Search

This article describes BabyIAXO, an intermediate experimental stage of the International Axion Observatory (IAXO), proposed to be sited at DESY. IAXO is a large-scale axion helioscope that will look for axions and axion-like particles (ALPs), produced in the Sun, with unprecedented sensitivity. BabyIAXO is conceived to test all IAXO subsystems (magnet, optics and detectors) at a relevant scale for the final system and thus serve as prototype for IAXO, but at the same time as a fully-fledged helioscope with relevant physics reach itself, and with potential for discovery. The BabyIAXO magnet will feature two 10 m long, 70 cm diameter bores, and will host two detection lines (optics and detector) of dimensions similar to the final ones foreseen for IAXO. BabyIAXO will detect or reject solar axions or ALPs with axion-photon couplings down to $g_{a\gamma} \sim 1.5 \times 10^{-11}$ GeV$^{-1}$, and masses up to $m_a\sim 0.25$ eV. BabyIAXO will offer additional opportunities for axion research in view of IAXO, like the development of precision x-ray detectors to identify particular spectral features in the solar axion spectrum, and the implementation of radiofrequency-cavity-based axion dark matter setups., Comment: 77 pages, 49 figures. Prepared for submission to JHEP. Third version after referees comments

We review the physics potential of a next generation search for solar axions: the International Axion Observatory (IAXO). Endowed with a sensitivity to discover axion-like particles (ALPs) with a coupling to photons as small as $g_{a\gamma}\sim 10^{-12}$ GeV$^{-1}$, or to electrons $g_{ae}\sim$10$^{-13}$, IAXO has the potential to find the QCD axion in the 1 meV$\sim$1 eV mass range where it solves the strong CP problem, can account for the cold dark matter of the Universe and be responsible for the anomalous cooling observed in a number of stellar systems. At the same time, IAXO will have enough sensitivity to detect lower mass axions invoked to explain: 1) the origin of the anomalous "transparency" of the Universe to gamma-rays, 2) the observed soft X-ray excess from galaxy clusters or 3) some inflationary models. In addition, we review string theory axions with parameters accessible by IAXO and discuss their potential role in cosmology as Dark Matter and Dark Radiation as well as their connections to the above mentioned conundrums., Comment: Prepared for submission to JCAP; new version with very minor corrections after referee review

We present the first unquenched, continuum limit, lattice QCD results for the matrix elements of the operators describing neutral kaon oscillations in extensions of the Standard Model. Owing to the accuracy of our calculation on \Delta S=2 weak Hamiltonian matrix elements, we are able to provide a refined Unitarity Triangle analysis improving the bounds coming from model independent constraints on New Physics. In our non-perturbative computation we use a combination of Nf=2 maximally twisted sea quarks and Osterwalder-Seiler valence quarks in order to achieve both O(a)-improvement and continuum-like renormalization properties for the relevant four-fermion operators. The calculation of the renormalization constants has been performed non-perturbatively in the RI-MOM scheme. Based on simulations at four values of the lattice spacing and a number of quark masses we have extrapolated/interpolated our results to the continuum limit and physical light/strange quark masses., Comment: small corrections to RC matrix Z_Q for i,j=2,3; marginal corrections to bag parameters B_4, B_5, and ratios R_4, R_5; results on NP scales from UTfit analysis unchanged; 66 pages, 12 figures

We present lattice results for the vector and scalar form factors of the semileptonic decays D -> \pi \ell \nu_ell and D -> K \ell \nu_\ell in the physical range of values of squared four momentum transfer q^2, obtained with N_f=2 maximally twisted Wilson fermions simulated at three different lattice spacings (a ~ 0.102 fm, 0.086 fm, 0.068 fm) with pion masses as light as 270 MeV and m_\pi L \gtrsim 4. The form factors are extracted using a double ratios strategy, which allows a good statistical accuracy and is independent of the vector current renormalization constant. The chiral/continuum extrapolation is performed through a simultaneous fit in the three variables (m_\pi, q^2, a) using HMChPT formulae with additional O(a^2) terms that parametrically account for the lattice spacing dependence. Our results are in very good agreement with the experimental data in the full q^2 range for both D -> \pi \ell \nu_\ell and D -> K \ell \nu_\ell. At zero momentum transfer we obtain f^{D->pi}(0) = 0.65(6)_{stat}(6)_{syst} and f^{D->K}(0) = 0.76(5)_{stat}(5)_{syst}, where the systematic error does not include the effects of quenching the strange and the charm quarks. Our findings are in good agreement with recent lattice calculations at N_f = 2+1., Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, proceedings of the XXVIII Int'l Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice2010), June 14-19 2010, Villasimius (Sardinia), Italy

