arXiv subjects

M. Shifman

Publications and source records attributed to M. Shifman.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

arXiv1997

An Illustrative Example of How Quark-Hadron Duality Might Work

We discuss the issue of the local quark-hadron duality at high energies in two- and four-dimensional QCD. A mechanism of the dynamical realization of the quark-hadron duality in two- dimensional QCD in the limit of large number of colors, N_c -> \infty, (the 't Hooft model) is considered. A similar mechanism of dynamical smearing may be relevant in four-dimensional QCD. Although particular details of our results are model-dependent, the general features of the duality implementation conjectured previously get further support.

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arXiv1997

Exact Results for Soft Supersymmetry Breaking Parameters in Supersymmetric Gauge Theories

We obtain exact relations (valid to all orders in the coupling constant) for the running gaugino mass in supersymmetric gauge theories, treating the soft supersymmetry breaking effects in the linear approximation. If a supersymmetry breaking squark (selectron) mass term is introduced, our relation connects the renormalization group equation for this term with that for the gaugino mass. Exact relations for the threshold effects in the gaugino masses are derived. The key ingredients of our analysis is the use of the Wilsonean action and holomorphy of this action with respect to relevant parameters.

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arXiv1997

Degeneracy and Continuous Deformations of Supersymmetric Domain Walls

In a wide class of supersymmetric theories degenerate families of the BPS-saturated domain walls exist. The internal structure of these walls can continuously vary, without changing the wall tension. This is described by hidden parameters (collective coordinates). Differentiating with respect to the collective coordinates one gets a set of the bosonic zero modes localized on the wall. Neither of them is related to the spontaneous breaking of any symmetry. Through the residual 1/2 of supersymmetry each bosonic zero mode generates a fermionic partner.

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arXiv1997

Aspects Of Heavy Quark Theory

Recent achievements in the heavy quark theory are critically reviewed. The emphasis is put on those aspects which either did not attract enough attention or cause heated debates in the current literature. Among other topics we discuss (i) basic parameters of the heavy quark theory; (ii) a class of exact QCD inequalities; (iii) new heavy quark sum rules; (iv) virial theorem; (v) applications (|V_cb| from the total semileptonic width and from the B->D* transition at zero recoil). In some instances new derivations of the previously known results are given, or new aspects addressed. In particular, we dwell on the exact QCD inequalities. Furthermore, a toy model is considered that may shed light on the controversy regarding the value of the kinetic energy of heavy quarks obtained by different methods.

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arXiv1997

Domain Walls in Strongly Coupled Theories

Domain walls in strongly coupled gauge theories are discussed. A general mechanism is suggested automatically leading to massless gauge bosons localized on the wall. In one of the models considered, outside the wall the theory is in the non-Abelian confining phase, while inside the wall it is in the Abelian Coulomb phase. Confining property of the non-Abelian theories is a key ingredient of the mechanism which may be of practical use in the context of the dynamic compactification scenarios. In supersymmetric (N=1) Yang-Mills theories the energy density of the wall can be exactly calculated in the strong coupling regime. This calculation presents a further example of non-trivial physical quantities that can be found exactly by exploiting specific properties of supersymmetry. A key observation is the fact that the wall in this theory is a BPS-saturated state.

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arXiv1997

Chirally Symmetric Phase of Supersymmetric Gluodynamics

We argue that supersymmetric gluodynamics (theory of gluons and gluinos) has a condensate-free phase. Unlike the standard phase, the discrete axial symmetry of the Lagrangian is unbroken in this phase, and the gluino condensate does not develop. Extra unconventional vacua are supersymmetric and are characterized by the presence of (bosonic and fermionic) massless bound states. A set of arguments in favor of the conjecture includes: (i) analysis of the effective Lagrangian of the Veneziano-Yankielowicz type which we amend to properly incorporate all symmetries of the model; (ii) consideration of an unsolved problem with the Witten index; (iii) interpretation of a mismatch between the strong-coupling and weak coupling instanton calculations of the gluino condensate detected previously. Impact on Seiberg's results is briefly discussed.

