arXiv subjects

Norman H. Christ

Publications and source records attributed to Norman H. Christ.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Fourier acceleration, the HMC algorithm and renormalizability

The analysis developed by Lüscher and Schaefer of the Hybrid Monte Carlo (HMC) algorithm is extended to include Fourier acceleration. We show for the $ϕ^4$ theory that Fourier acceleration substantially changes the structure of the theory for both the Langevin and HMC algorithms. When expanded in perturbation theory, each five-dimensional auto-correlation function of the fields $ϕ(x_i, t_i)$, $1\le i \le N $, corresponding to a specific 4-dimensional Feynman graph separates into two factors: one depending on the Monte-Carlo evolution times $t_i$ and the second depending on the space-time positions $x_i$. This separation implies that only auto-correlation times at the lattice scale appear, eliminating critical slowing down in perturbation theory.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2018

$O(4)$-symmetric position-space renormalization of lattice operators

We extend the position-space renormalization procedure, where renormalization factors are calculated from Green's functions in position space, by introducing a technique to take the average of Green's functions over spheres. In addition to reducing discretization errors, this technique enables the resulting position-space correlators to be evaluated at any physical distance, making them continuous functions similar to the $O(4)$-symmetric position-space Green's functions in the continuum theory but with a residual dependence on a regularization parameter, the lattice spacing $a$. We can then take the continuum limit of these renormalized quantities calculated at the same physical renormalization scale $|x|$ and investigate the resulting $|x|$-dependence to identify the appropriate renormalization window. As a numerical test of the spherical averaging technique, we determine the renormalized light and strange quark masses by renormalizing the scalar current. We see a substantial reduction of discretization effects on the scalar current correlator and an enhancement of the renormalization window. The numerical simulation is carried out with $2+1$-flavor domain-wall fermions at three lattice cutoffs in the range 1.79--3.15~GeV.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2018

Exploratory lattice QCD study of the rare kaon decay $K^+\toπ^+ν\barν$

In Ref [1] we have presented the results of an exploratory lattice QCD computation of the long-distance contribution to the $K^+\toπ^+ν\barν$ decay amplitude. In the present paper we describe the details of this calculation, which includes the implementation of a number of novel techniques. The $K^+\toπ^+ν\barν$ decay amplitude is dominated by short-distance contributions which can be computed in perturbation theory with the only required non-perturbative input being the relatively well-known form factors of semileptonic kaon decays. The long-distance contributions, which are the target of this work, are expected to be of O(5%) in the branching ratio. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of lattice QCD computations of the $K^+\toπ^+ν\barν$ decay amplitude, and in particular of the long-distance component. Though this calculation is performed on a small lattice ($16^3\times32$) and at unphysical pion, kaon and charm quark masses, $m_π=420$ MeV, $m_K=563$ MeV and $m_c^{\overline{\mathrm{MS}}}(\mbox{2 GeV})=863$ MeV, the techniques presented in this work can readily be applied to a future realistic calculation.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2017

Effects of finite volume on the $K_L$-$K_S$ mass difference

Phenomena that involve two or more on-shell particles are particularly sensitive to the effects of finite volume and require special treatment when computed using lattice QCD. In this paper we generalize the results of Lüscher, and Lellouch and Lüscher, which determine the leading order effects of finite volume on the two-particle spectrum and two-particle decay amplitudes to determine the finite-volume effects in the second order mixing of the $K^0$ and $\overline{K^0}$ states. We extend the methods of Kim, Sachrajda and Sharpe to provide a direct, uniform treatment of these three, related, finite-volume corrections. In particular, the leading, finite-volume corrections to the $K_L$-$K_S$ mass difference $ΔM_K$ and the CP violating parameter $ε_K$ are determined, including the potentially large effects which can arise from the near degeneracy of the kaon mass and the energy of a finite-volume, two-pion state.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2017

