arXiv subjects

Roxanne P. Springer

Publications and source records attributed to Roxanne P. Springer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

The role of intermediate $ΔΔ$ states in nucleon-nucleon scattering in the large-$N_c$ and unitary limits, and $ΔΔ$ and $ΩΩ$ scattering

We explore potential explanations for why using large-$N_c$ ($N_c$ is the number of colors) scaling to determine the relative size of few-nucleon low-energy operators agrees with experiment even when dynamical $Δ$'s are not explicitly included. Given that the large-$N_c$ analysis is predicated on the nucleons and $Δ$'s being degenerate, this is a curious result. We show that for purely $S$-wave interactions the relationships dictated by large-$N_c$ scaling are unaffected whether the $Δ$ is included or not. In the case of higher partial waves that do not mix with $S$-waves, the impact of the $Δ$ is perturbative, which makes the agreement with naive ($Δ$-less) large-$N_c$ ordering unsurprising. For higher partial waves that mix with $S$-waves, the nucleon and $Δ$ would need to decouple to get agreement with naive large-$N_c$ ordering. We find all $NN$, $ΔN$, and $ΔΔ$ low energy coefficients for leading-order baryon-baryon scattering in $Δ$-full pionless effective field theory in terms of the two independent parameters dictated by the SU($2F$) spin-flavor symmetry that arises in the $N_c \rightarrow \infty$ limit. Because of recent lattice QCD results and experimental interest, we extend our analysis to the three-flavor case to study $ΩΩ$ scattering. We show that in the unitary limit (where scattering lengths become infinite) one of the two SU($2F$) parameters is driven to zero, resulting in enhanced symmetries, which agree with those found in spin-1/2 entanglement studies.

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arXiv2023

Cold Neutron-Deuteron Capture and Wigner-SU(4) Symmetry

We calculate the cold neutron-deuteron ($nd$) capture cross section, $σ_{nd}$, to next-to-next-to leading order (NNLO) using the model-independent approach of pionless effective field theory (EFT($π\!\!\!/$)). At leading order we find $σ_{nd} = 0.315 \pm 0.217$ mb, while the experimental result is 0.508(15) mb [Jurney, Bendt and Browne in Phys. Rev. C 25, 2810 (1982)] for a laboratory neutron velocity of 2200 m/s. At next-to-leading-order (NLO), we show that $σ_{nd}$ is sensitive to the low energy constant (LEC), $L_1^{(0)}$, of the two-nucleon isovector current appearing at NLO. A fit of $L_1^{(0)}$ at NLO to the triton magnetic moment yields a NLO prediction of $σ_{nd}=0.393 \pm 0.164$ mb, where the error comes from propagating the error from the $L_1^{(0)}$ fit. At next-to-next-to-leading-order (NNLO), we find that a new three-nucleon magnetic moment counterterm is required for renormalization group invariance of both $σ_{nd}$ and the triton magnetic moment. Fitting the NNLO correction to $L_1^{(0)}$ (denoted $L_1^{(1)}$) to cold neutron-proton capture ($σ_{np}$) yields a NNLO prediction of $σ_{nd}=0.447 \pm 0.130$ mb, where the error comes from propagating the error from the $L_1^{(1)}$ fit. We also study different fittings of $L_1^{(0)}$ and $L_1^{(1)}$ to $σ_{np}$, $σ_{nd}$, and/or the triton magnetic moment. For example, fitting $L_1^{(0)}$ simultaneously to $σ_{np}$, $σ_{nd}$, and the triton magnetic moment at NLO, and fitting $L_1^{(1)}$ simultaneously to $σ_{np}$ and $σ_{nd}$ at NNLO, yields $σ_{nd} = 0.480 \pm 0.114$ mb and $0.511 \pm 0.042$ mb, respectively, where errors are naively estimated from EFT($π\!\!\!/$) power counting. In addition, we discuss how Wigner-SU(4) symmetry may alter the naive EFT($π\!\!\!/$) expansion of $σ_{nd}$.

