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Patricia Ball

Publications and source records attributed to Patricia Ball.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2006

Testing QCD Sum Rules on the Light-Cone in D->(pi,K) l nu Decays

We compare the predictions for the form factors f_+^{D->pi,K}(0) from QCD sum rules on the light-cone with recent experimental results. We find f_+^{D->pi}(0) = 0.63\pm 0.11, f_+^{D->K}(0) = 0.75\pm 0.12 and f_+^{D->pi}(0)/f_+^{D->K}(0)= 0.84\pm 0.04 in very good agreement with experiment. Although the uncertainties of the form factors themselves are larger than the current experimental errors and difficult to reduce, their ratio is determined much more accurately and with an accuracy that matches that of experiment.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2006

Probing New Physics through B Mixing: Status, Benchmarks and Prospects

As is well known, $B^0_{d,s}$--$\bar B^0_{d,s}$ mixing offers a profound probe into the effects of physics beyond the Standard Model. The data obtained at the $e^+e^-$ $B$ factories have already provided valuable insights into the $B_d$-meson system, and very recently also the $B^0_s$--$\bar B^0_s$ oscillation frequency $ΔM_s$ has been measured at the Tevatron. We give a critical discussion of the interpretation of these data in terms of model-independent new-physics parameters. We address in particular the impact of the uncertainties of the relevant input parameters, set benchmarks for their accuracies as required by future precision measurements at the LHC, and explore the prospects for new CP-violating effects in the $B_s$ system. To complement our model-independent analysis, we also discuss the constraints imposed by the CDF measurement of $ΔM_s$ on popular models of new physics, namely scenarios with an extra $Z'$ boson and supersymmetry. We find that the new data still leave sizeable room for new-physics contributions to $B^0_{s}$--$\bar B^0_{s}$ mixing, which could be detected at the LHC.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2006

Higher-Twist Distribution Amplitudes of the K Meson in QCD

We present a systematic study of twist-3 and twist-4 light-cone distribution amplitudes of the K meson in QCD. The structure of SU(3)-breaking corrections is studied in detail. Non-perturbative input parameters are estimated from QCD sum rules and renormalons. As a by-product, we give a complete reanalysis of the twist-3 and -4 parameters of the pi-meson distribution amplitudes; some of the results differ from those usually quoted in the literature.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2006

Operator Relations for SU(3) Breaking Contributions to K and K* Distribution Amplitudes

We derive constraints on the asymmetry a1 of the momentum fractions carried by quark and antiquark in K and K* mesons in leading twist. These constraints follow from exact operator identities and relate a1 to SU(3) breaking quark-antiquark-gluon matrix elements which we determine from QCD sum rules. Comparing our results to determinations of a1 from QCD sum rules based on correlation functions of quark currents, we find that, for a1^\parallel(K*) the central values agree well and come with moderate errors, whereas for a1(K) and a1^\perp(K*) the results from operator relations are consistent with those from quark current sum rules, but come with larger uncertainties. The consistency of results confirms that the QCD sum rule method is indeed suitable for the calculation of a1. We conclude that the presently most accurate predictions for a1 come from the direct determination from QCD sum rules based on correlation functions of quark currents and are given by: a1(K) = 0.06\pm 0.03, a1^\parallel(K*) = 0.03\pm 0.02, a1^\perp(K*) = 0.04\pm 0.03.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2005

SU(3) Breaking of Leading--Twist K and K* Distribution Amplitudes - a Reprise

We review the status of the leptonic decay constants f_K and f_K^{\parallel,\perp} of the K and K*, respectively, and the SU(3) breaking quantities a_1(K) and a_{1}^{\parallel,\perp}(K*), the first Gegenbauer-moments of the leading-twist distribution amplitudes of K and K*. We obtain new predictions from QCD sum rules which are relevant for the calculation of K and K* form factors, for instance T_1^{B->K*}, which determines the decay B -> K* gamma, and for QCD factorisation calculations of nonleptonic B decays into strange mesons, for instance B -> K pi.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2005

|V_ub| and Constraints on the Leading-Twist Pion Distribution Amplitude from B->pi l nu

Using new experimental data on the leptonic mass spectrum of B->pi l nu, we simultaneously determine |V_ub| and constrain a_2^pi and a_4^pi, the first two Gegenbauer moments of the pion's leading-twist distribution amplitude. We find |V_ub| = (3.2\pm 0.1\pm 0.1\pm 0.3) 10^-3, where the first error is experimental, the second comes from the shape of the form factor in q^2 and the third is a 8% uncertainty from the normalisation of the form factor. We also find a_2^pi(1 GeV)=0.19\pm 0.19 and a_4^pi(1 GeV)\geq -0.07.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2005

Models for Light-Cone Meson Distribution Amplitudes

Leading-twist distribution amplitudes (DAs) of light mesons like pi,rho etc. describe the leading nonperturbative hadronic contributions to exclusive QCD reactions at large energy transfer, for instance electromagnetic form factors. They also enter B decay amplitudes described in QCD factorisation, in particular nonleptonic two-body decays. Being nonperturbative quantities, DAs cannot be calculated from first principles, but have to be described by models. Most models for DAs rely on a fixed order conformal expansion, which is strictly valid for large factorisation scales, but not always sufficient in phenomenological applications. We derive models for DAs that are valid to all orders in the conformal expansion and characterised by a small number of parameters which are related to experimental observables.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2004