The mass m_K* and vector coupling f_K* of the K*-meson, as well as the ratio of the tensor to vector couplings fT/fV|_K*, are computed in lattice QCD. Our simulations are performed in a partially quenched setup, with two dynamical (sea) Wilson quark flavours, having a maximally twisted mass term. Valence quarks are either of the standard or the Osterwalder-Seiler maximally twisted variety. Results obtained at three values of the lattice spacing are extrapolated to the continuum, giving m_K* = 981(33) MeV, f_K* = 240(18) MeV and fT(2 GeV)/fV|_K* = 0.704(41)., Comment: 1+11 pages

We investigate the vector and scalar form factors relevant for K_{\ell 3} semileptonic decays using maximally twisted-mass fermions with two flavors of dynamical quarks (N_f = 2). The simulations cover pion masses as light as 260 MeV and four values of the lattice spacing, ranging from ~0.05 up to ~0.1 fm, which allow to compute directly, for the first time, the continuum limit for the vector form factor at zero-momentum transfer, f_+(0). The preliminary result is f_+(0) = 0.9544(68), where the error is statistical only. We also extrapolate both form factors to the physical point and study their momentum dependence. Our results are in good agreement with those obtained from a dispersion analyses of the experimental data. Together with the form factors, we analyze the ratio of the leptonic decay constants f_K / f_\pi, by imposing the constraint coming from the Callan-Treiman theorem, obtaining at the physical point f_K / f_\pi = 1.190(8). Combining our results for f_+(0) and f_K / f_\pi with the experimental measurements of the leptonic and semilpetonic decay rates, and using the determination of |V_{ud}| from nuclear beta decays, we determine the values of the Cabibbo angle |V_{us}| from both K_{\ell 3} and K_{\ell 2} decays, obtaining |V_{us}|^{K_{\ell 3}} = 0.2266(17) and $|V_{us}|^{K_{\ell 2}} = 0.2258(16)., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, proceedings of the XXVIII Int'l Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice2010), June 14-19 2010, Villasimius (Sardinia), Italy

We present preliminary results on the of neutral kaon oscillations in extensions of the Standard Model. Using Nf=2 maximally twisted sea quarks and Osterwalder-Seiler valence quarks, we achieve both O(a)-improvement and continuum-like renormalization pattern for the relevant four-fermion operators. We perform simulations at three values of the lattice spacing and extrapolate/interpolate our results to the continuum limit and physical light/strange quark mass. The calculation of the renormalization constants of the complete operator basis is performed non- perturbatively in the RI-MOM scheme., Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures; presented at the XXVIII International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory Villasimius, Sardinia, Italy

In a previous work we investigated the propagation of fast moving charged particles in a spatially constant but slowly time dependent pseudoscalar background, such as the one provided by cold relic axions. The background induces cosmic rays to radiate in the low-energy spectrum. While the energy loss caused by this mechanism on the primary cosmic rays is negligible, we investigate the hypothetical detection of the photons radiated and how they could provide an indirect way of verifying the cosmological relevance of axions. Assuming that the cosmic ray flux is of the form J(E)~ E^-g we find that the energy radiated follows a distribution k^-((g-1)/2) for proton primaries, identical to the Galaxy synchrotron radiation that is the main background, and k^-(g/2) for electron primaries, which in spite of this sharper decay provide the dominant contribution in the low-energy spectrum. We discuss possible ways to detect this small diffuse contribution. Local detection in the vicinity of powerful cosmic rays emitters might also be possible., Comment: plot improved with background and comments added

We present an unquenched $N_f=2$ lattice computation of the $B_{K}$ parameter which controls $K^0-\bar K^0$ oscillations. A partially quenched setup is employed with two maximally twisted dynamical (sea) light Wilson quarks, and valence quarks of both the maximally twisted and the Osterwalder--Seiler variety. Suitable combinations of these two kinds of valence quarks lead to a lattice definition of the $B_{K}$ parameter which is both multiplicatively renormalizable and O($a$) improved. Employing the non-perturbative RI-MOM scheme, in the continuum limit and at the physical value of the pion mass we get $B^{\rm RGI}_K=0.729\pm 0.030$, a number well in line with the existing quenched and unquenched determinations., Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D; systematic error discussion slightly modified; total uncertainty estimate on the BK result unchanged; 42 pages, 25 figures