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arXiv2022

Implications of Large-$N_c$ QCD for the NN Interaction

We present a method for ordering two-nucleon interactions based upon their scaling with the number of QCD colors, $N_c$, in the limit that $N_c$ becomes large. Available data in the two-nucleon sector shows general agreement with this ordering, indicating that the method may be useful in other contexts where data is less readily available. However, several caveats and potential pitfalls can make the large-$N_c$ ordering fragile and/or vulnerable to misinterpretation. We discuss the application of the large-$N_c$ analysis to two- and three-nucleon interactions, including those originating from weak and beyond-the-standard-model interactions, as well as two-nucleon external currents. Finally, we discuss some open questions in the field.

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arXiv2022

Nuclear Forces for Precision Nuclear Physics -- a collection of perspectives

This is a collection of perspective pieces contributed by the participants of the Institute of Nuclear Theory's Program on Nuclear Physics for Precision Nuclear Physics which was held virtually from April 19 to May 7, 2021. The collection represents the reflections of a vibrant and engaged community of researchers on the status of theoretical research in low-energy nuclear physics, the challenges ahead, and new ideas and strategies to make progress in nuclear structure and reaction physics, effective field theory, lattice QCD, quantum information, and quantum computing. The contributed pieces solely reflect the perspectives of the respective authors and do not represent the viewpoints of the Institute for Nuclear theory or the organizers of the program.

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arXiv2021

Large-$N_c$ analysis of two-nucleon neutrinoless double beta decay and charge-independence-breaking contact terms

The interpretation of experiments that search for neutrinoless double beta decay relies on input from nuclear theory. Cirigliano et al. recently showed that, for the light Majorana exchange formalism, effective field theory calculations require a $nn\to pp e^- e^-$ contact term at leading order. They estimated the size of this contribution by relating it to measured charge-independence-breaking (CIB) nucleon-nucleon interactions and making an assumption about the relative sizes of CIB operators. We show that the assumptions underlying this approximation are justified in the limit of the number of colors $N_c$ being large. We also obtain a large-$N_c$ hierarchy among CIB nucleon-nucleon interactions that is in agreement with phenomenological results.

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arXiv2020

Large-$N_c$ and renormalization group constraints on parity-violating low-energy coefficients for three-derivative operators in pionless effective field theory

We extend from operators with one derivative to operators with three derivatives the analysis of two-body hadronic parity violation in a combined pionless effective field theory (EFT$_{π\!/}$) and large-$N_c$ expansion, where $N_c$ is the number of colors in quantum chromodynamics (QCD). In elastic scattering, these operators contribute to $S$-$P$ and $P$-$D$ wave transitions, with five operators and their accompanying low energy coefficients (LECs) characterizing the $S$-$P$ transitions and six operators and LECs those in $P$-$D$ transitions. We show that the large-$N_c$ analysis separates them into leading order in $N_c$, next-to-leading order in $N_c$, etc. Relationships among EFT$_{π\!/}$ LECs emerge in the large-$N_c$ expansion. We also discuss the renormalization scale dependence of these LECs. Our analysis can complement lattice QCD calculations and help prioritize future parity-violating experiments.

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arXiv2018

Large-$N_c$ Relationships Among Two-Derivative Pionless Effective Field Theory Couplings

We analyze two-derivative two-nucleon interactions in a combined pionless effective field theory and large-$N_c$ expansion. At leading order in the large-$N_c$ expansion, relationships among low-energy constants emerge. We find these to be consistent with experiment. However, it is critical to correctly address the subtraction-point dependence of the low-energy constants. These results provide additional confidence that the dual-expansion procedure is useful for analyzing low-energy few-body observables.

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arXiv2018

Large-N(c) limit reduces the number of independent few-body parity-violating low-energy constants in pionless effective field theory

The symmetries of the Standard Model dictate that for very low energies, where nucleon dynamics can be described in terms of a pionless effective field theory, the leading-order parity-violating nucleon-nucleon Lagrangian contains five independent unknown low-energy constants (LECs). We find that imposing the approximate symmetry of QCD that appears when the number of colors N(c) becomes large reduces the number of independent LECs to two at leading order in the combined pionless effective field theory and large-N(c) expansions. We also find a relation between the two isoscalar LECs in the large-N(c) limit. This has important implications for the number of experiments and/or lattice calculations necessary to confirm this description of physics.

