arXiv subjects

Ruth S. Van de Water

Publications and source records attributed to Ruth S. Van de Water.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The two-pion contribution to the hadronic vacuum polarization with staggered quarks

We present results from the first lattice QCD calculation of the two-pion contributions to the light-quark connected vector-current correlation function obtained from staggered-quark operators. We employ the MILC collaboration's gauge-field ensemble with $2+1+1$ flavors of highly improved staggered sea quarks at a lattice spacing of $a\approx 0.15$ fm with a light sea-quark mass at its physical value. The two-pion contributions allow for a refined determination of the noisy long-distance tail of the vector-current correlation function, which we use to compute the light-quark connected contribution to HVP with improved statistical precision. We compare our results with traditional noise-reduction techniques used in lattice QCD calculations of the light-quark connected HVP, namely the so-called fit and bounding methods. We observe a factor of roughly three improvement in the statistical precision in the determination of the HVP contribution to the muon's anomalous magnetic moment over these approaches. We also lay the group theoretical groundwork for extending this calculation to finer lattice spacings with increased numbers of staggered two-pion taste states.

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arXiv2026

Hadronic contributions to $α(Q^{2})$ and $\sin^{2}θ_{W}(Q^{2})$ from spectral reconstruction of lattice-QCD data

We present preliminary results from a lattice-QCD study of the hadronic contributions to the running of the electromagnetic coupling, $Δα(Q^2)$, and the electroweak mixing angle, $Δ\sin^2θ_{W}(Q^2)$. Using $N_f = 2+1+1$ HISQ ensembles at physical quark masses, we discuss the challenges posed by strong statistical correlations in the time-momentum representation and propose a spectral-reconstruction strategy to obtain controlled continuum-extrapolated results across the full energy range.

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arXiv2025

High-Precision Scale Setting with the Omega-Baryon Mass and Gradient Flow

The gradient-flow scale $w_0$ in lattice QCD is determined using the mass of the $Ω^-$ baryon to set the physical scale. Nine ensembles using the highly improved staggered quark (HISQ) action with lattice spacings of 0.15 fm down to 0.04 fm are used, seven of which have nearly physical light-quark masses. Electromagnetic corrections to the $Ω^-$ mass are defined in order to compute a pure-QCD $Ω$ mass. The final result is $w_0 = 0.17187(68)$ fm, corresponding to a relative uncertainty of 0.40% and a central value in good agreement with previous calculations in the literature.

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arXiv2025

Hadronic vacuum polarization for the muon $g-2$ from lattice QCD: Long-distance and full light-quark connected contribution

We present results for the dominant light-quark connected contribution to the long-distance window (LD) of the hadronic vacuum polarization contribution (HVP) to the muon $g-2$ from lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Specifically, with a new determination of the lattice scale on MILC's physical-mass HISQ ensembles, using the $Ω^-$ baryon mass, we obtain a result of $400.2(2.3)_{\mathrm{stat}}(3.7)_{\mathrm{syst}}[4.3]_{\mathrm{total}} \times 10^{-10}$. Summing this result with our recent determinations of the light-quark connected contributions to the short- (SD) and intermediate-distance (W) windows, we obtain a sub-percent precision determination of the light-quark-connected contribution to HVP of $655.5(2.3)_{\mathrm{stat}}(3.9)_{\mathrm{syst}}[4.5]_{\mathrm{total}} \times 10^{-10}$. Finally, as a consistency check, we verify that an independent analysis of the full contribution is in agreement with the sum of individual windows. We discuss our future plans for improvements of our HVP calculations to meet the target precision of the Fermilab $g-2$ experiment.

