arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M. Ciuchini.
We present a next-to-leading order determination of the gluino-mediated SUSY contributions to B_d-Bbar_d mixing and to the CP asymmetry a_{J/psi K_s} in the framework of the mass-insertion approximation. Using hadronic matrix elements recently computed on the lattice, we obtain improved constraints on the squark-mass splittings.
An updated determination of the parameters of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix is presented.
By using the recent experimental measurements of B -> pi pi and B -> K pi branching ratios, we find that the amplitudes computed at the leading order of the LambdaQCD/mb expansion disagree with the observed BRs, even taking into account the uncertainties of the input parameters. Beyond the leading order, Charming and GIM penguins allow to reconcile the theoretical predictions with the data. Because of these large effects, we conclude, however, that it is not possible, with the present theoretical and experimental accuracy, to determine the CP violation angle gamma from these decays. We compare our results with those obtained with the parametrization of the chirally enhanced non-perturbative contributions by BBNS. We also predict large asymmetries for several of the particle--antiparticle BRs, in particular BR(B+ -> K+ pi0), BR(Bd -> K+ pi-) and BR(Bd -> pi+ pi-).
By using the recent experimental measurements of B to pi pi and B to K pi branching ratios, we find that factorization is unable to reproduce the observed BRs even taking into account the uncertainties of the input parameters. Charming and GIM penguins allow to reconcile the theoretical predictions with the data. Because of these large effects, we conclude, however, that it is not possible, with the present theoretical and experimental accuracy, to determine the CP violation angle gamma from these decays. Contrary to factorization, we predict large asymmetries for several of the particle-antiparticle BRs, in particular BR(B^+ to K^+ pi^0), BR(B_d to K^+ pi^-) and BR(B_d to pi^+ pi^-). This opens new perspectives for the study of CP violation in B systems.
We study Lambda_{QCD}/m_B corrections to factorization in B -> K pi decays. First, we analyze these decay channels within factorization, showing that, irrespectively of the value of gamma, it is not possible to reproduce the experimental data. Then, we discuss Lambda_{QCD}/m_B corrections to these processes, and argue that there is a class of doubly Cabibbo enhanced non-factorizable contributions, usually called charming penguins, that cannot be neglected. Including these corrections, we obtain an excellent agreement with experimental data. Furthermore, contrary to what is obtained with factorization, we predict sizable rate asymmetries in B^\pm -> K^\pm π^0 and B -> K^\pm pi^\mp.
Within the Standard Model, a review of the current determination of the sides and angles of the CKM unitarity triangle is presented, using experimental constraints from the measurements of |ε_K|, |V_{ub}/V_{cb}|, Δm_d and from the limit on Δm_s, available in September 2000. Results from the experimental search for {B}^0_s-\bar{B}^0_s oscillations are introduced in the present analysis using the likelihood. Special attention is devoted to the determination of the theoretical uncertainties. The purpose of the analysis is to infer regions where the parameters of interest lie with given probabilities. The BaBar "95 %, C.L. scanning" method is also commented.
We compute the QCD next-to-leading order matching conditions of the (chromo)-magnetic operators relevant for B\to X_s γin supersymmetric models with minimal flavour violation. The calculation is performed under the assumption that the charginos and one stop are lighter than all other squarks and the gluino. In the parameter region where a light charged Higgs boson is consistent with measurements of BR(B\to X_s γ), we find sizeable corrections to the Wilson coefficients. As a consequence, there is a significant reduction of the stop-chargino mass region where the supersymmetric contribution has a large destructive interference with the charged-Higgs boson contribution.
We review the theory of epsilon'/epsilon and present an updated phenomenological analysis using hadronic matrix elements from lattice QCD. The present status of the computation of epsilon'/epsilon, considering various approaches to the matrix-element evaluation, is critically discussed.
We perform a Next-to-Leading order analysis of Delta S=2 processes beyond the Standard Model. Combining the recently computed NLO anomalous dimensions and the B parameters of the most general Delta S=2 effective Hamiltonian, we give an analytic formula for Delta M_K and epsilon_K in terms of the Wilson coefficients at the high energy scale. This expression can be used for any extension of the Standard Model with new heavy particles. Using this result, we consider gluino-mediated contributions to Delta S=2 transitions in general SUSY models and provide an improved analysis of the constraints on off-diagonal mass terms between the first two generations of down-type squarks. Finally, we improve the constraints on R-violating couplings from Delta M_K and epsilon_K.