B_{d,s}->rho, omega, K*, phi Decay Form Factors from Light-Cone Sum Rules Revisited

We present an improved calculation of $B\to$ light vector form factors from light-cone sum rules, including one-loop radiative corrections to twist-2 and twist-3 contributions, and leading order twist-4 corrections. The total theoretical uncertainty of our results at zero momentum transfer is typically 10% and can be improved, at least in part, by reducing the uncertainty of hadronic input parameters. We present our results in a way which details the dependence of the form factors on these parameters and facilitates the incorporation of future updates of their values from e.g. lattice calculations. We also give simple and easy-to-inplement parametrizations of the $q^2$-dependence of the form factors which are valid in the full kinematical regime of $q^2$.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2004

B->pi,K,eta Decay Formfactors from Light-Cone Sum Rules

We present an improved calculation of all B -> light pseudoscalar formfactors from light-cone sum rules, including one-loop radiative corrections to twist-2 and twist-3 contributions, and leading order twist-4 corrections. The total theoretical uncertainty of our results at zero momentum transfer is 10 to 13%. The dependence of the formfactors on the momentum transfer q^2 is parametrized in a simple way that is consistent with their analytical properties and is valid for all physical q^2. The uncertainty of the extrapolation in q^2 on the semileptonic decay rate Gamma(B -> pi e nu) is estimated to be 5%.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2004

New Results on B->pi, K, eta Decay Formfactors from Light-Cone Sum Rules

We present an improved calculation of $B\to$ light pseudoscalar formfactors from light-cone sum rules, including one-loop radiative corrections to twist-2 and twist-3 contributions, and leading order twist-4 corrections. The total theoretical uncertainty of our results at zero momentum transfer is 10 to 13% and can be improved, at least in part, by reducing the uncertainty of hadronic input parameters, in particular those describing the twist-2 distribution amplitudes of the pi, K and eta. We present our results in a way which details the dependence of the formfactors on these parameters and facilitates the incorporation of future updates of their values from e.g. lattice calculations.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2003

QCD Sum Rules on the Light-Cone, Factorisation and SCET

The accurate calculation of weak heavy-to-light form factors is crucial for the determination of CKM matrix elements from experimental data on B decays. In SCET, the soft-collinear effective theory, these form factors can, in the heavy quark limit, be split into a factorisable part that is calculable in perturbation theory, and a nonfactorisable part that observes certain spin-symmetries. I discuss the relation between the SCET factorisation formulas and the heavy quark limit of the corresponding QCD sum rules on the light-cone. I also analyse the numerical size of factorisable and nonfactorisable parts and corrections suppressed by powers of the b quark mass.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2003

B->gamma e nu Transitions from QCD Sum Rules

B->gamma e nu transitions have recently been studied in the framework of QCD factorization. The attractiveness of this channel for such an analysis lies in the fact that, at least in the heavy quark limit, the only hadron involved is the B meson itself, so one expects a very simple description of the form factor in terms of a convolution of the B meson distribution amplitude with a perturbative kernel. This description, however, does not include contributions suppressed by powers of the b quark mass. In this letter, we calculate corrections to the factorized expression which are induced by the ``soft'' hadronic component of the photon. We demonstrate that the power-suppression of these terms is numerically not effective for physical values of the $b$ quark mass and that they increase the form factor by about 30% at zero momentum transfer. We also derive a sum rule for lambda_B, the first negative moment of the B meson distribution amplitude, and find lambda_B = 0.6 GeV (to leading order in QCD).

hep-ph↗
arXiv2001

Improved Analysis of B->pi e nu from QCD Sum Rules on the Light-Cone

We present a new calculation of the B->pi form-factor f_+, relevant for the measurement of |V_{ub}| from semileptonic B->pi transitions, from QCD sum rules on the light-cone. The new element is the calculation of radiative corrections to next-to-leading twist-3 accuracy. We find that these contributions are factorizable at O(alpha_s), which lends additional support to the method of QCD sum rules on the light-cone. We obtain f_+(0) = 0.26\pm 0.06 \pm 0.05, where the first error accounts for the uncertainty in the input-parameters and the second is a guesstimate of the systematic uncertainty induced by the approximations inherent in the method. We also obtain a simple parametrization of the form-factor which is valid in the entire kinematical range of semileptonic decays and consistent with vector-meson dominance at large momentum-transfer.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2001

A Note on Wandzura-Wilczek Relations

Wandzura-Wilczek (WW) relations between matrix-elements of bilocal light-ray operators have recently regained interest in connection with off-forward scattering processes. Originally derived for matrix elements over leading-twist operators, their generalization to off-forward and exclusive processes gets complicated by the presence of higher-twist operators that are total derivatives of leading-twist ones and do not contribute to forward-scattering. We demonstrate that, for exclusive matrix-elements, the inclusion of these operators into WW-relations is essential for fulfilling constraints imposed by the conformal symmetry of massless QCD.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2000

Current Topics in B Physics

I discuss topics of particular interest in connection with the ongoing experiments at the B factories BaBar and Belle: B-mixing, QCD effects in nonleptonic decays and rare decays.

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