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arXiv2016

$nd$ Scattering and the $A_y$ Puzzle to Next-to-next-to-next-to-leading Order

Polarization observables in neutron-deuteron scattering are calculated to next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order ($\mathrm{N}^{3}\mathrm{LO}$) in pionless effective field theory ($\mathrm{EFT}_{\notπ}$). At $\mathrm{N}^{3}\mathrm{LO}$ the two-body $P$-wave contact interactions are found to be important contributions to the neutron vector analyzing power, $A_{y}(θ)$, and the deuteron vector analyzing power, $iT_{11}(θ)$. Extracting the two-body $P$-wave $\mathrm{EFT}_{\notπ}$ coefficients from two-body scattering data and varying them within the expected $\mathrm{EFT}_{\notπ}$ theoretical errors provides results that are consistent (at the $\mathrm{N}^{3}\mathrm{LO}$ level) with $A_y$ experimental data at low energies. Cutoff dependence of the $\mathrm{N}^{3}\mathrm{LO}$ correction of the doublet $S$-wave $nd$ scattering amplitude suggests the need for a new three-body force at $\mathrm{N}^{3}\mathrm{LO}$, which is likely one that mixes Wigner- symmetric and Wigner-antisymmetric three-body channels.

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arXiv2014

${}^{3}\mathrm{He}$ and $pd$ Scattering to Next-to-Leading Order in Pionless Effective Field Theory

We study the three-body systems of ${}^{3}\mathrm{He}$ and $pd$ scattering and demonstrate, both analytically and numerically, that a new $pd$ three-body force is needed at next-to-leading order in pionless effective field theory. We also show that at leading order these observables require no new three-body force beyond what is necessary to describe $nd$ scattering. We include electromagnetic effects by iterating only diagrams that involve a single photon exchange in the three-body sector.

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arXiv2013

The Theory of Parity Violation in Few-Nucleon Systems

We review recent progress in the theoretical description of hadronic parity violation in few-nucleon systems. After introducing the different methods that have been used to study parity-violating observables we discuss the available calculations for reactions with up to five nucleons. Particular emphasis is put on effective field theory calculations where they exist, but earlier and complementary approaches are also presented. We hope this review will serve as a guide for those who wish to know what calculations are available and what further calculations need to be completed before we can claim to have a comprehensive picture of parity violation in few nucleon systems.

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arXiv2012

Parity-violating neutron spin rotation in hydrogen and deuterium

We calculate the (parity-violating) spin rotation angle of a polarized neutron beam through hydrogen and deuterium targets, using pionless effective field theory up to next-to-leading order. Our result is part of a program to obtain the five leading independent low-energy parameters that characterize hadronic parity-violation from few-body observables in one systematic and consistent framework. The two spin-rotation angles provide independent constraints on these parameters. Using naive dimensional analysis to estimate the typical size of the couplings, we expect the signal for standard target densities to be 10^-7 to 10^-6 rad/m for both hydrogen and deuterium targets. We find no indication that the nd observable is enhanced compared to the np one. All results are properly renormalized. An estimate of the numerical and systematic uncertainties of our calculations indicates excellent convergence. An appendix contains the relevant partial-wave projectors of the three-nucleon system.

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arXiv2009

Can fermions save large N dimensional reduction?

This paper explores whether Eguchi-Kawai reduction for gauge theories with adjoint fermions is valid. The Eguchi-Kawai reduction relates gauge theories in different numbers of dimensions in the large $N$ limit provided that certain conditions are met. In principle, this relation opens up the possibility of learning about the dynamics of 4D gauge theories through techniques only available in lower dimensions. Dimensional reduction can be understood as a special case of large $N$ equivalence between theories related by an orbifold projection. In this work, we focus on the simplest case of dimensional reduction, relating a 4D gauge theory to a 3D gauge theory via an orbifold projection. A necessary condition for the large N equivalence between the 4D and 3D theories to hold is that certain discrete symmetries in the two theories must not be broken spontaneously. In pure 4D Yang-Mills theory, these symmetries break spontaneously as the size of one of the spacetime dimensions shrinks. An analysis of the effect of adjoint fermions on the relevant symmetries of the 4D theory shows that the fermions help stabilize the symmetries. We consider the same problem from the point of view of the lower dimensional 3D theory and find that, surprisingly, adjoint fermions are not generally enough to stabilize the necessary symmetries of the 3D theory. In fact, a rich phase diagram arises, with a complicated pattern of symmetry breaking. We discuss the possible causes and consequences of this finding.

