arXiv subjects

Oliver Witzel

Publications and source records attributed to Oliver Witzel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Gradient Flow Renormalization Schemes for Composite Fermion Operators

We introduce gradient flow (GF) normalization prescriptions for fermionic composite operators in which the flowed fermion wavefunction renormalization factor is fixed nonperturbatively using either the partially conserved axial charge or the conserved vector current. The resulting $A$ and $V$ schemes are defined through standard flowed two-point correlation functions and therefore avoid the backward-flow construction required by local ringed-scheme definitions. In the short-flow-time limit, the $A$ and $V$ schemes can be matched to $\overline{\mathrm{MS}}$ using known ringed-scheme short-flow-time expansion (SFTX) coefficients. We show how these schemes can be implemented through ratios of two-point correlation functions, leading to simple nonperturbative determinations of renormalization factors, anomalous dimensions, and evolution factors which connect lattice-accessible flow times to shorter flow times where perturbative matching is reliable. We illustrate the method with RBC-UKQCD domain-wall fermion ensembles, including a GF determination of the ratio of matching factors $Z_V/Z_A$, and a new GF determination of the renormalized strange quark mass.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2026

Bag Parameters for Heavy Meson Lifetimes

We calculate the dimension-six $\Delta Q=0$ four-quark matrix elements describing heavy-meson lifetime ratios using the gradient flow with its short flow-time expansion as a renormalization procedure. On six RBC/UKQCD 2+1-flavor domain-wall fermion ensembles, we determine flowed bag parameters for physical charm and strange quarks and match to the $\overline{\text{MS}}$ scheme with perturbative short flow-time expansion coefficients through next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO). A multi-scale matching procedure using renormalization-group running improves the extrapolation to zero flow time. For the operators relevant to $\tau(D_s)/\tau(D^0)$ at the SU(3)$_{\rm F}$ symmetric point, we obtain $B_1^{\overline{\text{MS}}}(3\,{\rm GeV})=1.0524(97)$,$B_2^{\overline{\text{MS}}}(3\,{\rm GeV})=0.9621(70)$, $\epsilon_1^{\overline{\text{MS}}}(3\,{\rm GeV})=-0.2275(76)$, and $\epsilon_2^{\overline{\text{MS}}}(3\,{\rm GeV})=-0.0005(8)$ using a specific choice of evanescent operators. This is the first lattice-QCD determination of $\Delta Q=0$ four-quark operators with a full error budget. It opens the path towards higher-precision predictions of heavy-meson lifetimes and similar quantities exhibiting operator mixing under renormalization.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2026

Heavy-Meson Bag Parameters using Gradient Flow

We demonstrate the use of the gradient flow combined with the short flow-time expansion (GF+SFTX) as a renormalization procedure for four-quark operator matrix elements and associated bag parameters relevant to neutral heavy-meson mixing ($\Delta Q=2$) and heavy-meson lifetimes ($\Delta Q=0$). Using six RBC/UKQCD 2+1-flavor domain-wall fermion ensembles, we calculate for a charm-strange system with physical quark masses flowed bag parameters and match them to the $\overline{\text{MS}}$ scheme using perturbative SFTX coefficients up to next-to-next-to-leading order in QCD. We employ a multi-scale matching strategy and a renormalization-group improved flow-time evolution which allows for a reliable estimate of systematic uncertainties. For a fictitious neutral $D_s$ meson, we obtain the $\Delta Q=2$ $\overline{\text{MS}}$ bag parameter ${\cal B}^{\overline{\text{MS}}}_1(3\,{\rm GeV})=0.7673(123)$, consistent with existing short-distance $D^0$ mixing determinations. For the $\Delta Q=0$ lifetime-ratio operator basis, we find the $\overline{\text{MS}}$ results $B^{\overline{\text{MS}}}_1(3\,{\rm GeV})=1.0524(97)$, $B^{\overline{\text{MS}}}_2(3\,{\rm GeV})=0.9621(71)$, $\epsilon^{\overline{\text{MS}}}_1(3\,{\rm GeV})=-0.2275(76)$, and $\epsilon^{\overline{\text{MS}}}_2(3\,{\rm GeV})=-0.0005(8)$. We provide conversion formulae to re-express these results for an arbitrary choice of evanescent operators. These results demonstrate that GF+SFTX can deliver precise determinations of dimension-six four-quark operators and establish a framework for future lattice computations including more complex operator bases, where the challenge of power-divergent mixing is shifted to the continuum and handled in the SFTX.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2026