We present a global analysis of leptonic and semileptonic kaon decay data, including all recent results published by the BNL-E865, KLOE, KTeV, ISTRA+ and NA48 experiments. This analysis, in conjunction with precise lattice calculations of the hadronic matrix elements now available, leads to a very precise determination of |Vus| and allows us to perform several stringent tests of the Standard Model., Comment: LaTeX, 25 pages, 12 figures, 16 tables. Submitted to EPJC. v2: Minor changes for accepted version. No numerical results changed

Investigation at a $\phi$--factory can shed light on several debated issues in particle physics. We discuss: i) recent theoretical development and experimental progress in kaon physics relevant for the Standard Model tests in the flavor sector, ii) the sensitivity we can reach in probing CPT and Quantum Mechanics from time evolution of entangled kaon states, iii) the interest for improving on the present measurements of non-leptonic and radiative decays of kaons and eta/eta$^\prime$ mesons, iv) the contribution to understand the nature of light scalar mesons, and v) the opportunity to search for narrow di-lepton resonances suggested by recent models proposing a hidden dark-matter sector. We also report on the $e^+ e^-$ physics in the continuum with the measurements of (multi)hadronic cross sections and the study of gamma gamma processes., Comment: 60 pages, 41 figures; added affiliation for one of the authors; added reference to section 6

We investigate the propagation of a charged particle in a spatially constant, but time dependent, pseudoscalar background. Physically this pseudoscalar background could be provided by a relic axion density. The background leads to an explicit breaking of Lorentz invariance; as a consequence the process p-> p gamma is possible and the background acts as a shield against extremely energetic cosmic rays, an effect somewhat similar to the GZK cut-off effect. The effect is model independent and can be computed exactly. The hypothetical detection of the photons radiated via this mechanism would provide an indirect way of verifying the cosmological relevance of axions.

We compute non-perturbatively the B-parameters of the complete basis of four-fermion operators needed to study the Kaon oscillations in the SM and in its supersymmetric extension. We perform numerical simulations with two dynamical maximally twisted sea quarks at three values of the lattice spacing on configurations generated by the ETMC. Unwanted operator mixings and O(a) discretization effects are removed by discretizing the valence quarks with a suitable Osterwalder-Seiler variant of the Twisted Mass action. Operators are renormalized non-perturbatively in the RI/MOM scheme. Our preliminary result for BK(RGI) is 0.73(3)(3)., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, proceedings of the XXVII Int'l Symposyum on Lattice Field Theory (LAT2009), July 26-31 2009, Peking University, Beijing (China)

We present lattice results for the form factors relevant in the K -> pion and D -> pion semileptonic decays, obtained from simulations with two flavors of dynamical twisted-mass fermions and pion masses as light as 260 MeV. For K -> pion decays we discuss the estimates of the main sources of systematic uncertainties, including the quenching of the strange quark, leading to our final result f+(0) = 0.9560 (57) (62). Combined with the latest experimental data, our value of f+(0) implies for the CKM matrix element |Vus| the value 0.2267 (5) (20) consistent with the first-row CKM unitarity. For D -> pion decays the application of Heavy Meson Chiral Perturbation Theory allows to extrapolate our results for both the scalar and the vector form factors at the physical point with quite good accuracy, obtaining a nice agreement with the experimental data. In particular at zero-momentum transfer we obtain f+(0) = 0.64 (5)., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, proceedings of the XXVII Int'l Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (LAT2009), July 26-31 2009, Peking University, Beijing (China)