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arXiv2025

Hadronic vacuum polarization for the muon $g-2$ from lattice QCD: Complete short and intermediate windows

We present complete results for the hadronic vacuum polarization (HVP) contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment $a_μ$ in the short- and intermediate-distance window regions, which account for roughly 10% and 35% of the total HVP contribution to $a_μ$, respectively. In particular, we perform lattice-QCD calculations for the isospin-symmetric connected and disconnected contributions, as well as corrections due to strong isospin-breaking. For the short-distance window observables, we investigate the so-called log-enhancement effects as well as the significant oscillations associated with staggered quarks in this region. For the dominant, isospin-symmetric light-quark connected contribution, we obtain $a^{ll,\,{\mathrm{SD}}}_μ(\mathrm{conn.}) = 48.139(11)_{\mathrm{stat}}(91)_{\mathrm{syst}}[92]_{\mathrm{total}} \times 10^{-10}$ and $a^{ll,\,{\mathrm{W}}}_μ(\mathrm{conn.}) = 206.90(14)_{\mathrm{stat}}(61)_{\mathrm{syst}}[63]_{\mathrm{total}} \times 10^{-10}$. We use Bayesian model averaging to fully estimate the covariance matrix between the individual contributions. Our determinations of the complete window contributions are $a^{\mathrm{SD}}_μ = 69.05(1)_{\mathrm{stat}}(21)_{\mathrm{syst}}[21]_{\mathrm{total}} \times 10^{-10}$ and $a^{\mathrm{W}}_μ = 236.45(17)_{\mathrm{stat}}(83)_{\mathrm{syst}}[85]_{\mathrm{total}} \times 10^{-10}$. This work is part of our ongoing effort to compute all contributions to HVP with an overall uncertainty at the few permille level.

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arXiv2024

A model independent description of $B\rightarrow D π\ell ν$ decays

We introduce a new parameterization of $B\rightarrow D π\ell ν$ form factors using a partial-wave expansion and derive bounds on the series coefficients using analyticity and unitarity. This is the first generalization of the model-independent formalism developed by Boyd, Grinstein, and Lebed for $B \to D \ell ν$ to semileptonic decays with multi-hadron final states, and enables data-driven form factor determinations with robust, systematically-improvable uncertainties. Using this formalism, we extract the form-factor parameters for $B \to D_2^\ast(\to Dπ) \ell ν$ decays in a model-independent way from fits of data from the Belle Experiment, and, for the first time, study the two-pole structure in the $Dπ$ S-wave in semileptonic decays employing lineshapes from unitarized chiral perturbation theory.

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arXiv2024

Model-independent description of $B\rightarrow D π\ell ν$ decays

In this contribution we present a novel, model-independent description of semileptonic $B\rightarrow D π\ell ν$ decays. In addition, we discuss recent developments in the understanding of coupled-channel $D π$-$D η$-$D_s K$ S-wave scattering and, for the first time, apply them to semileptonic decays. We not only obtain model-independent predictions for kinematic distributions in $B\rightarrow D π\ell ν$ decays, but also rule out the hypothesis that the gap between the inclusive $B\rightarrow X\ellν$ branching fraction and the sum over exclusive channels is made up predominantly by $B\rightarrow D^{(\ast)} η\ell ν$ decays.

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arXiv2023

Simulating $\mathbb{Z}_2$ lattice gauge theory on a quantum computer

The utility of quantum computers for simulating lattice gauge theories is currently limited by the noisiness of the physical hardware. Various quantum error mitigation strategies exist to reduce the statistical and systematic uncertainties in quantum simulations via improved algorithms and analysis strategies. We perform quantum simulations of $1+1d$ $\mathbb{Z}_2$ gauge theory with matter to study the efficacy and interplay of different error mitigation methods: readout error mitigation, randomized compiling, rescaling, and dynamical decoupling. We compute Minkowski correlation functions in this confining gauge theory and extract the mass of the lightest spin-1 state from fits to their time dependence. Quantum error mitigation extends the range of times over which our correlation function calculations are accurate by a factor of six and is therefore essential for obtaining reliable masses.

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arXiv2023

Light-quark connected intermediate-window contributions to the muon $g-2$ hadronic vacuum polarization from lattice QCD

We present a lattice-QCD calculation of the light-quark connected contribution to window observables associated with the leading-order hadronic vacuum polarization contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, $a_μ^{\mathrm{HVP,LO}}$. We employ the MILC Collaboration's isospin-symmetric QCD gauge-field ensembles, which contain four flavors of dynamical highly-improved-staggered quarks with four lattice spacings between $a\approx 0.06$-$0.15$~fm and close-to-physical quark masses. We consider several effective-field-theory-based schemes for finite-volume and other lattice corrections and combine the results via Bayesian model averaging to obtain robust estimates of the associated systematic uncertainties. After unblinding, our final results for the intermediate and ``W2'' windows are $a^{ll,{\mathrm W}}_μ(\mathrm{conn.})=206.6(1.0) \times 10^{-10}$ and $a^{ll,\mathrm {W2}}_μ(\mathrm{conn.}) = 100.7(3.2)\times 10^{-10}$, respectively.

