arXiv subjects

M. Mai

Publications and source records attributed to M. Mai.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Hadron Physics Opportunities at FAIR

This White Paper outlines a coordinated, decade-spanning programme of hadron and QCD studies anchored at the GSI/FAIR accelerator complex. Profiting from intense deuteron, proton and pion beams coupled with high-rate capable detectors and an international theory effort, the initiative addresses fundamental questions related to the strong interaction featuring confinement and dynamical mass generation. This includes our understanding of hadron-hadron interactions and the composition of hadrons through mapping the baryon and meson spectra, including exotic states, and quantifying hadron structure. This interdisciplinary research connects topics in the fields of nuclear, heavy-ion, and (nuclear) astro (particle) physics, linking, for example, terrestrial data to constraints on neutron star structure. A phased roadmap with SIS100 accelerator start-up and envisaged detector upgrades will yield precision cross sections, transition form factors, in-medium spectral functions, and validated theory inputs. Synergies with external programmes at international accelerator facilities worldwide are anticipated. The programme is expected to deliver decisive advances in our understanding of non-perturbative (strong) QCD and astrophysics, and high-rate detector and data-science technology.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2023

Inclusion of $KΛ$ electroproduction data in a coupled channel analysis

Exclusive electroproduction reactions provide an access to the structure of excited baryons. To extract electroproduction multipoles encoding this information, the Jülich-Bonn-Washington (JBW) analysis framework is extended to the analysis of differential cross sections in $KΛ$ electroproduction. This update enlarges the scope of previous coupled-channel analyses of pions and eta mesons, with photoproduction reactions as boundary condition in all analyzed electroproduction reactions. Polarization observables are predicted and compared to recent CLAS data. The comparison shows the relevance of these data to pin down baryon properties.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2022

Testing chiral unitary models for the $Λ(1405)$ in $K^{+}πΣ$ photoproduction

We adopt a novel formalism for the low-energy analysis of the $γp \to K^{+}πΣ$ photoproduction reaction to calculate the $πΣ$ invariant mass distributions in the $Λ(1405)$ resonance region. The approach adheres to constraints arising from unitarity, gauge invariance and chiral perturbation theory, and is used without adjusting any model parameters. It is found that the meson-baryon rescattering in the final state has a major impact on the magnitude and structure of the generated spectra that are compared with the experimental data from the CLAS collaboration. We demonstrate a large sensitivity of the theoretical predictions to the choice of the coupled-channel $πΣ- \bar{K}N$ model amplitudes which should enable one to constrain the parameter space of these models.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2019

Kaon Photoproduction and the $Λ$ Decay Parameter $α_-$

The weak decay parameter $α_-$ of the $Λ$ is an important quantity for the extraction of polarization observables in various experiments. Moreover, in combination with $α_+$ from $\barΛ$ decay it provides a measure for matter-antimatter asymmetry. The weak decay parameter also affects the decay parameters of the $Ξ$ and $Ω$ baryons and, in general, any quantity in which the polarization of the $Λ$ is relevant. The recently reported value by the BESIII collaboration of $0.750(9)(4)$ is significantly larger than the previous PDG value of $0.642(13)$ that had been accepted and used for over 40 years. In this work we make an independent estimate of $α_-$, using an extensive set of polarization data measured in kaon photoproduction in the baryon resonance region and constraints set by spin algebra. The obtained value is 0.721(6)(5). The result is corroborated by multiple statistical tests as well as a modern phenomenological model, showing that our new value yields the best description of the data in question. Our analysis supports the new BESIII finding that $α_-$ is significantly larger than the previous PDG value. Any experimental quantity relying on the value of $α_-$ should therefore be re-considered.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2019

Three-body unitarity versus finite-volume $π^+π^+π^+$ spectrum from lattice QCD

Strong three-body interactions above threshold govern the dynamics of many exotics and conventional excited mesons and baryons. Three-body finite-volume energies calculated from lattice QCD promise an ab-initio understanding of these systems. We calculate the three-$π^+$ spectrum unraveling the three-body dynamics that is tightly intertwined with the $S$-matrix principle of three-body unitarity and compare it with recent lattice QCD results. For this purpose, we develop a formalism for three-body systems in moving frames and apply it numerically.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2019

Pion scattering in the isospin I=2 channel from elongated lattices

Pion-pion elastic scattering in the isospin I=2 channel is investigated in two-flavor dynamical lattice QCD. Six ensembles are used with lattices elongated in one of the spatial dimensions at two quark masses corresponding to a pion mass of 315 MeV and 226 MeV. The energy of the low-lying states below the inelastic threshold are extracted in each case using the standard variational method.The extracted finite-volume spectrum is fitted by the inverse amplitude method simultaneously for both quark masses and extrapolated thereafter to the physical point. The resulting phase-shifts and scattering length are compared with those from experiment, leading-order chiral perturbation theory and other lattice studies. Our calculations match the experimental results.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2019

S- and p-wave structure of $S=-1$ meson-baryon scattering in the resonance region