One of the major challenges of particle physics has been to gain an in-depth understanding of the role of quark flavor and measurements and theoretical interpretations of their results have advanced tremendously: apart from masses and quantum numbers of flavor particles, there now exist detailed measurements of the characteristics of their interactions allowing stringent tests of Standard Model predictions. Among the most interesting phenomena of flavor physics is the violation of the CP symmetry that has been subtle and difficult to explore. Till early 1990s observations of CP violation were confined to neutral $K$ mesons, but since then a large number of CP-violating processes have been studied in detail in neutral $B$ mesons. In parallel, measurements of the couplings of the heavy quarks and the dynamics for their decays in large samples of $K, D$, and $B$ mesons have been greatly improved in accuracy and the results are being used as probes in the search for deviations from the Standard Model. In the near future, there will be a transition from the current to a new generation of experiments, thus a review of the status of quark flavor physics is timely. This report summarizes the results of the current generation of experiments that is about to be completed and it confronts these results with the theoretical understanding of the field., Comment: Report of the CKM workshop, Rome 9-13th Sep. 2008, 340 pages, 106 postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Repts

We present new lattice results of the K -> pion semileptonic form factors obtained from simulations with two flavors of dynamical twisted-mass fermions, using pion masses as light as 260 MeV. Our main result is f+(0) = 0.9560 (84), which, combined with the latest experimental data for Kl3 decays, leads to |V_{us}| = 0.2267 (5)_exp (20)_f+(0). Using the PDG(2008) determinations of |Vud| and |Vub| our result implies for the unitarity relation |Vud|**2 + |Vus|**2 + |Vub|**2 = 1.0004 (15). For the O(p**6) term of the chiral expansion of f+(0) we get Df = f+(0) - 1 - f2 = -0.0214 (84)., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, revtex

We present the results of a lattice QCD calculation of the pseudoscalar meson decay constants fpi, fK, fD and fDs, performed with Nf=2 dynamical fermions. The simulation is carried out with the tree-level improved Symanzik gauge action and with the twisted mass fermionic action at maximal twist. We have considered for the final analysis three values of the lattice spacing, a~0.10 fm, 0.09 fm and 0.07 fm, with pion masses down to mpi~270 MeV. Our results for the light meson decay constants are fK=158.1(2.4) MeV and fK/fpi=1.210(18). From the latter ratio, by using the experimental determination of Gamma(K-->mu nu_mu (gamma))/ Gamma(pi--> mu nu_mu (gamma)) and the average value of |Vud| from nuclear beta decays, we obtain |Vus|=0.2222(34), in good agreement with the determination from semileptonic Kl3 decays and the unitarity constraint. For the D and Ds meson decay constants we obtain fD=197(9) MeV, fDs=244(8) MeV and fDs/fD=1.24(3). Our result for fD is in good agreement with the CLEO experimental measurement. For fDs our determination is smaller than the PDG 2008 experimental average but in agreement with a recent improved measurement by CLEO at the 1.4 sigma level., Comment: 20 pages. v2: one author added, label in fig.3 corrected, reference changed

We present work in progress on the computation of the K-meson vector and tensor decay constants, as well as the B-parameter in Kaon oscillations. Our simulations are performed in a partially quenched setup, with two dynamical (sea) Wilson quark flavours, having a maximally twisted mass term. Valence quarks are either of the standard or the Osterwalder-Seiler maximally twisted variety. These two regularizations can be suitably combined in order to obtain a BK parameter which is both multiplicatively renormalizable and O(a) improved., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, talk presented at the XXVI International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory, July 14 - 19, 2008, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA

With the advent of the LHC, we will be able to probe New Physics (NP) up to energy scales almost one order of magnitude larger than it has been possible with present accelerator facilities. While direct detection of new particles will be the main avenue to establish the presence of NP at the LHC, indirect searches will provide precious complementary information, since most probably it will not be possible to measure the full spectrum of new particles and their couplings through direct production. In particular, precision measurements and computations in the realm of flavour physics are expected to play a key role in constraining the unknown parameters of the Lagrangian of any NP model emerging from direct searches at the LHC. The aim of Working Group 2 was twofold: on one hand, to provide a coherent, up-to-date picture of the status of flavour physics before the start of the LHC; on the other hand, to initiate activities on the path towards integrating information on NP from high-pT and flavour data., Comment: Report of Working Group 2 of the CERN Workshop ``Flavour in the era of the LHC'', Geneva, Switzerland, November 2005 -- March 2007

We present a global analysis of leptonic and semileptonic kaon decays data, including all recent results by BNL-E865, KLOE, KTeV, ISTRA+, and NA48. Experimental results are critically reviewed and combined, taking into account theoretical (both analytical and numerical) constraints on the semileptonic kaon form factors. This analysis leads to a very accurate determination of Vus and allows us to perform several stringent tests of the Standard Model.

