronic vacuum polarisation, the Adler function and the leading hadronic contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. The representation offers a lot of flexibility for an implementation in lattice QCD. We expect it to be particularly helpful for the quark-line disconnected contributions.

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arXiv2017

From deep inelastic scattering to heavy-flavor semi-leptonic decays: Total rates into multi-hadron final states from lattice QCD

We present a new technique for extracting decay and transition rates into final states with any number of hadrons. The approach is only sensitive to total rates, in which all out-states with a given set of QCD quantum numbers are included. For processes involving photons or leptons, differential rates with respect to the non-hadronic kinematics may also be extracted. Our method involves constructing a finite-volume Euclidean four-point function, whose corresponding spectral function measures the decay and transition rates in the infinite-volume limit. This requires solving the inverse problem of extracting the spectral function from the correlator and also necessitates a smoothing procedure so that a well-defined infinite-volume limit exists. Both of these steps are accomplished by the Backus-Gilbert method and, as we show with a numerical example, reasonable precision can be expected in cases with multiple open decay channels. Potential applications include nucleon structure functions and the onset of the deep inelastic scattering regime, as well as semi-leptonic $D$ and $B$ decay rates.

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arXiv2017

Nucleon form factors and couplings with $N_\mathrm{f} = 2 + 1$ Wilson fermions

We present updated results on the nucleon electromagnetic form factors and axial coupling calculated using CLS ensembles with $N_\mathrm{f}=2+1$ dynamical flavours of Wilson fermions. The measurements are performed on large, fine lattices with a pseudoscalar mass reaching down to 200 MeV. The truncated-solver method is employed to reduce the variance of the measurements. Estimation of the matrix elements is challenging due to large contamination from excited states and further investigation is necessary to bring these effects under control.

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arXiv2017

On the strength of the $U_A(1)$ anomaly at the chiral phase transition in $N_f=2$ QCD

We study the thermal transition of QCD with two degenerate light flavours by lattice simulations using $O(a)$-improved Wilson quarks. Temperature scans are performed at a fixed value of $N_t = (aT)^{-1}=16$, where $a$ is the lattice spacing and $T$ the temperature, at three fixed zero-temperature pion masses between 200 MeV and 540 MeV. In this range we find that the transition is consistent with a broad crossover. As a probe of the restoration of chiral symmetry, we study the static screening spectrum. We observe a degeneracy between the transverse isovector vector and axial-vector channels starting from the transition temperature. Particularly striking is the strong reduction of the splitting between isovector scalar and pseudoscalar screening masses around the chiral phase transition by at least a factor of three compared to its value at zero temperature. In fact, the splitting is consistent with zero within our uncertainties. This disfavours a chiral phase transition in the $O(4)$ universality class.

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arXiv2016

Lattice calculation of the pion transition form factor $π^0 \to γ^* γ^*$

We calculate the $π^0\to γ^*γ^*$ transition form factor ${\cal F}_{π^0γ^*γ^*}(q_1^2,q_2^2)$ in lattice QCD with two flavors of quarks. Our main motivation is to provide the input to calculate the $π^0$-pole contribution to hadronic light-by-light scattering in the muon $(g-2)$, $a_μ^{\rm HLbL;π^0}$. We therefore focus on the region where both photons are spacelike up to virtualities of about $1.5~$GeV$^2$, which has so far not been experimentally accessible. Results are obtained in the continuum at the physical pion mass by a combined extrapolation. We reproduce the prediction of the chiral anomaly for real photons with an accuracy of about $8-9\%$. We also compare to various recently proposed models and find reasonable agreement for the parameters of some of these models with their phenomenological values. Finally, we use the parametrization of our lattice data by these models to calculate $a_μ^{\rm HLbL;π^0}$.

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arXiv2016

Lattice calculation of the pion transition form factor $π^0 \to γ^* γ^*$

We calculate the pion transition form factor ${\cal F}_{π^0γ^*γ^*}(q_1^2,q_2^2)$, which describe the interaction of an on-shell pion with two off-shell photons, using lattice QCD simulations with two degenerate flavors of dynamical quarks. This form factor is the main ingredient in the calculation of the pion-pole contribution to hadronic light-by-light scattering in the muon $g-2$, $a_μ^{\mathrm{HLbL}; π^0}$. We focus our study on the spacelike region with photon virtualities up to $1.5~\mathrm{GeV}^2$, not yet measured experimentally. Several lattice spacings and pion masses are used to extrapolate the results to the physical point and a comparison with different phenomenological models is performed. Finally, we use our extrapolated form factor to provide a lattice determinaiton of $a_μ^{\mathrm{HLbL}; π^0}$.

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