We perform a simultaneous analysis of s- and p-waves of the $S=-1$ meson-baryon scattering amplitude using all low-energy experimental data. For the first time, differential cross section data are included for chiral unitary coupled-channel models. From this model s- and p-wave amplitudes are extracted and we observe both well-known $I(J^P)=0(1/2^-)$ s-wave states as well as a new $I(J^P)=1(1/2^+)$ state absent in quark models and lattice QCD results. Multiple statistical and phenomenological tests suggest that, while the data clearly require an $I=1$ p-wave resonance, the new state just accounts for the absence of the decuplet $Σ(1385)3/2^+$ in the model.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2019

Three-body spectrum in a finite volume: the role of cubic symmetry

The three-particle quantization condition is partially diagonalized in the center-of-mass frame by using cubic symmetry on the lattice. To this end, instead of spherical harmonics, the kernel of the Bethe-Salpeter equation for particle-dimer scattering is expanded in the basis functions of different irreducible representations of the octahedral group. Such a projection is of particular importance for the three-body problem in the finite volume due to the occurrence of three-body singularities above breakup. Additionally, we study the numerical solution and properties of such a projected quantization condition in a simple model. It is shown that, for large volumes, these solutions allow for an instructive interpretation of the energy eigenvalues in terms of bound and scattering states.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2019

Towards the Minimal Spectrum of Excited Baryons

In the light baryon sector resonances can be broad and overlapping and are in most cases not directly visible in the cross section data. Automatized model selection techniques that introduce penalties for resonances can be used to determine the minimally needed set of resonances to describe the data. Several possible penalization schemes are compared. As an application we perform a blindfold identification of hyperon resonances in the $\bar{K} N \to K Ξ$ reaction based on the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) in combination with the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC). We find ten resonances --- out of the 21 above-threshold hyperon resonances with spin $J\le 7/2$ listed by the Particle Data Group. In traditional analyses, it is practically impossible to test the relevance of all resonances and their combinations that may potentially contribute to the reaction. By contrast, the present method proves capable of determining the relevant resonances among a large pool of candidates.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2018

Sigma resonance parameters from a $N_f=2$ lattice QCD simulation

In this work we present the analysis of the energy spectrum from a recent two-flavor ($N_f=2$) lattice QCD calculation for pion-pion scattering in the scalar, isoscalar channel (the $σ$-meson). The lattice simulation was performed for two quark masses corresponding to a pion mass of 315 MeV and 227 MeV. The $σ$-meson parameters are extracted using various parametrizations of the scattering amplitude. The results obtained from a chiral unitary parametrization are extrapolated to the physical point and read $M_σ=( 440^{+10}_{-16}(50) - i\,240(20)(25))$ MeV, where the uncertainties in the parentheses denote the stochastic and systematic ones. The behavior of the $σ$-meson parameters with increasing pion mass is discussed as well.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2018

Workshop on Pion-Kaon Interactions (PKI2018) Mini-Proceedings. Editors: M. Amaryan, Ulf-G. Meißner, C. Meyer, J. Ritman, and I. Strakovsky

This volume is a short summary of talks given at the PKI2018 Workshop organized to discuss current status and future prospects of pi-K interactions. The precise data on pi-K interaction will have a strong impact on strange meson spectroscopy and form factors that are important ingredients in the Dalitz plot analysis of a decays of heavy mesons as well as precision measurement of Vus matrix element and therefore on a test of unitarity in the first raw of the CKM matrix. The workshop has combined the efforts of experimentalists, Lattice QCD, and phenomenology communities. Experimental data relevant to the topic of the workshop were presented from the broad range of different collaborations like CLAS, GlueX, COMPASS, BaBar, BELLE, BESIII, VEPP-2000, and LHCb. One of the main goals of this workshop was to outline a need for a new high intensity and high precision secondary KL beam facility at JLab produced with the 12 GeV electron beam of CEBAF accelerator. This workshop is a successor of the workshops Physics with Neutral Kaon Beam at JLab [1] held at JLab, February, 2016; Excited Hyperons in QCD Thermodynamics at Freeze-Out [2] held at JLab, November, 2016; New Opportunities with High-Intensity Photon Sources [3] held at CUA, February, 2017. Further details about the PKI2018 Workshop can be found on the web page of the conference: http://www.jlab.org/conferences/pki2018/ .

