arXiv subjects

Urs M. Heller

Publications and source records attributed to Urs M. Heller.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Kaon leptonic and semileptonic decays with $N_f=2+1+1$ HISQ fermions

Precision tests of the Standard Model (SM) currently show a deficit in first-row Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) unitarity. In this talk, we discuss progress towards a correlated analysis of the lattice-QCD inputs needed to test this relation with kaon data using highly improved staggered quarks (HISQ) on the MILC $N_{f}=2+1+1$ configurations. We present the status of a new analysis of light-meson decay constant data where chiral-continuum fits are guided by staggered chiral perturbation theory (SChPT). The goal of SChPT is twofold: it allows us to use data not only at physical pion mass but also at unphysical masses. Moreover, it provides values of ChPT low energy constants (LECs) as well as their correlations. We also present a reanalysis of our previous kaon semileptonic form factor calculation, aiming to estimate correlations between the form factor and light-meson decay constants. We discuss the new methodology, new data included, and present some preliminary results.

hep-lat↗

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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arXiv2024

Update on the gradient flow scale on the 2+1+1 HISQ ensembles

We report on the ongoing effort of improving the determination of the gradient flow scale on the (2+1+1)-flavor HISQ ensembles generated by the MILC collaboration. We compute the scales $\sqrt{t_0}/a$ and $w_0/a$ with the Wilson and Symanzik flow using three discretizations for the action density: clover, Wilson and tree-level Symanzik improved. For the absolute scale setting, we intend to employ the $Ω$-baryon mass, but are also using the pion decay constant while the $Ω$-mass calculations are in progress.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2014

Chiral Symmetry Breaking from Center Vortices

We analyze the creation of near-zero modes from would-be zero modes of various topological charge contributions from classical center vortices in SU(2) lattice gauge theory. We show that colorful spherical vortex and instanton configurations have very similar Dirac eigenmodes and also vortex intersections are able to give rise to a finite density of near-zero modes, leading to chiral symmetry breaking via the Banks-Casher formula. We discuss the influence of the magnetic vortex fluxes on quarks and how center vortices may break chiral symmetry.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2013

Center Vortices and Chiral Symmetry Breaking in SU(2) Lattice Gauge Theory

We investigate the chiral properties of near-zero modes for thick classical center vortices in SU (2) lattice gauge theory as examples of the phenomena which may arise in a vortex vacuum. In particular we analyze the creation of near-zero modes from would-be zero modes of various topological charge contributions from center vortices. We show that classical colorful spherical vortex and instanton ensembles have almost identical Dirac spectra and the low-lying eigenmodes from spherical vortices show all characteristic properties for chiral symmetry breaking. We further show that also vortex intersections are able to give rise to a finite density of near-zero modes, leading to chiral symmetry breaking via the Banks-Casher formula. We discuss the mechanism by which center vortex fluxes contribute to chiral symmetry breaking.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2013

Colorful SU(2) center vortices in the continuum and on the lattice

The spherical vortex as introduced in [Phys. Rev. D77, 014515 (2008)] is generalized. A continuum form of the spherical vortex is derived and investigated in detail. The discrepancy between the gluonic lattice topological charge and the index of the lattice Dirac operator described in previous papers is identified as a discretization effect. The importance of the investigations for Monte Carlo configurations is discussed.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2013

Wilson chiral perturbation theory, Wilson-Dirac operator eigenvalues and clover improvement

Chiral perturbation theory for eigenvalue distributions, and equivalently random matrix theory, has recently been extended to include lattice effects for Wilson fermions. We test the predictions by comparison to eigenvalue distributions of the Hermitian Wilson-Dirac operator from pure gauge (quenched) ensembles. We show that the lattice effects are diminished when using clover improvement for the Dirac operator. We demonstrate that the leading Wilson low-energy constants associated with Wilson (clover) fermions can be determined using spectral information of the respective Dirac operator at finite volume.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2011

Low-lying Dirac operator eigenvalues, lattice effects and random matrix theory

Recently, random matrix theory predictions for the distribution of low-lying Dirac operator eigenvalues have been extended to include lattice effects for both staggered and Wilson fermions. We computed low-lying eigenvalues for the Hermitian Wilson-Dirac operator and for improved staggered fermions on several quenched ensembles with size $\approx 1.5$ fm. Comparisons to the expectations from RMT with lattice effects included are made. Wilson RMT describes our Wilson data nicely. For improved staggered fermions we find strong indications that taste breaking effects on the low-lying spectrum disappear in the continuum limit, as expected from staggered RMT.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2011

Intersections of thick Center Vortices, Dirac Eigenmodes and Fractional Topological Charge in SU(2) Lattice Gauge Theory

Intersections of thick, plane SU(2) center vortices are characterized by the topological charge |Q|=1/2. We compare such intersections with the distribution of zeromodes of the Dirac operator in the fundamental and adjoint representation using both the overlap and asqtad staggered fermion formulations in SU(2) lattice gauge theory. We analyze configurations with four intersections and find that the probability density distribution of fundamental zeromodes in the intersection plane differs significantly from the one obtained analytically in [Phys.\ Rev.\ D 66, 85004 (2002)]. The Dirac eigenmodes are clearly sensitive to the traces of the Polyakov (Wilson) lines and do not exactly locate topological charge contributions. Although, the adjoint Dirac operator is able to produce zeromodes for configurations with topological charge |Q|=1/2, they do not locate single vortex intersections, as we prove by forming arbitrary linear combinations of these zeromodes - their scalar density peaks at least at two intersection points. With pairs of thin and thick vortices we realize a situation similar to configurations with topological charge |Q|=1/2. For such configurations the zeromodes do not localize in the regions of fractional topological charge contribution but spread over the whole lattice, avoiding regions of negative traces of Polyakov lines.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2010