Extracting $B_s\to D_s^*\ell\nu_\ell$ form factors

Semileptonic $B_{(s)}$ decays are of great phenomenological interest because they allow to determine e.g. CKM matrix elements or test lepton flavor universality. Taking advantage of already existing lattice data, we demonstrate the analysis steps to extract the four form factors describing exclusive semileptonic $B_s\to D_s^*\ell\nu_\ell$ decays using the narrow width approximation. Our data are based on RBC/UKQCD's set of 2+1 flavor gauge field ensembles with Shamir domain-wall fermion and Iwasaki gauge field action featuring inverse lattice spacings of $a^{-1}=$1.785, 2.383, and 2.785 GeV as well as pion masses between 268 and 433 MeV. Light, strange and charm quarks are simulated using domain-wall fermions, whereas bottom quarks are generated with the relativistic heavy quark (RHQ) action.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2025

Symmetric Mass Generation

In recent years tantalizing signs for a novel phase have been reported that is chirally symmetric but nevertheless exhibits massive bound states. The necessary condition for such a phase, referred to as Symmetric Mass Generation (SMG), is the cancellation of all (continuous and discrete) 't~Hooft anomalies. In 3+1 dimensions this occurs in systems containing a multiple of 16 massless Weyl fermions. SMG was originally discovered in lower dimensional condensed matter systems. We present results investigating four dimensional field theories with gauge group SU(3). Our findings suggest that SU(3) with $N_f=8$ fundamental fermions exhibits an SMG phase not only on the lattice but also in the infinite cutoff continuum limit. If confirmed, SMG could provide a new UV completion of the standard model and give rise to new scenarios for beyond standard model physics.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2025

Subatomic Heroes

Sharing the amazing achievements of the (particle) physics world with the general public is at the heart of the mission of the Subatomic Heroes, based at the University of Siegen, Germany. Originally this started out as an endeavor of theoretical particle physics, now we are steadily spreading out to cover and include more branches of physics and science. Our activities range from merging art with public physics lectures via marvelous artistic performances at the local theater, over dedicated events for high-school students, to our Subatomic Heroes channel on Instagram and TikTok where you may also find out when and where our famous "hadronic ice-cream" will be served next! So follow us on https://www.instagram.com/subatomic_heroes and https://www.tiktok.com/@subatomic_heroes.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2025

Renormalized quark masses using gradient flow

We propose a new and simple method for determining the renormalized quark masses from lattice simulations. Renormalized quark masses are an important input to many phenomenological applications, including searching and modeling physics beyond the Standard Model. The non-perturbative renormalization is performed using gradient flow combined with the short-flow-time expansion that is improved by renormalization-group (RG) running to match to the $\overline{\text{MS}}$-scheme. Implementing the RG running perturbatively, we demonstrate this method works reliably at least up to the charm-quark mass and exhibits an easily-attainable ``windowing condition''. Using RBC/UKQCD's (2+1)-flavor Shamir domain-wall fermion ensembles with Iwasaki gauge action, we find $m_s^\overline{\text{MS}}(\mu=2 \text{ GeV}) = 90(3)$ MeV and $m_c^\overline{\text{MS}}(\mu=3 \text{ GeV}) = 972(16)$ MeV. These results predict the scale-independent ratio $m_c/m_s= 12.1(4)$. Generalization to other observables is possible, providing an efficient approach to determine non-perturbatively renormalized fermionic observables like form factors or bag parameters from lattice simulations.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2024

Form factors for semileptonic B(s) -> D*(s) l nu_l decays

Semileptonic $B_{(s)}$ decays are of great phenomenological interest because they allow to extract CKM matrix elements or test lepton flavour universality. Taking advantage of existing data, we explore extracting form factors for vector final states using the narrow width approximation. Based on RBC/UKQCD's set of 2+1 flavour gauge field ensembles with Shamir domain-wall fermion and Iwasaki gauge field action, we study semileptonic $B_{(s)}$ decays using domain-wall fermions for light, strange and charm quarks, whereas bottom quarks are simulated with the relativistic heavy quark (RHQ) action. Exploratory results for $B_s \to D_s^* \ell \nu_\ell$ are presented.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2024