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Three-body Unitarity in the Finite Volume

The physical interpretation of lattice QCD simulations, performed in a small volume, requires an extrapolation to the infinite volume. A method is proposed to perform such an extrapolation for three interacting particles at energies above threshold. For this, a recently formulated relativistic $3\to 3$ amplitude based on the isobar formulation is adapted to the finite volume. The guiding principle is two- and three-body unitarity that imposes the imaginary parts of the amplitude in the infinite volume. In turn, these imaginary parts dictate the leading power-law finite-volume effects. It is demonstrated that finite-volume poles arising from the singular interaction, from the external two-body sub-amplitudes, and from the disconnected topology cancel exactly leaving only the genuine three-body eigenvalues. The corresponding quantization condition is derived for the case of three identical scalar-isoscalar particles and its numerical implementation is demonstrated.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2017

Three-body Unitarity with Isobars Revisited

The particle exchange model of hadron interactions can be used to describe three-body scattering under the isobar assumption. In this study we start from the 3->3 scattering amplitude for spinless particles, which contains an isobar-spectator scattering amplitude. Using a Bethe-Salpeter Ansatz for the latter, we derive a relativistic three-dimensional scattering equation that manifestly fulfills three-body unitarity and two-body unitarity for the sub-amplitudes. This property holds for energies above breakup and also in the presence of resonances in the sub-amplitudes.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2017

Chiral Extrapolations of the $\boldsymbol{ρ(770)}$ Meson in $\mathbf{N_f=2+1}$ Lattice QCD Simulations

Recent $N_f=2+1$ lattice data for meson-meson scattering in $p$-wave and isospin $I=1$ are analyzed using a unitarized model inspired by Chiral Perturbation Theory in the inverse-amplitude formulation for two and three flavors. Chiral extrapolations are performed that postdict phase shifts extracted from experiment quite well. In addition, the low-energy constants are compared to the ones from a recent analysis of $N_f=2$ lattice QCD simulations to check for the consistency of the hadronic model used here. Some inconsistencies are detected in the fits to $N_f=2+1$ data, in contrast to the previous analysis of $N_f=2$ data.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2017

Workshop on High-Intensity Photon Sources (HIPS2017) Mini-Proceedings

This workshop aimed at producing an optimized photon source concept with potential increase of scientific output at Jefferson Lab, and at refining the science for hadron physics experiments benefitting from such a high-intensity photon source. The workshop brought together the communities directly using such sources for photo-production experiments, or for conversion into $K_L$ beams. The combination of high precision calorimetry and high intensity photon sources greatly enhances scientific benefit to (deep) exclusive processes like wide-angle and time-like Compton scattering. Potential prospects of such a high-intensity source with modern polarized targets were also discussed. The availability of $K_L$ beams would open new avenues for hadron spectroscopy, for example for the investigation of "missing" hyperon resonances, with potential impact on QCD thermodynamics and on freeze-out both in heavy ion collisions and in the early universe.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2017

Workshop on Excited Hyperons in QCD Thermodynamics at Freeze-Out (YSTAR2016) Mini-Proceedings

This Workshop brought top experts, researchers, postdocs, and students from high-energy heavy ion interactions, lattice QCD and hadronic physics communities together. YSTAR2016 discussed the impact of "missing" hyperon resonances on QCD thermodynamics, on freeze-out in heavy ion collisions, on the evolution of early universe, and on the spectroscopy of strange particles. Recent studies that compared lattice QCD predictions of thermodynamic properties of quark-gluon plasma at freeze-out with calculations based on statistical hadron resonance gas models as well as experimentally measured ratios between yields of different hadron species in heavy ion collisions provide indirect evidence for the presence of "missing" resonances in all of these contexts. The aim of the YSTAR2016 Workshop was to sharpen these comparisons and advance our understanding of the formation of strange hadrons from quarks and gluons microseconds after the Big Bang and in todays experiments at LHC and RHIC as well as at future facilities like FAIR, J-PARC and KL at JLab. It was concluded that the new initiative to create a secondary beam of neutral kaons at JLab will make a bridge between the hardron spectroscopy, heavy-ion experiments and lattice QCD studies addressing some major issues related to thermodynamics of the early universe and cosmology in general.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

On the pole content of coupled channels chiral approaches used for the $\bar{K}N$ system

Several theoretical groups describe the antikaon-nucleon interaction at low energies within approaches based on the chiral SU(3) dynamics and including next-to-leading order contributions. We present a comparative analysis of the pertinent models and discuss in detail their pole contents. It is demonstrated that the approaches lead to very different predictions for the $K^{-}p$ amplitude extrapolated to subthreshold energies as well as for the $K^{-}n$ amplitude. The origin of the poles generated by the models is traced to the so-called zero coupling limit, in which the inter-channel couplings are switched off. This provides new insights into the pole contents of the various approaches. In particular, different concepts of forming the $Λ(1405)$ resonance are revealed and constraints related to the appearance of such poles in a given approach are discussed.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Workshop on Physics with Neutral Kaon Beam at JLab (KL2016) Mini-Proceedings

The KL2016 Workshop is following the Letter of Intent LoI12-15-001 "Physics Opportunities with Secondary KL beam at JLab" submitted to PAC43 with the main focus on the physics of excited hyperons produced by the Kaon beam on unpolarized and polarized targets with GlueX setup in Hall D. Such studies will broaden a physics program of hadron spectroscopy extending it to the strange sector. The Workshop was organized to get a feedback from the community to strengthen physics motivation of the LoI and prepare a full proposal. Further details about the Workshop can be found on the web page of the conference: http://www.jlab.org/conferences/kl2016/index.html .

hep-ph↗