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arXiv2009

Two parity violating asymmetries from $n p \to d γ$ in pionless effective field theories

We consider parity-violating observables from the processes $\vec n p\to d γ$ and $ np \to d \overset {\circlearrowleft}γ$. We perform calculations using pionless effective field theory both with and without explicit dibaryon fields. After combining these results with ones we have already obtained on parity-violating asymmetries in $\vec NN$ scattering, experimental input would in principle allow the extraction of all five parameters occurring at leading order in the parity-violating Lagrangian.

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arXiv2009

On the scattering of D and D* mesons off the X(3872)

Both the mass (just below the D^{*0}Dbar^0 threshold) and the likely quantum numbers (J^{PC}=1^{++}) of the X(3872) suggest that it is either a weakly-bound hadronic ``molecule'' or a virtual state of charmed mesons. Assuming the X(3872) is a weakly-bound molecule, the scattering of neutral D and D* mesons off the X(3872) can be predicted from the X(3872) binding energy. We calculate the phase shifts and cross section for scattering of D^0 and D^{*0} mesons and their antiparticles off the X(3872) in an effective field theory for short-range interactions. This provides another example of a three-body process, along with those in nuclear and atomic systems, that displays universal properties. It may be possible to extract the scattering within the final state interactions of B_c decays and/or other LHC events.

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arXiv2009

An effective-field-theory analysis of low-energy parity-violation in nucleon-nucleon scattering

We analyze parity-violating nucleon-nucleon scattering at energies E<m_π^2/M using the effective field theory appropriate for this regime. The minimal Lagrangian for short-range parity-violating NN interactions is written in an operator basis that encodes the five partial-wave transitions that dominate at these energies. We calculate the leading-order relationships between parity-violating NN asymmetries and the coefficients in the Lagrangian and also discuss the size of sub-leading corrections. We conclude with a discussion of further observables needed to completely determine the leading-order Lagrangian.

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arXiv2004

Heavy-Quark Symmetry and the Electromagnetic Decays of Excited Charmed Strange Mesons

Heavy-hadron chiral perturbation theory (HH$χ$PT) is applied to the decays of the even-parity charmed strange mesons, D_{s0}(2317) and D_{s1}(2460). Heavy-quark spin symmetry predicts the branching fractions for the three electromagnetic decays of these states to the ground states D_s and D_s^* in terms of a single parameter. The resulting predictions for two of the branching fractions are significantly higher than current upper limits from the CLEO experiment. Leading corrections to the branching ratios from chiral loop diagrams and spin-symmetry violating operators in the HH$χ$PT Lagrangian can naturally account for this discrepancy. Finally the proposal that the D_{s0}(2317) (D_{s1}(2460)) is a hadronic bound state of a D (D^*) meson and a kaon is considered. Leading order predictions for electromagnetic branching ratios in this molecular scenario are in very poor agreement with existing data.

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arXiv2002

SU(3) Predictions for Weak Decays of Doubly Heavy Baryons -- including SU(3) breaking terms

We find expressions for the weak decay amplitudes of baryons containing two b quarks (or one b and one c quark -- many relationship are the same) in terms of unknown reduced matrix elements. This project was originally motivated by the request of the FNAL Run II b Physics Workshop organizers for a guide to experimentalists in their search for as yet unobserved hadrons. We include an analysis of linear SU(3) breaking terms in addition to relationships generated by unbroken SU(3) symmetry, and relate these to expressions in terms of the complete set of possible reduced matrix elements.

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