It has been shown that in the twisted mass formulation of Lattice QCD at maximal twist large cutoff effects are generated when the quark mass becomes of O(a Lambda_QCD^2). In general, these effects can be suppressed in two ways: either by choosing the critical quark mass in an "optimal way", or by adding the Clover term to the twisted action. We investigate the second option by performing a quenched lattice QCD simulation with twisted Clover fermions and pion masses as low as 280 MeV. We show that the Clover term is indeed efficient in reducing the large cutoff effects. In particular, the so-called bending phenomenon observed in the determination of the pion decay constant is cured in this way. In addition, by using maximally twisted Clover fermions, we provide a non-perturbative determination of the vector current renormalization constant Z_V as well as of the non-perturbatively renormalized light quark masses. Finally, we calculate the connected contribution to the charged-neutral pseudoscalar meson mass splitting, finding that the introduction of the Clover term in the twisted action is also beneficial, in the quenched approximation, in reducing cutoff effects related to the isospin symmetry breaking at finite lattice spacing., Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures

We apply twisted boundary conditions to lattice QCD simulations of three-point correlation functions in order to access spatial components of hadronic momenta different from the integer multiples of 2 pi / L. We calculate the vector and scalar form factors relevant to the K -> pi semileptonic decay and consider all the possible ways of twisting one of the quark lines in the three-point functions. We show that the momentum shift produced by the twisted boundary conditions does not introduce any additional noise and easily allows to determine within a few percent statistical accuracy the form factors at quite small values of the four-momentum transfer, which are not accessible when periodic boundary conditions are considered. The use of twisted boundary conditions turns out to be crucial for a precise determination of the form factor at zero-momentum transfer, when a precise lattice point sufficiently close to zero-momentum transfer is not accessible with periodic boundary conditions., Comment: latex 15 pages, 4 figures and 3 tables; modified intro and discussions of the results; version to appear in PRD

We present a preliminary study of the neutral kaon mixing bag parameter BK using two flavors of dynamical Wilson fermions. We determine the matrix element of the relevant DeltaS=2 operator by using both the conventional approach and the so called ``non-subtraction method'', and find that the latter leads to results with smaller uncertainties. After having implemented non-perturbative renormalization, we study the dependence of BK on the see quark mass. At our relatively heavy values of quark masses (0.60

We perform an exploratory study of the operator product expansion of the quark propagator on the lattice at short distance in coordinate space. This permits a simple determination of the quark condensate, ^MS(2 GeV)=(-265\pm 5\pm 22 MeV)^3, and of the renormalization constant of the quark field, Z^MS(2 GeV)=0.871 \pm 0.003 \pm 0.020. This new method also provides a remarkable non-perturbative test of the OPE predictions at short distance in QCD., Comment: 6 pp. Talk given at the 23rd International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory: Lattice 2005, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, 25-30 July 2005

We present results for the light quark masses obtained from a lattice QCD simulation with N_f=2 degenerate Wilson dynamical quark flavours. The sea quark masses of our lattice, of spacing a ~ 0.06 fm, are relatively heavy, i.e., they cover the range corresponding to 0.60 <~ M_P/M_V <~ 0.75. After implementing the non-perturbative RI-MOM method to renormalise quark masses, we obtain m_{ud}^{MS}(2 GeV)=4.3 +- 0.4^{+1.1}_{-0} MeV, and m_s^{MS}(2 GeV)=101 +- 8^{+25}_{-0} MeV, which are about 15% larger than they would be if renormalised perturbatively. In addition, we show that the above results are compatible with those obtained in a quenched simulation with a similar lattice., Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures

We present the results of a partially quenched lattice QCD calculation of light quark masses with $N_f=2$ degenerate dynamical flavors. Numerical simulations are carried out using the plaquette gauge action and the Wilson quark action at $\beta = 5.8$ ($a^{-1} \simeq 3.2\gev$). The spatial extension of the $24^3 \times 48$ lattice is about 1.5 fm. Configurations have been generated at four values of the sea quark masses, for which the ratio of pseudoscalar over vector meson masses is in the range $M_P/M_V \simeq 0.60 \div 0.75$. An important feature of the present study is the use of non-perturbative renormalization, performed with the $\ri$ method. The effects of dynamical sea quarks in the determination of light quark masses have been investigated by performing a quenched calculation on a similar lattice. Our results for the average up-down and strange quark masses are $m_{ud}^{MS} (2\gev) = 4.3(4) (^{+1.1}_{-0.4})\mev$ and $m_s^{MS}(2\gev)=101(8)(^{+25}_{-9}) \mev$. These values are larger than those obtained by evaluating the quark mass renormalization constants with one-loop (boosted) perturbation theory. Our results for the light quark masses are compatible with those obtained in the quenched simulation. No significant sea quark effects are seen, at the values of sea quark masses used in the present study., Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, Proceedings of "Lattice 2005" (Dublin, 25-30 July 2005), updated systematic errors, updated references and clarified comparisons with previous results