Investigating SU(3) with Nf=8 fundamental fermions at strong renormalized coupling

Lattice simulations have observed a novel strong coupling symmetric mass generation (SMG) phase for the SU(3) gauge system with $N_f=8$ fundamental fermions (represented by two sets of staggered fields) at very large renormalized coupling ($g^2_{GF} \gtrsim 25$). The results of Phys.Rev.D 106 (2022) 014513 suggest that the SMG phase is separated from the weak coupling, conformal phase by a continuous phase transition, implying that the SMG phase exists in the continuum limit. To scrutinize these findings, we are generating a set of large volume zero temperature ensembles using nHYP improved staggered fermions with additional Pauli-Villars fields to tame gauge field fluctuations. We consider the low-lying meson spectrum and verify the existence of the SMG phase. Based on a finite size scaling analysis we predict that the phase transition between the strong and weak coupling phases is likely governed by a merged fixed point that is ultraviolet in the strong coupling but infrared in the weak coupling side. This finding suggests that the SU(3) 8-flavor system sits at the opening of the conformal window

hep-lat↗

arXiv2024

Gradient Flow Renormalisation for Meson Mixing and Lifetimes

Fermionic gradient flow in combination with the short-flow-time expansion provides a computational method where the renormalisation of hadronic matrix elements on the lattice can be simplified to address e.g. the issue that operators with different mass dimension can mix. We demonstrate our gradient flow renormalisation procedure by determining matrix elements of four-quark operators describing neutral meson mixing or meson lifetimes. While meson mixing calculations are well-established on the lattice and serve to validate our procedure, a lattice calculation of matrix elements for heavy meson lifetimes is still outstanding. Preliminary results for mesons formed of a charm and strange quark are presented.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2024

Theory on CKM and heavy quark decay

The combination of precise experimental measurements and theoretical predictions allows to extract Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix elements or constrain flavor changing processes in the standard model. Focusing at theoretical predictions, we review recent highlights from the sector of heavy charm and bottom quark decays. Special emphasis is given to nonperturbative contributions due to the strong force calculated using lattice QCD.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Stealth dark matter spectrum using LapH and Irreps

We present non-perturbative lattice calculations of the low-lying meson and baryon spectrum of the SU(4) gauge theory with fundamental fermion constituents. This theory is one instance of stealth dark matter, a class of strongly coupled theories, where the lowest mass stable baryon is the dark matter candidate. This work constitutes the first milestone in the program to study stealth dark matter self-interactions. Here, we focus on reducing excited state contamination in the single baryon channel by applying the Laplacian Heaviside method, as well as projecting our baryon operators onto the irreducible representations of the octahedral group. We compare our resulting spectrum to previous work involving Gaussian smeared non-projected operators and find good agreement with reduced statistical uncertainties. We also present the spectrum of the low-lying odd-parity baryons for the first time.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2023

Using Gradient Flow to Renormalise Matrix Elements for Meson Mixing and Lifetimes

Neutral meson mixing and meson lifetimes are theory-side parametrised in terms four-quark operators which can be determined by calculating weak decay matrix elements using lattice Quantum Chromodynamics. While calculations of meson mixing matrix elements are standard, determinations of lifetimes typically suffer from complications in renormalisation procedures because dimension-6 four-quark operators can mix with operators of lower mass dimension and, moreover, quark-line disconnected diagrams contribute. We present work detailing the idea to use fermionic gradient flow to non-perturbatively renormalise matrix elements describing meson mixing or lifetimes, and combining it with a perturbative calculation to match to the $\overline{\rm MS}$ scheme using the shoft-flow-time expansion.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2023