Results for light pseudoscalar mesons

We present the current status of the MILC collaboration's calculations of the properties of the light pseudoscalar meson sector. We use asqtad staggered ensembles with 2+1 dynamical flavors down to $a \approx 0.045$ fm and light quark mass down to 0.05 $m_s$. Here we describe fits to the data using chiral forms from SU(3) chiral perturbation theory, including all staggered taste violations at NLO and the continuum NNLO chiral logarithms. We emphasize issues of convergence of the chiral expansion.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2010

Lattice Index Theorem and Fractional Topological Charge

We study topological properties of classical spherical center vortices with the low-lying eigenmodes of the Dirac operator in the fundamental and adjoint representations using both the overlap and asqtad staggered fermion formulations. In particular we address the puzzle raised in a previous work of our group [Phys.\ Rev.\ D 77, 14515 (2008)], where we found a violation of the lattice index theorem with the overlap Dirac operator in the fundamental representation even for "admissible" gauge fields. Here we confirm the discrepancy between the topological charge and the index of the Dirac operator also for asqtad staggered fermions and the adjoint representation. Numerically, the discrepancy equals the sum of the winding numbers of the spheres when they are regarded as maps $\mathbbm R^3 \cup \{\infty\} \to SU(2)$. Furthermore we find some evidence for fractional topological charge during cooling the spherical center vortex on a $40^3 \times 2$ lattice. The object with topological charge $Q=1/2$ we identify as a Dirac monopole with a gauge field fading away at large distances. Therefore even for periodic boundary conditions it does not need an antimonopole.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2009

Results from the MILC collaboration's SU(3) chiral perturbation theory analysis

We present the status of the MILC collaboration's analysis of the light pseudoscalar meson sector with SU(3) chiral fits. The analysis includes data from new ensembles with smaller lattice spacing, smaller light quark masses and lighter than physical strange quark masses. Our fits include the NNLO chiral logarithms. We present results for decay constants, quark masses, Gasser-Leutwyler low energy constants, and condensates in the two- and three-flavor chiral limits.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2009

SU(2) chiral fits to light pseudoscalar masses and decay constants

We present the results of fits to recent asqtad data in the light pseudoscalar sector using SU(2) partially-quenched staggered chiral perturbation theory. Superfine (a~0.06 fm) and ultrafine (a~0.045 fm) ensembles are used, where light sea quark masses and taste splittings are small compared to the strange quark mass. Our fits include continuum NNLO chiral logarithms and analytic terms. We give preliminary results for the pion decay constant, SU(2) low-energy constants and the chiral condensate in the two-flavor chiral limit.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2009

MILC results for light pseudoscalars

We present the latest preliminary results of the MILC collaboration's analysis of the light pseudoscalar meson sector. The analysis includes data from new ensembles with smaller lattice spacings, smaller light quark masses and lighter-than-physical strange quark masses. Both SU(2) and SU(3) chiral fits, including NNLO chiral logarithms, are shown. We give results for decay constants, quark masses, Gasser-Leutwyler low energy constants, and condensates in the two- and three-flavor chiral limits.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Center Vortices and the Dirac Spectrum

We study correlations between center vortices and the low-lying eigenmodes of the Dirac operator, in both the overlap and asqtad formulations. In particular we address a puzzle raised some years ago by Gattnar et al. [Nucl. Phys. B 716, 105 (2005)], who noted that the low-lying Dirac eigenmodes required for chiral symmetry breaking do not appear to be present in center-projected configurations. We show that the low-lying modes are in fact present in the staggered (asqtad) formulation, but not in the overlap and ``chirally improved'' formulations, and suggest a reason for this difference. We also confirm and extend the results of Kovalenko et al. [Phys. Lett. B 648, 383 (2007)], showing that there is a correlation between center vortex locations, and the scalar density of low-lying Dirac eigenmodes derived from unprojected configurations. This correlation is strongest at points which are associated, in the vortex picture, with non-vanishing topological charge density, such as vortex intersection and ``writhing'' points. We present supporting evidence that the lowest Dirac eigenmodes, in both asqtad and overlap formulations, have their largest concentrations in point-like regions, rather than on submanifolds of higher dimensionality.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2007

Tests of the lattice index theorem

We investigate the lattice index theorem and the localization of the zero-modes for thick classical center vortices. For non-orientable spherical vortices, the index of the overlap Dirac operator differs from the topological charge although the traces of the plaquettes deviate only by a maximum of 1.5% from trivial plaquettes. This may be related to the fact that even in Landau gauge some links of these configuration are close to the non-trivial center elements.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2007

Scaling behavior and positivity violation of the gluon propagator in full QCD

The Landau-gauge gluon propagator is studied using the coarse and fine dynamical MILC configurations. The effects of dynamical quarks are clearly visible and lead to a reduction of the nonperturbative infrared enhancement relative to the quenched case. Lattice spacing effects are studied and found to be small. The gluon spectral function is shown to clearly violate positivity in both quenched and full QCD.

hep-lat↗

arXiv2006

2+1 flavor simulations of QCD with improved staggered quarks

The MILC collaboration has been performing realistic simulations of full QCD with 2+1 flavors of improved staggered quarks. Our simulations allow for controlled continuum and chiral extrapolations. I present results for the light pseudoscalar sector: masses and decay constants, quark masses and Gasser-Leutwyler low-energy constants. In addition I will present some results for heavy-light mesons, decay constants and semileptonic form factors, obtained in collaboration with the HPQCD and Fermilab lattice collaborations. Such calculations will help in the extraction of CKM matrix elements from experimental measurements.

hep-ph↗