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arXiv2023

D-meson semileptonic decays to pseudoscalars from four-flavor lattice QCD

We present lattice-QCD calculations of the hadronic form factors for the semileptonic decays $D\toπ\ellν$, $D\to K\ellν$, and $D_s\to K\ellν$. Our calculation uses the highly improved staggered quark (HISQ) action for all valence and sea quarks and includes $N_f=2+1+1$ MILC ensembles with lattice spacings ranging from $a\approx0.12$ fm down to $0.042$ fm. At most lattice spacings, an ensemble with physical-mass light quarks is included. The HISQ action allows all the quarks to be treated with the same relativistic light-quark action, allowing for nonperturbative renormalization using partial conservation of the vector current. We combine our results with experimental measurements of the differential decay rates to determine $|V_{cd}|^{D\toπ}=0.2238(11)^{\rm Expt}(15)^{\rm QCD}(04)^{\rm EW}(02)^{\rm SIB}[22]^{\rm QED}$ and $|V_{cs}|^{D\to K}=0.9589(23)^{\rm Expt}(40)^{\rm QCD}(15)^{\rm EW}(05)^{\rm SIB}[95]^{\rm QED}$ This result for $|V_{cd}|$ is the most precise to date, with a lattice-QCD error that is, for the first time for the semileptonic extraction, at the same level as the experimental error. Using recent measurements from BES III, we also give the first-ever determination of $|V_{cd}|^{D_s\to K}=0.258(15)^{\rm Expt}(01)^{\rm QCD}[03]^{\rm QED}$ from $D_s\to K \ellν$. Our results also furnish new Standard Model calculations of the lepton flavor universality ratios $R^{D\toπ}=0.98671(17)^{\rm QCD}[500]^{\rm QED}$, $R^{D\to K}=0.97606(16)^{\rm QCD}[500]^{\rm QED}$, and $R^{D_s\to K}=0.98099(10)^{\rm QCD}[500]^{\rm QED}$, which are consistent within $2σ$ with experimental measurements. Our extractions of $|V_{cd}|$ and $|V_{cs}|$, when combined with a value for $|V_{cb}|$, provide the most precise test of second-row CKM unitarity, finding agreement with unitarity at the level of one standard deviation.

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arXiv2022

Lattice QCD and Particle Physics

Contribution from the USQCD Collaboration to the Proceedings of the US Community Study on the Future of Particle Physics (Snowmass 2021).

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arXiv2022

A lattice QCD perspective on weak decays of b and c quarks Snowmass 2022 White Paper

Lattice quantum chromodynamics has proven to be an indispensable method to determine nonperturbative strong contributions to weak decay processes. In this white paper for the Snowmass community planning process we highlight achievements and future avenues of research for lattice calculations of weak $b$ and $c$ quark decays, and point out how these calculations will help to address the anomalies currently in the spotlight of the particle physics community. With future increases in computational resources and algorithmic improvements, percent level (and below) lattice determinations will play a central role in constraining the standard model or identifying new physics.

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arXiv2019

The \boldmath$B\to D^\ast\ellν$ semileptonic decay at nonzero recoil and its implications for $\ |V_{cb}\ |$ and $R(D^\ast)$

We present nearly final results from our analysis of the form factors for $B\to D^\ast\ellν$ decay at nonzero recoil. Our analysis includes 15 MILC asqtad ensembles with $N_f=2+1$ flavors of sea quarks and lattice spacings ranging from $a\approx0.15$ fm down to $0.045$ fm. The valence light quarks employ the asqtad action, whereas the $b$ and $c$ quarks are treated using the Fermilab action. We discuss the impact that our results will have on $\ |V_{cb}\ |$ and $R(D^\ast)$.