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arXiv1997

High Power n of m_b in Beauty Widths and n=5 -> oo Limit

The leading term in the semileptonic width of heavy flavor hadrons depends on the fifth power of the heavy quark mass. We present an analysis where this power can be self-consistently treated as a free parameter n and the width can be studied in the limit n -> oo. The resulting expansion elucidates why the small velocity (SV) treatment is relevant for the inclusive semileptonic b->c transition. The extended SV limit (ESV limit) is introduced. The leading terms in the perturbative alpha_s expansion enhanced by powers of n are automatically resummed by using the low-scale Euclidean mass. The large-n treatment explains why the scales of order m_b/n are appropriate. On the other hand, the scale cannot be too small since the factorially divergent perturbative corrections associated with running of alpha_s show up. Both requirements are met if we use the short-distance mass normalized at a scale around m_b/n \sim 1 GeV. A convenient definition of such low-scale OPE-compatible masses is briefly discussed.

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arXiv1996

A More Minimal Messenger Model of Gauge-Mediated Supersymmetry Breaking?

This Letter addresses a provocative question: ``Can the standard electroweak Higgs doublets and their color-triplet partners be the messengers of a low energy gauge-mediated SUSY breaking?" Such a possibility does not seem to be immediately ruled out. If so, it can lead to a very economical scheme with clear-cut predictions quite distinct from those of the conventional gauge-mediated scenario. Namely, we get (i) a single light Higgs below the original SUSY- breaking scale; (ii) tan(beta) = 1; (iii) flavor non-universal, but automatically flavor-conserving soft scalar masses; (iv) a light colored scalar with peculiar phenomenology. The familiar mu problem looses its meaning in this approach.

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arXiv1996

Chiral Symmetry Breaking, Duality in the \bar{Q}q Channel and b -> c anti-c s Decays

We address the issue of the quark-hadron duality in the spectral densities induced by the heavy-light quark currents anti-Q q. In the limit m_Q ->oo, m_q ->0 we observe an enhancement of the physical spectral density compared to the quark one in the scalar and axial channels, due to the Goldstone meson contributions. This may imply that the scale where duality sets in is higher in these channels than in the vector (pseudoscalar) case. Implications for the nonleptonic decays of B mesons (the b -> c anti-c s transition) are considered. We discuss in detail the decay pattern and obtain an independent estimate of the "wrong" sign D yield.

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arXiv1996

Operator Product Expansion, Heavy Quarks, QCD Duality and its Violations

The quark (gluon)-hadron duality constitutes a basis for the theoretical treatment of a wide range of inclusive processes -- from hadronic τdecays and R_{e^+e^-}, to semileptonic and nonleptonic decay rates of heavy flavor hadrons. A theoretical analysis of these processes is carried out by using the operator product expansion in the Euclidean domain, with subsequent analytic continuation to the Minkowski domain. We formulate the notion of the quark (gluon)-hadron duality in quantitative terms, then classify various contributions leading to violations of duality. A prominent role in the violations of duality seems to belong to the so called exponential terms which, conceptually, may represent the (truncated) tail of the power series. A qualitative model, relying on an instanton background field, is developed, allowing one to get an estimate of the exponential terms. We then discuss a number of applications, mostly from heavy quark physics.

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arXiv1996

Little Miracles of Supersymmetric Evolution of Gauge Couplings

The invention of supersymmetry, almost exactly 25 years ago, changed the face of high-energy physics. The idea that the observed low-energy gauge groups appear due to the process of spontaneous breaking of a single unifying group $G$ is also quite popular. The synthesis of these two elements results in supersymmetric grand unification. I present (perturbatively) exact results regarding the supersymmetric evolution of the gauge couplings from the scale of their unification to lower scales. In particular, it is shown how the heavy mass thresholds can be properly taken into account to all orders.

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arXiv1995

The Case of $α_s$: $Z$ versus Low Energies, or How Nature Prompts us of New Physics

The values of $α_s$ determined from low- and high-energy measurements are in irreconcilable contradiction with each other. The current status of the problem is critically reviewed. Consequences of the $α_s$ contradiction, in conjunction with other anomalies detected at the $Z$ peak, are discussed. The write-up is updated in accordance with experimental numbers reported at summer conferences.

