Search

We present preliminary results of the first lattice QCD calculation of the K -> pi matrix elements of the chromomagnetic operator O_{CM}=g sbar sigma_{munu} G_{munu} d, which appears in the effective Hamiltonian describing Delta S=1 transitions in and beyond the Standard Model. Having dimension 5, the chromomagnetic operator is characterized by a rich pattern of mixing with operators of equal and lower dimensionality. The multiplicative renormalization factor as well as the mixing coefficients with the operators of equal dimension have been computed at one-loop in perturbation theory. The power divergent coefficients controlling the mixing with operators of lower dimension have been computed non-perturbatively, by imposing suitable subtraction conditions. The numerical simulations have been carried out using the gauge field configurations produced by the European Twisted Mass Collaboration with N_f=2+1+1 dynamical quarks at three values of the lattice spacing. Our preliminary result for the B-parameter of the chromomagnetic operator is B_{CMO}=0.29(11), which can be compared with the estimate B_{CMO}~1-4 currently used in phenomenological analyses., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, LATTICE2014 proceedings

We update the analysis of $D$ meson mixing including the latest experimental results as of January 2014. We derive constraints on the parameters $M_{12}$, $\Gamma_{12}$ and $\Phi_{12}$ that describe $D$ meson mixing using all available data, allowing for CP violation. We also provide posterior distributions for observable parameters appearing in $D$ physics., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

The RBC and UKQCD collaborations have recently proposed a procedure for computing the K_L-K_S mass difference. A necessary ingredient of this procedure is the calculation of the (non-exponential) finite-volume corrections relating the results obtained on a finite lattice to the physical values. This requires a significant extension of the techniques which were used to obtain the Lellouch-Luscher factor, which contains the finite-volume corrections in the evaluation of non-leptonic kaon decay amplitudes. We review the status of our study of this issue and, although a complete proof is still being developed, suggest the form of these corrections for general volumes and a strategy for taking the infinite-volume limit. The general result reduces to the known corrections in the special case when the volume is tuned so that there is a two-pion state degenerate with the kaon., Comment: Presented at the 31st International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2013), July 29 - August 3 2013, Mainz Germany. To be published in the proceedings PoS(LATTICE 2013) 399

We study matrix elements of the "chromomagnetic" operator on the lattice. This operator is contained in the strangeness-changing effective Hamiltonian which describes electroweak effects in the Standard Model and beyond. Having dimension 5, the chromomagnetic operator is characterized by a rich pattern of mixing with other operators of equal and lower dimensionality, including also non gauge invariant quantities; it is thus quite a challenge to extract from lattice simulations a clear signal for the hadronic matrix elements of this operator. We compute all relevant mixing coefficients to one loop in lattice perturbation theory; this necessitates calculating both 2-point (quark-antiquark) and 3-point (gluon-quark-antiquark) Green's functions at nonzero quark masses. We use the twisted mass lattice formulation, with Symanzik improved gluon action. For a comprehensive presentation of our results, along with detailed explanations and a more complete list of references, we refer to our forthcoming publication [1]., Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure. Talk presented at the 31st International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2013), 29 July - 3 August 2013, Mainz, Germany

We present a method to evaluate on the lattice the leading isospin breaking effects due to both the small mass difference between the up and down quarks and the QED interaction. Our proposal is applicable in principle to any QCD+QED gauge invariant hadronic observable which can be computed on the lattice. It is based on the expansion of the path-integral in powers of the small parameters (m_d - m_u)/Lambda_{QCD} and alpha_{em}, where m_f is the renormalized quark mass and alpha_{em} the renormalized fine structure constant. In this paper we discuss in detail the general strategy of the method and the conventional, although arbitrary, separation of QCD from QED isospin breaking corrections. We obtain results for the pion mass splitting, M_{pi+}^2-M_{pi0}^2= 1.44(13)(16) x 10^3 MeV^2, for the Dashen's theorem breaking parameter epsilon_{gamma}= 0.79(18)(18), for the light quark masses, [m_d - m_u](MSbar,2 GeV)= 2.39(8)(17) MeV, [m_u / m_d](MSbar,2 GeV)= 0.50(2)(3) and for the flavour symmetry breaking parameters R and Q. We also update our previous results for the QCD isospin breaking corrections to the Kl2 decay rate and for the QCD contribution to the neutron-proton mass splitting., Comment: 39 pages, 17 figures

A simple analytical model is developed to analyze and explain the complex dynamics of the multi-peak modulation instability spectrum observed in dispersion oscillating optical fibers [M. Droques et al., 37, 4832-4834 Opt. Lett., (2012)]. We provide a simple expression for the local parametric gain which shows that each of the multiple spectral components grows thanks to a quasi-phase-matching mechanism due to the periodicity of the waveguide parameters, in good agreement with numerical simulations and experiments. This simplified model is also successfully used to tailor the multi-peak modulation instability spectrum shape. These theoretical predictions are confirmed by experiments., Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1207.4667