Exploratory Lattice QCD Study of the Rare Kaon Decay $K^+\toπ^+ν\barν$

We report a first, complete lattice QCD calculation of the long-distance contribution to the $K^+\toπ^+ν\barν$ decay within the standard model. This is a second-order weak process involving two four-Fermi operators that is highly sensitive to new physics and being studied by the NA62 experiment at CERN. While much of this decay comes from perturbative, short-distance physics there is a long-distance part, perhaps as large as the planned experimental error, which involves nonperturbative phenomena. The calculation presented here, with unphysical quark masses, demonstrates that this contribution can be computed using lattice methods by overcoming three technical difficulties: (i) a short-distance divergence that results when the two weak operators approach each other, (ii) exponentially growing, unphysical terms that appear in Euclidean, second-order perturbation theory, and (iii) potentially large finite-volume effects. A follow-on calculation with physical quark masses and controlled systematic errors will be possible with the next generation of computers.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2017

First exploratory calculation of the long-distance contributions to the rare kaon decays $K\toπ\ell^+\ell^-$

The rare decays of a kaon into a pion and a charged lepton/antilepton pair proceed via a flavour changing neutral current and therefore may only be induced beyond tree level in the Standard Model. This natural suppression makes these decays sensitive to the effects of potential New Physics. The CP conserving $K\toπ\ell^+\ell^-$ decay channels however are dominated by a single photon exchange; this involves a sizeable long-distance hadronic contribution which represents the current major source of theoretical uncertainty. Here we outline our methodology for the computation of the long-distance contributions to these rare decay amplitudes using lattice QCD and present the numerical results of the first exploratory studies of these decays in which all but the disconnected diagrams are evaluated. The domain wall fermion ensembles of the RBC and UKQCD collaborations are used, with a pion mass of $M_π\sim 430\,\mathrm{MeV}$ and a kaon mass of $M_{K}\sim 625\,\mathrm{MeV}$. In particular we determine the form factor, $V(z)$, of the $K^+\toπ^+\ell^+\ell^-$ decay from the lattice at small values of $z=q^2/M_{K}^{2}$, obtaining $V(z)=1.37(36),\, 0.68(39),\, 0.96(64)$ for the three values of $z=-0.5594(12),\, -1.0530(34),\, -1.4653(82)$ respectively.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2016

Project X: Physics Opportunities

Part 2 of "Project X: Accelerator Reference Design, Physics Opportunities, Broader Impacts". In this Part, we outline the particle-physics program that can be achieved with Project X, a staged superconducting linac for intensity-frontier particle physics. Topics include neutrino physics, kaon physics, muon physics, electric dipole moments, neutron-antineutron oscillations, new light particles, hadron structure, hadron spectroscopy, and lattice-QCD calculations. Part 1 is available as arXiv:1306.5022 [physics.acc-ph] and Part 3 is available as arXiv:1306.5024 [physics.acc-ph].

hep-ex↗

arXiv2016

Prospects for a lattice computation of rare kaon decay amplitudes II $K\toπν\barν$ decays

The rare kaon decays $K\toπν\barν$ are strongly suppressed in the standard model and widely regarded as processes in which new phenomena, not predicted by the standard model, may be observed. Recognizing such new phenomena requires precise standard model prediction for the braching ratio of $K\toπν\barν$ with controlled uncertainty for both short-distance and long-distance contributions. In this work we demonstrate the feasibility of lattice QCD calculation of the long-distance contribution to rare kaon decays with the emphasis on $K^+\toπ^+ν\barν$. Our methodology covers the calculation of both $W$-$W$ and $Z$-exchange diagrams. We discuss the estimation of the power-law, finite-volume corrections and two methods to consistently combine the long distance contribution determined by the lattice methods outlined here with the short distance parts that can be reliably determined using perturbation theory. It is a subsequent work of our first methodology paper on $K\toπ\ell^+\ell^-$, where the focus was made on the $γ$-exchange diagrams.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2015

The kaon semileptonic form factor in Nf=2+1 domain wall lattice QCD with physical light quark masses

We present the first calculation of the kaon semileptonic form factor with sea and valence quark masses tuned to their physical values in the continuum limit of 2+1 flavour domain wall lattice QCD. We analyse a comprehensive set of simulations at the phenomenologically convenient point of zero momentum transfer in large physical volumes and for two different values of the lattice spacing. Our prediction for the form factor is f+(0)=0.9685(34)(14) where the first error is statistical and the second error systematic. This result can be combined with experimental measurements of K->pi decays for a determination of the CKM-matrix element for which we predict |Vus|=0.2233(5)(9) where the first error is from experiment and the second error from the lattice computation.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2015