We present a Lattice QCD determination of the chiral quark condensate based on a new method. We extract the quark condensate from the operator product expansion of the quark propagator at short euclidean distances, where it represents the leading contribution in the chiral limit. From this study we obtain <\bar q q>^ms(2 GeV)=-(265+-5+-22 MeV)^3$, in good agreement with determinations of this quantity based on different approaches. The simulation is performed by using the O(a)-improved Wilson action at beta=6.45 on a volume 32^3\times70 in the quenched approximation.

We discuss the result of a recent quenched lattice calculation of the K -> pi vector form factor at zero-momentum transfer, relevant for the determination of |V_us| from K-> pi l nu decays. Using suitable double ratios of three-point correlation functions, we show that it is possible to calculate this quantity at the percent-level precision. The leading quenched effects are corrected for by means of quenched chiral perturbation theory. The final result, f+(0) = 0.960 +- 0.005_stat +- 0.007_syst, turns out to be in good agreement with the old quark model estimate made by Leutwyler and Roos. In this paper, we discuss the phenomenological impact of the lattice result for the extraction of |V_us|, by updating the analysis of K -> pi l nu decays with the most recent experimental data. We also present a preliminary lattice study of hyperon Sigma -> n l nu decays, based on a similar strategy., Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures. Based on talks given at: DAFNE 2004: Physics at meson factories, Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati (Italy), June 7-11, 2004; VIII International Conference on "Electron-Nucleus Scattering", Marciana Marina (Italy), June 21-25, 2004; Lattice 2004, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, Illinois (USA), June 21-26, 2004; ICHEP 2004, Beijing (China), August 16-22, 2004

The results of a preliminary partially quenched (N_f=2) study of the light hadron spectrum, renormalization constants and light quark masses are presented. Numerical simulations are carried out with the LL-SSOR preconditioned Hybrid Monte Carlo with two degenerate dynamical fermions, using the plaquette gauge action and the Wilson quark action at beta = 5.8. Finite volume effects have been investigated employing two lattice volumes: 16^3 x 48 and 24^3 x 48. Configurations have been generated at four values of the sea quark mass corresponding to M_{PS}/M_V ~ 0.6 - 0.8., Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, Lattice2004(spectrum)

We report calculations of B_K using two flavours of dynamical clover-improved Wilson lattice fermions and look for dependence on the dynamical quark mass at fixed lattice spacing. We see some evidence for dynamical quark effects. In particular B_K decreases as the sea quark masses are reduced towards the up/down quark mass. Our meson masses are quite heavy and a firm prediction of B_K is a task for future simulations., Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure. Talk given at Lattice2004(weak), Fermilab 21-26 June 2004

We report calculations of the parameter B_K appearing in the Delta S=2 neutral kaon mixing matrix element, whose uncertainty limits the power of unitarity triangle constraints for testing the standard model or looking for new physics. We use two flavours of dynamical clover-improved Wilson lattice fermions and look for dependence on the dynamical quark mass at fixed lattice spacing. We see some evidence for dynamical quark effects and in particular B_K decreases as the sea quark masses are reduced towards the up/down quark mass., Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, uses JHEP3.cls, added comments and references