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arXiv2019

Opportunities for lattice QCD in quark and lepton flavor physics

This document is one of a series of whitepapers from the USQCD collaboration. Here, we discuss opportunities for lattice QCD in quark and lepton flavor physics. New data generated at Belle II, LHCb, BES III, NA62, KOTO, and Fermilab E989, combined with precise calculations of the relevant hadronic physics, may reveal what lies beyond the Standard Model. We outline a path toward improvements of the precision of existing lattice-QCD calculations and discuss groundbreaking new methods that allow lattice QCD to access new observables.

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arXiv2019

Disconnected hadronic vacuum polarization contribution to the muon g-2 with HISQ

We describe a computation of the contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon from the disconnected part of the hadronic vacuum polarization. We use the highly-improved staggered quark (HISQ) formulation for the current density with gauge configurations generated with four flavors of HISQ sea quarks. The computation is performed by stochastic estimation of the current density using the truncated solver method combined with deflation of low-modes. The parameters are tuned to minimize the computational cost for a given target uncertainty in the current-current correlation function. The calculation presented here is carried out on a single gauge-field ensemble of size $32^3\times48$ with an approximate lattice spacing of $\sim0.15$ fm and with physical sea-quark masses. We describe the methodology and the analysis procedure

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arXiv2019

$B\to D^\ast\ellν$ at non-zero recoil

We present preliminary blinded results from our analysis of the form factors for $B\rightarrow D^\ast\ellν$ decay at non-zero recoil. Our analysis includes 15 MILC asqtad ensembles with $N_f=2+1$ flavors of sea quarks and lattice spacings ranging from $a\approx 0.15$ fm down to $0.045$ fm. The valence light quarks employ the asqtad action, whereas the $b$ and $c$ quarks are treated using the Fermilab action. We discuss the impact that our results will have on $\left|V_{cb}\right|$ and $R(D^\ast)$.

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arXiv2018

Higher-order hadronic-vacuum-polarization contribution to the muon g-2 from lattice QCD

We introduce a new method for calculating the ${\rm O}(α^3)$ hadronic-vacuum-polarization contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment from ${ab-initio}$ lattice QCD. We first derive expressions suitable for computing the higher-order contributions either from the renormalized vacuum polarization function $\hatΠ(q^2)$, or directly from the lattice vector-current correlator in Euclidean space. We then demonstrate the approach using previously-published results for the Taylor coefficients of $\hatΠ(q^2)$ that were obtained on four-flavor QCD gauge-field configurations with physical light-quark masses. We obtain $10^{10} a_μ^{\rm HVP,HO} = -9.3(1.3)$, in agreement with, but with a larger uncertainty than, determinations from $e^+e^- \to {\rm hadrons}$ data plus dispersion relations.

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arXiv2016

Leptonic Decays of Charged Pseudoscalar Mesons - 2015

We review the physics of purely leptonic decays of $π^\pm$, $K^\pm$, $D^{\pm}$, $D_s^\pm$, and $B^\pm$ pseudoscalar mesons. The measured decay rates are related to the product of the relevant weak-interaction-based CKM matrix element of the constituent quarks and a strong interaction parameter related to the overlap of the quark and antiquark wave-functions in the meson, called the decay constant $f_P$. The leptonic decay constants for $π^\pm$, $K^\pm$, $D^{\pm}$, $D_s^\pm$, and $B^\pm$ mesons can be obtained with controlled theoretical uncertainties and high precision from {\it ab initio} lattice-QCD simulations. The combination of experimental leptonic decay-rate measurements and theoretical decay-constant calculations enables the determination of several elements of the CKM matrix within the standard model. These determinations are competitive with those obtained from semileptonic decays, and also complementary because they are sensitive to different quark flavor-changing currents. They can also be used to test the unitarity of the first and second rows of the CKM matrix. Conversely, taking the CKM elements predicted by unitarity, one can infer "experimental" values for $f_P$ that can be compared with theory. These provide tests of lattice-QCD methods, provided new-physics contributions to leptonic decays are negligible at the current level of precision. This review is the basis of the article in the Particle Data Group's 2016 edition, updating the versions in Refs. [1-3].

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