B-meson decay constants from 2+1-flavor lattice QCD with domain-wall light quarks and relativistic heavy quarks

We calculate the B-meson decay constants f_B, f_Bs, and their ratio in unquenched lattice QCD using domain-wall light quarks and relativistic b-quarks. We use gauge-field ensembles generated by the RBC and UKQCD collaborations using the domain-wall fermion action and Iwasaki gauge action with three flavors of light dynamical quarks. We analyze data at two lattice spacings of a ~ 0.11, 0.086 fm with unitary pion masses as light as M_pi ~ 290 MeV; this enables us to control the extrapolation to the physical light-quark masses and continuum. For the b-quarks we use the anisotropic clover action with the relativistic heavy-quark interpretation, such that discretization errors from the heavy-quark action are of the same size as from the light-quark sector. We renormalize the lattice heavy-light axial-vector current using a mostly nonperturbative method in which we compute the bulk of the matching factor nonperturbatively, with a small correction, that is close to unity, in lattice perturbation theory. We also improve the lattice heavy-light current through O(alpha_s a). We extrapolate our results to the physical light-quark masses and continuum using SU(2) heavy-meson chiral perturbation theory, and provide a complete systematic error budget. We obtain f_B0 = 199.5(12.6) MeV, f_B+ = 195.6(14.9) MeV, f_Bs = 235.4(12.2) MeV, f_Bs/f_B0 = 1.197(50), and f_Bs/f_B+ = 1.223(71), where the errors are statistical and total systematic added in quadrature. These results are in good agreement with other published results and provide an important independent cross check of other three-flavor determinations of $B$-meson decay constants using staggered light quarks.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2014

The QCD phase transition with physical-mass, chiral quarks

We report on the first lattice calculation of the QCD phase transition using chiral fermions at physical values of the quark masses. This calculation uses 2+1 quark flavors, spatial volumes between (4 fm$)^3$ and (11 fm$)^3$ and temperatures between 139 and 196 MeV . Each temperature was calculated using a single lattice spacing corresponding to a temporal Euclidean extent of $N_t=8$. The disconnected chiral susceptibility, $χ_{\rm disc}$ shows a pronounced peak whose position and height depend sensitively on the quark mass. We find no metastability in the region of the peak and a peak height which does not change when a 5 fm spatial extent is increased to 10 fm. Each result is strong evidence that the QCD ``phase transition'' is not first order but a continuous cross-over for $m_π=135$ MeV. The peak location determines a pseudo-critical temperature $T_c = 155(1)(8)$ MeV. Chiral $SU(2)_L\times SU(2)_R$ symmetry is fully restored above 164 MeV, but anomalous $U(1)_A$ symmetry breaking is non-zero above $T_c$ and vanishes as $T$ is increased to 196 MeV.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2014

The QCD chiral transition, $\ua$ symmetry and the Dirac spectrum using domain wall fermions

We report on a study of the finite-temperature QCD transition region for temperatures between 139 and 196 MeV, with a pion mass of 200 MeV and two space-time volumes: $24^3\times8$ and $32^3\times8$, where the larger volume varies in linear size between 5.6 fm (at T=139 MeV) and 4.0 fm (at T=195 MeV). These results are compared with the results of an earlier calculation using the same action and quark masses but a smaller, $16^3\times8$ volume. The chiral domain wall fermion formulation with a combined Iwasaki and dislocation suppressing determinant ratio gauge action are used. This lattice action accurately reproduces the $\sua$ and $\ua$ symmetries of the continuum. Results are reported for the chiral condensates, connected and disconnected susceptibilities and the Dirac eigenvalue spectrum. We find a pseudo-critical temperature, $T_c$, of approximately 165 MeV consistent with previous results and strong finite volume dependence below $T_c$. Clear evidence is seen for $\ua$ symmetry breaking above $T_c$ which is quantitatively explained by the measured density of near-zero modes in accordance with the dilute instanton gas approximation.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2013

The Kaon Bag Parameter at Physical Mass

We present preliminary results for the calculation of the Kaon Bag parameter $B_K$ in $N_f=2+1$ lattice QCD, using Möbius Domain Wall Fermion ensembles generated by the RBC-UKQCD collaboration. This computation is done directly at physical meson masses, so that we do not have to rely on chiral perturbation theory or any other mass extrapolation. In parallel, the four-quark operator is renormalised through the Rome-Southampton technique. Finally, we compare our value with previous results and draw some conclusions about the remaining dominant contributions in our error budget.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2013