$Λ$ parameter of the SU(3) Yang-Mills theory from the continuous $β$ function

Nonperturbative determinations of the renormalization group $β$ function are essential to connect lattice results to perturbative predictions of strongly coupled gauge theories and to determine the $Λ$ parameter or the strong coupling constant. The continuous $β$ function is very well suited for this task because it is applicable both in the weakly coupled deconfined regime as well as the strongly coupled confined regime. Here we report on our results for the $β$ function of the pure gauge SU(3) Yang-Mills theory in the gradient flow scheme. Our calculations cover the renormalized coupling range $g^2_{\textrm{GF}} \sim 1.2 - 27$, allowing for a direct determination of $\sqrt{8t_0} Λ_{\overline{\textrm{MS}}}$ in this system. Our prediction, $\sqrt{8 t_0} Λ_{\overline{\textrm{MS}}}=0.622(10)$, is in good agreement with recent direct determinations of this quantity.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2023

Infrared fixed point of the SU(3) gauge theory with $N_f = 10$ flavors

We use lattice simulations and the continuous renormalization-group method, based on the gradient flow, to calculate the $β$ function and anomalous dimensions of the SU(3) gauge theory with $N_f=10$ flavors of fermions in the fundamental representation. We employ several improvements to extend the range of available renormalized couplings, including the addition of heavy Pauli-Villars bosons to reduce cutoff effects and the combination of a range of gradient flow transformations. While in the weak coupling regime our result is consistent with those of earlier studies, our techniques allow us to study the system at much stronger couplings than previously possible. We find that the renormalization group $β$ function develops a zero, corresponding to an infrared-stable fixed point, at gradient-flow coupling $g^2=15.0(5)$. We also determine the mass and tensor anomalous dimensions: At the fixed point we find $γ_m\simeq0.6$, suggesting that this system might be deep inside the conformal window.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2023

Exclusive semileptonic $B_s\to K \ell ν$ decays on the lattice

Semileptonic $B_s \to K \ell ν$ decays provide an alternative $b$-decay channel to determine the CKM matrix element $|V_{ub}|$, and to obtain a $R$-ratio to investigate lepton-flavor-universality violations. Results for the CKM matrix element may also shed light on the discrepancies seen between analyses of inclusive or exclusive decays. We calculate the decay form factors using lattice QCD with domain-wall light quarks and a relativistic $b$-quark. We analyze data at three lattice spacings with unitary pion masses down to $268\,\mathrm{MeV}$. Our numerical results are interpolated/extrapolated to physical quark masses and to the continuum to obtain the vector and scalar form factors $f_+(q^2)$ and $f_0(q^2)$ with full error budgets at $q^2$ values spanning the range accessible in our simulations. We provide a possible explanation of tensions found between results for the form factor from different lattice collaborations. Model- and truncation-independent $z$-parameterization fits following a recently proposed Bayesian-inference approach extend our results to the entire allowed kinematic range. Our results can be combined with experimental measurements of $B_s \to D_s$ and $B_s\to K$ semileptonic decays to determine $|V_{ub}|=3.8(6)\times 10^{-3}$. The error is currently dominated by experiment. We compute differential branching fractions and two types of $R$ ratios, the one commonly used as well as a variant better suited to test lepton-flavor universality.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2023

Infrared fixed point and anomalous dimensions in a composite Higgs model

We use lattice simulations and the continuous renormalization-group method, based on the gradient flow, to study a candidate theory of composite Higgs and a partially composite top. The model is an SU(4) gauge theory with four Dirac fermions in each of the fundamental and two-index antisymmetric representations. We find that the theory has an infrared fixed point at $g^2 \simeq 15.5$ in the gradient flow scheme. The mass anomalous dimension of each representation is large at the fixed point. On the other hand, the anomalous dimensions of top-partner operators do not exceed 0.5 at the fixed point. This may not be large enough for a phenomenologically successful model of partial compositeness.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2022

B Meson Decay Constants Using Relativistic Heavy Quarks

We present an update on ongoing work to extract pseudoscalar and vector decay constants for $B^{(*)}$, $B^{(*)}_s$ and $B^{(*)}_c$ mesons and determine phenomenologically-interesting ratios such as $f_{B_s}/f_B$ or $f_{B^*}/f_B$. Our calculation is based on ${\rm N_f}=2+1$ dynamical flavour gauge field ensembles generated by the RBC/UKQCD collaborations using domain-wall fermions and the Iwasaki gauge action. Using domain-wall light, strange, and charm quarks and relativistic $b$ quarks, we obtain results at multiple lattice spacings and valence quark masses.

hep-lat↗