We present a quenched lattice study of the form factors $f_+(q^2)$ and $f_0(q^2)$ of the matrix elements $<\pi | \bar{s} \gamma_\mu u | K >$. We focus on the second-order SU(3)-breaking quantity $[1 - f_+(0)]$, which is necessary to extract $|V_{us}|$ from $K_{\ell 3}$ decays. For this quantity we show that it is possible to reach the percent precision which is the required one for a significant determination of $|V_{us}|$. The leading quenched chiral logarithms are corrected for by using analytic calculations in quenched chiral perturbation theory. Our final result, $f_+^{K^0\pi^-}(0) = 0.960 \pm 0.005_{\rm stat} \pm 0.007_{\rm syst}$, where the systematic error does not include the residual quenched effects, is in good agreement with the estimate made by Leutwyler and Roos. A comparison with other non-lattice computations and the impact of our result on the extraction of $|V_{us}|$ are also presented., Comment: 25 pages, 7 figures, 4 tables. Version to appear in Nuclear Physics B: improved discussion of minor points; no change in the results and in the conclusions

We compute the next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the off-diagonal elements of the decay-width matrix Gamma entering the neutral B-meson oscillations. From this calculation the width differences DeltaGamma and the CP violation parameters (q/p) of Bd and Bs mesons are estimated, including the complete O}(alpha_s) QCD corrections and the 1/mb contributions. For the width difference DeltaGamma_s we agree with previous results. By using the lattice determinations of the relevant hadronic matrix elements we obtain the theoretical predictions DeltaGamma_d/Gamma_d=(2.42+-0.59) x 10^(-3) and DeltaGamma_s/Gamma_s=(7.4+-2.4) x 10^(-2). For the CP violation parameters, we find |(q/p)_d|-1=(2.96+-0.67) x 10^(-4) and |(q/p)_s|-1=(-1.28+-0.27) x 10^(-5). These predictions are compatible with the experimental measurements which, however, suffer at present from large uncertainties., Comment: 25 pages, 7 figures, uses epsfig, typos corrected and reference added

We present results for masses of spin-1/2 and spin-3/2 double-charm baryons in quenched lattice QCD, from an exploratory study using a non-perturbatively improved clover action at beta=6.2. We have studied local operators and we observe, after appropriate projections, a good signal for the ground states. We also present results for single-charmed baryons and spin-splittings for both double- and single-charmed states., Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures

New (preliminary) results for the form factors relevant for the semileptonic decays of heavy pseudoscalar to a light vector meson are presented. In particular, we discuss the form factors for D --> K* and B --> rho modes., Comment: 4 pages (4 figures), Lattice2002(heavyquark)

We compute the next-to-leading order QCD corrections to spectator effects in the lifetime ratios of beauty hadrons. With respect to previous calculations, we take into account the non vanishing value of the charm quark mass. We obtain the predictions tau(B+)/tau(Bd) = 1.06 +- 0.02, tau(Bs)/tau(Bd)= 1.00 +- 0.01 and tau(Lambdab)/tau(Bd) = 0.90 +- 0.05, in good agreement with the experimental results. In the case of tau(Bs)/tau(Bd) and tau(Lambdab)/tau(Bd), however, some contributions, which either vanish in the vacuum insertion approximation or represent a pure NLO corrections, have not been determined yet., Comment: 24 pages, 4 figures

Theoretical predictions of beauty hadron lifetimes, based on the heavy quark expansion up to and including order 1/mb^2, do not to reproduce the experimental measurements of the lifetime ratios tau(B+)/tau(Bd) and tau(Lambdab)/tau(Bd). Large corrections to these predictions come from phase-space enhanced 1/mb^3 contributions, i.e. hard spectator effects. In this paper we calculate the next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the Wilson coefficients of the local operators appearing at O(1/mb^3). We find that these corrections improve the agreement with the experimental data. The lifetime ratio of charged to neutral B mesons, tau(B+)/tau(Bd), turns out to be in very good agreement with the corresponding measurement, whereas for tau(Bs)/tau(Bd) and tau(Lambdab)/tau(Bd) there is a residual difference at the 1-sigma level. We discuss, however, why the theoretical predictions are less accurate in the latter cases., Comment: 29 pages, 7 figures, uses epsf. Misprints in eqs. (28) and (52) corrected. Results unchanged. Final version to appear on Nucl.Phys.B

We have computed the form factors for B --> pi and D --> K(pi) semileptonic decays on the lattice by using full non-perturbative O(a) improvement, in the quenched approximation. Our results are expressed in terms of few parameters which describe the q^2-dependence and normalization of the form factors., Comment: 28 pages (LaTeX2e), 11 PostScript figures (version to appear in Nucl.Phys.B)