We critically analyze recent attempts to include final state interaction (FSI) effects in the calculation of the CP violating ratio epsilon'/epsilon. In particular the approach of using the Muskhelishvili-Omnes equation for the decay amplitudes is examined. We find that the values of the dispersive correction factors are very sensitive to initial conditions which are, at present, out of control, and demonstrate that the claimed large enhancement of epsilon'/epsilon through FSI is questionable. We propose, instead, a different implementation of this approach which may be useful to lattice determinations of weak amplitudes.
We present the formalism to calculate d-dimensional critical exponents in QCD in the large N_f expansion where N_f is the number of quark flavours. It relies in part on demonstrating that at the d-dimensional fixed point of QCD the critical theory is equivalent to a non-abelian version of the Thirring model. We describe the techniques used to compute critical two and three loop Feynman diagrams and as an application determine the quark wave function, eta, and mass renormalization critical exponents at O(1/N_f^2) in d-dimensions. Their values when expressed in relation to four dimensional perturbation theory are in exact agreement with the known four loop MSbar results. Moreover, new coefficients in these renormalization group functions are determined to six loops and O(1/N_f^2). The computation of the exponents in the Schwinger Dyson approach is also provided and an expression for eta in arbitrary covariant gauge is given.
Lattice calculations of matrix elements relevant for kaon decays, and in particular for epsilon'/epsilon, are reviewed. The role of the strange quark mass is also discussed. A comparison with other non-perturbative approaches used to compute kaon decay amplitudes is made.
We perform a combined analysis of the unitarity triangle and of the CP violating parameter epsilon'/epsilon using the most recent determination of the relevant experimental data and, whenever possible, hadronic matrix elements from lattice QCD. We discuss the role of the main non-perturbative parameters and make a comparison with other recent analyses. We use lattice results for the matrix element of Q_8 obtained without reference to the strange quark mass. Since a reliable lattice determination of the matrix element of Q_6 is still missing, the theoretical predictions for epsilon'/epsilon suffer from large uncertainties. By evaluating this matrix element with the vacuum-saturation approximation, we typically find as central value epsilon'/epsilon = (4 - 7) x 10^(-4). We conclude that the experimental data suggest large deviation of the value of the matrix element of Q_6 from the vacuum-saturation approximation, possibly due to penguin contractions.
We briefly introduce the Wick-contraction parametrization of hadronic matrix elements and discuss some applications to B and K physics.
We compute the d-dimensional critical exponents corresponding to the wave function and mass renormalization of the quark in QCD in the Landau gauge at a new order, O(1/N_f^2), in the large N_f expansion. The computations are simplified by the establishment in d-dimensions of the critical point equivalence of QCD and the non-abelian Thirring model beyond leading order. The form of the O(1/N_f^2) coefficients in the MSbar quark mass anomalous dimension at five loops is deduced and compared with the numerical asymptotic Pade approximant prediction.
We reanalyze B -> D pi and B -> K J/psi data to extract a set of parameters which give the relevant hadronic matrix elements in terms of factorized amplitudes. Various sources of theoretical uncertainties are studied, in particular those depending on the model adopted for the form factors. We find that the fit to the B -> D pi branching ratios substantially depends on the model describing the Isgur-Wise function and on the value of its slope. This dependence can be reduced by substituting the BR(B -> D pi) with suitable ratios of non-leptonic to differential semileptonic BRs. In this way, we obtain a model-independent determination of these parameters. Using these results, the B -> D form factors at q^2=M_pi^2 can be extracted from a fit of the BR(B -> D pi). The comparison between the form factors obtained in this way and the corresponding measurements in semileptonic decays can be used as a test of (generalized) factorization free from the uncertainties due to heavy-heavy form factor modeling. Finally, we present predictions for yet-unmeasured D pi and D K branching ratios and extract f_{D_s} and f_{D_s^*} from B -> DD_s decays. We find f_{D_s} = 270 +- 45 MeV and f_{D_s^*}=260 +- 40 MeV, in good agreement with recent measurements and lattice calculations.
We present a method to compute, by numerical simulations of lattice QCD, the light-cone wave functions which enter exclusive processes at large momentum transfer, such as electromagnetic elastic scatterings, or exclusive semi-leptonic decays as B -> pi (B -> rho) and radiative decays as B -> K* gamma. The method is based on first principles and does not require any model assumption.
We present a method to compute, by numerical simulations of lattice QCD, the inclusive semileptonic differential decay rates of heavy hadrons and the structure functions which occur in deep inelastic scattering. The method is based on first principles and does not require any model assumption. It allows the prediction of the differential rate in B semileptonic decays for values of the recoiling hadronic mass W ~ sqrt(M_B Lambda_QCD), which is in the relevant region to extract |V_ub| from the end-point of the lepton spectrum in inclusive decays.