Calculating the two-pion decay and mixing of neutral K mesons

The recent calculation of the complex isospin-two decay amplitude A_2 with physical kinematics is presented together with exploratory calculations of the isospin-zero decay amplitude A_0. Prospects for accurate calculation of A_0 as well as the mass difference between the K_L and K_S mesons are discussed.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2012

Nonperturbative tuning of an improved relativistic heavy-quark action with application to bottom spectroscopy

We calculate the masses of bottom mesons using an improved relativistic action for the b-quarks and the RBC/UKQCD Iwasaki gauge configurations with 2+1 flavors of dynamical domain-wall light quarks. We analyze configurations with two lattice spacings: a^{-1} = 1.729 GeV (a ~ 0.11 fm) and a^{-1} = 2.281 GeV (a ~ 0.086 fm). We use an anisotropic, clover-improved Wilson action for the b-quark, and tune the three parameters of the action nonperturbatively such that they reproduce the experimental values of the B_s and B_s* heavy-light meson states. The masses and mass-splittings of the low-lying bottomonium states (such as the eta_b and Upsilon) can then be computed with no additional inputs, and comparison between these predictions and experiment provides a test of the validity of our method. We obtain bottomonium masses with total uncertainties of ~0.5-0.6% and fine-structure splittings with uncertainties of ~35-45%; for all cases we find good agreement with experiment. The parameters of the relativistic heavy-quark action tuned for b-quarks presented in this work can be used for precise calculations of weak matrix elements such as B-meson decay constants and mixing parameters with lattice discretization errors that are of the same size as in light pseudoscalar meson quantities. This general method can also be used for charmed meson masses and matrix elements if the parameters of the heavy-quark action are appropriately tuned.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2012

Light Quark Mass Reweighting

We present a systematic study of the effectiveness of light quark mass reweighting. This method allows a single lattice QCD ensemble, generated with a specific value of the dynamical light quark mass, to be used to determine results for other, nearby light dynamical quark masses. We study two gauge field ensembles generated with 2+1 flavors of dynamical domain wall fermions with light quark masses m_l=0.02 (m_π=620 MeV) and m_l=0.01 (m_π=420 MeV). We reweight each ensemble to determine results which could be computed directly from the other and check the consistency of the reweighted results with the direct results. The large difference between the 0.02 and 0.01 light quark masses suggests that this is an aggressive application of reweighting as can be seen from fluctuations in the magnitude of the reweighting factor by four orders of magnitude. Never-the-less, a comparison of the reweighed topological charge, average plaquette, residual mass, pion mass, pion decay constant, and scalar correlator between these two ensembles shows agreement well described by the statistical errors. The issues of the effective number of configurations and finite sample size bias are discussed. An examination of the topological charge distribution implies that it is more favorable to reweight from heavier mass to lighter quark mass.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2012

Computing the long-distance contribution to the kaon mixing parameter ε_K

The largest contribution to the CP violating K_L-K_S mixing parameter ε_K comes from second order weak interactions at short distances and can be accurately determined by a combination of electroweak perturbation theory and the calculation of the parameter B_K from lattice QCD. However, there is an additional long distance contribution to ε_K which is estimated to be of order 5%. Here recently introduced lattice techniques for computing the long-distance component of the K_L-K_S mass difference are generalized to this long-distance contribution to ε_K.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2010

Long-distance contributions to weak amplitudes

The calculation of the long-distance contribution to the $K^0-\bar{K}^0$ mass matrix is divided into three parts: First, the calculation of the matrix element between kaon states of the product of two space-time integrated, $ΔS=1$, four-quark weak operators. Second an RI/MOM subtraction to remove the short distance part of this matrix element in a fashion consistent with the calculation of the physical short distance part. Third an application of the Lellouch-Luscher method, generalized to second order in the weak interactions, to control finite volume errors. Such an approach promises to permit accurate lattice calculation of the $K_L$-$K_S$ mass difference and the long-distance contributions to $ε_K$.

hep-lat↗