We present the first lattice calculation of the matrix element of the electromagnetic operator , where Q+ = (Q_d e/16 pi^2)* (\bar s_L sigma{mu,nu} F{mu,nu} d_R + \bar s_R sigma{mu,nu} F{mu,nu} d_L). This matrix element plays an important role, since it contributes to enhance the CP violating part of the K_L -> pi0 e+ e- amplitude in supersymmetric extensions of the Standard Model., Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures

We present preliminary results for heavy to light transitions of pseudoscalar mesons, induced by the vector and tensor operators. This lattice study is performed in quenched approximation, by using the nonperturbatively improved Wilson action and operators. We also update the values of the heavy-light meson decay constants., Comment: LATT99(Heavy Quarks), 3 pages, 2 figures

We present a study of the heavy-light spectrum and of the D- and B-meson decay constants. The results wer e obtained in the quenched approximation, by using the non-perturbatively improved Clover lattice action at beta=6.2, with a sample of 100 configurations, on a 24^3 x 64 lattice. After a careful analysis of th e systematic errors present in the extraction of the physical results, by assuming quite conservative discretization errors, we find f_Ds=231 +/- 12^{+6}_{-1} MeV, f_D = 211 +/- 14^{+0}_{-12} MeV, f_Ds/f_D=1.10(2), f_Bs = 204 +/- 16^{+28}_{-0} MeV, f_B = 179 +/- 18^{+26}_{-9} MeV, f_Bs/f_B=1.14(3)^{+0}_{-1}. Our results, which have smaller discretization errors than many previous estimates at fixed value of the lattice spacing $a$, support a large value of f_B in the quenched approximation., Comment: 26 pages, 9 Postscript figures

We present the results for light hadron spectrum, decay constants and the quark masses obtained with non-perturbatively improved Wilson fermions. We also give our preliminary results for the heavy-light decay constants., Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, corrected some typos and one reference added, LATTICE98(spectrum)

We present results for the light meson masses and decay constants as obtained from calculations with the non-perturbatively improved (`Alpha') action and operators on a 24^3 \times 64 lattice at beta = 6.2, in the quenched approximation. The analysis was performed in a way consistent with O(a) improvement. We obtained: reasonable agreement with experiment for the hyperfine splitting; f_K=156(17) MeV, f_pi =139(22) MeV, f_K/f_pi = 1.13(4) ; f_{K*}=219(7) MeV, f_rho =199(15) MeV, f_phi =235(4) MeV; f_{K*}^{T}(2 GeV) = 178(10) MeV, f_rho^{T}(2 GeV) =165(11) MeV, where f_V^{T} is the coupling of the tensor current to the vector mesons; the chiral condensate <\bar{q}q>^\bar{MS} (2 GeV)= - (253 +/- 25 MeV)^3. Our results are compared to those obtained with the unimproved Wilson action. We also verified that the free-boson lattice dispersion relation describes our results very accurately for a large range of momenta., Comment: 29 pages (LaTeX), 14 Postscript figures

We have computed the light quark masses using the O(a^2) improved Alpha action, in the quenched approximation. The renormalized masses have been obtained non-perturbatively. By eliminating the systematic error coming from the truncation of the perturbative series, our procedure removes the discrepancies, observed in previous calculations, between the results obtained using the vector and the axial-vector Ward identities. It also gives values of the quark masses larger than those obtained by computing the renormalization constants using (boosted) perturbation theory. Our main results, in the RI (MOM) scheme and at a renormalization scale \mu=2 GeV, are m^{RI}_s= 138(15) MeV and m^{RI}_l= 5.6(5) MeV, where m^{RI}_s is the mass of the strange quark and m^{RI}_l=(m^{RI}_u+m^{RI}_d)/2 the average mass of the up-down quarks. From these results, which have been obtained non-perturbatively, by using continuum perturbation theory we derive the \bar{MS} masses, at the same scale, and the renormalization group invariant (m^{RGI}) masses. We find m^{NLO \bar{MS}}_s= 121(13)$ MeV and m^{NLO\bar{MS}}_l= 4.9(4) MeV at the next-to-leading order; m^{N^2LO \bar{MS}}_s= 111(12) MeV, m^{N^2LO \bar{MS}}_l= 4.5(4) MeV, m_s^{RGI}= 177(19) MeV and m^{RGI}_l= 7.2(6) MeV at the next-to-next-to-leading order., Comment: 13 pages, 1 figure