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arXiv1995

Lectures on Heavy Quarks in Quantum Chromodynamics

A pedagogical introduction to the heavy quark theory is given. It is explained that various expansions in the inverse heavy quark mass $1/m_Q$ present a version of the Wilson operator product expansion in QCD. A systematic approach is developed and many practically interesting problems are considered. I show how the $1/m_Q$ expansions can be built using the background field technique and how they work in particular applications. Interplay between perturbative and nonperturbative aspects of the heavy quark theory is discussed.

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arXiv1995

b -> s +γ: A QCD Consistent Analysis of the Photon Energy Distribution

The photon energy distribution in the inclusive b -> s+γtransitions is a combination of two components: the first component, soft physics, is determined by the so called primordial distribution function, while the second component, perturbative physics, is governed by the hard gluon emission. A simple ansatz is suggested for the primordial distribution function which obeys the QCD constraints known so far. We then discuss in detail how the hard gluon emission affects the energy distribution. An extension of the Sudakov approximation is worked out incorporating the Brodsky-Lepage-Mackenzie prescription and its generalizations. We explicitly calculate the marriage of nonperturbative with perturbative effects in the way required by OPE, introducing separation scale μ. A few parameters, such as m_b and μ_π^2 affect the shape of the distribution and, thus, can be determined by matching to the experimental data. The data, still scarce, while not giving precise values for these parameters, yield consistency with theory: the current values of the above parameters lie within experimental uncertainty. On the theoretical side we outline a method allowing one to go beyond the practical version of OPE.

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arXiv1995

Recent Progress in the Heavy Quark Theory

Some recent developments in the heavy quark theory are briefly reviewed. The main emphasis is put on interrelation between HQET and OPE. The notion of duality and deviations from duality are discussed in detail.

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arXiv1995

Reconciling Supersymmetric Grand Unification with $α_s(m_Z)\approx 0.11$

We argue that supersymmetric grand unification of gauge couplings is not incompatible with small $α_s$, even without large GUT-scale corrections, if one relaxes a usual universal gaugino mass assumption. A commonly assumed relation $M_2\simeq m_{\rm gluino}/3$ is in gross contradiction with $α_s\approx 0.11$. Instead, small $α_s$ favors $M_2\gg m_{\rm gluino}$. If this is indeed the case our observation casts doubt on another commonly used relation $M_1\simeq 0.5 M_2$ which originates from the same constraint of a common gaugino mass at the GUT scale. One firm prediction emerging within the small $α_s$ scenario with the unconstrained gaugino masses is the existence of a relatively light gluino below $\sim$ 200\gev.

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arXiv1995

Calculation of 1/m^3 terms in the total semileptonic width of D mesons.

We calculate the 1/$m^3_c$ corrections in the inclusive semileptonic widths of $D$ mesons. We show that these are due to the novel penguin type operators that appear at this level in the transition operator. Taking into account the nonperturbative corrections leads to the predicted value of the semileptonic width significantly lower than the experimental value. The $1/m^3_c$ worsen the situation or at the very least, within uncertainty, give small contribution. We indicate possible ways out. It seems most probable that violations of duality are noticeable in the energy range characteristic to the inclusive decays in the charm family. Theoretically these deviations are related to divergence of the high-order terms in the power expansion in the inverse heavy quark mass.

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arXiv1995

Determining $α_s$ from Measurements at $Z$: How Nature Prompts us about New Physics

The value of $α_s (M_Z)$ emerging from the so called global fits based mainly on the data at the $Z$ peak (and assuming the standard model) is three standard deviations higher than the one stemming from the low-energy phenomenology. The corresponding value of $Λ_{\rm QCD}$ is very large, $\sim$ 500 MeV, and is incompatible with crucial features of QCD. If persists, the discrepancy should be interpreted as due to contributions to the $Z$-quark-antiquark vertices which go beyond the standard model.

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