We present a precise lattice QCD determination of the b-quark mass, of the B and Bs decay constants and first results for the B-meson bag parameters. For our computation we employ the so-called ratio method and our results benefit from the use of improved interpolating operators for the B-mesons. QCD calculations are performed with Nf = 2 dynamical light-quarks at four values of the lattice spacing and the results are extrapolated to the continuum limit. The preliminary results are mb(mb) = 4.35(12) GeV for the MSbar b-quark mass, fBs = 234(6) MeV and fB = 197(10) MeV for the B-meson decay constants, BBs(mb) = 0.90(5) and BB(mb) = 0.87(5) for the B-meson bag parameters., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. Proceedings of the 36th International Conference on High Energy Physics - ICHEP 2012; July 4-11 2012; Melbourne, Australia

We present a precise lattice QCD determination of the b-quark mass, of the B and Bs decay constants and first preliminary results for the B-mesons bag parameter. Simulations are performed with Nf = 2 Wilson twisted mass fermions at four values of the lattice spacing and the results are extrapolated to the continuum limit. Our calculation benefits from the use of improved interpolating operators for the B-mesons and employs the so-called ratio method. The latter allows a controlled interpolation at the b-quark mass between the relativistic data around and above the charm quark mass and the exactly known static limit., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. Proceedings of the 30th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory - Lattice 2012; June 24-29, 2012; Cairns, Australia

We present the ETMC results for the bag parameters describing the neutral kaon mixing in the Standard Model and beyond and preliminary results for the bag parameters controlling the short distance contributions in the D^0-\bar{D}^0 oscillations. We also present preliminary results for the B_{Bd}, B_{Bs}, B_{Bs}/B_{Bd} and \xi -parameter controlling B^0_-\bar{B}^0 oscillations in the Standard Model employing the so-called ratio method. Using Nf=2 maximally twisted sea quarks and Osterwalder-Seiler valence quarks we achieve both O(a)-improvement and continuum like renormalization pattern. Simulations are performed at three-values of the lattice spacing and several values of quark masses in the light, strange, charm region and above charm up to ~2.5m_c. Our results are extrapolated to the continuum limit and extrapolated/interpolated to the physical quark masses., Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures. Proceedings of Lattice 2012, the 30th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory,June 24-29 2012, Cairns, Australia

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 derive constraints on the parameters $M_{12}$, $\Gamma_{12}$ and $\Phi_{12}$ that describe $D$ meson mixing using all available data, allowing for CP violation. We also provide posterior distributions and predictions for observable parameters appearing in $D$ physics., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

We present a new method to evaluate with high precision the isospin breaking effects due to the mass difference between the up and down quarks using lattice QCD. Our proposal is applicable in principle to any hadronic observable which can be computed on the lattice. It is based on the expansion of the path-integral in powers of the small parameter $m_d - m_u$. In this talk we discuss how to apply this method to compute the leading isospin breaking effects for several physical quantities of interest: the kaon masses, the kaon decay constants and the neutron-proton mass splitting., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures. Talk presented at the XXIX International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory - Lattice 2011, July 10-16, 2011, Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe, California. Typo corrections, accepted version

We present a new method to evaluate with high precision isospin breaking effects due to the small mass difference between the up and down quarks using lattice QCD. Our proposal is applicable in principle to any hadronic observable which can be computed on the lattice. It is based on the expansion of the path-integral in powers of the small parameter md-mu. In this paper, we apply this method to compute the leading isospin breaking effects for several physical quantities of interest: the kaon meson masses, the kaon decay constant, the form factors of semileptonic Kl3 decays and the neutron-proton mass splitting., Comment: 30 pages, 17 plots, version accepted for publication in JHEP, added few references and some comment, results unchanged

We compute the matrix elements of the electromagnetic (EM) operator (\bar{s} F{\mu \nu} \sigma{\mu \nu} d) between kaon and pion states, using lattice QCD with maximally twisted-mass fermions and two flavors of dynamical quarks (Nf = 2). The operator is renormalized non-perturbatively in the RI'/MOM scheme and our simulations cover pion masses as light as 270 MeV and three values of the lattice spacing from ~ 0.07 up to ~ 0.1 fm. At the physical point our result for the corresponding tensor form factor at zero-momentum transfer is fT{K\pi}(0) = 0.417 (14_stat) (5_syst), where the systematic error does not include the effect of quenching the strange and charm quarks. Our result differs significantly from the old quenched result fT{K\pi}(0) = 0.78 (6) obtained by the SPQcdR Collaboration with pion masses above 500 MeV. We investigate the source of this difference and conclude that it is mainly related to the chiral extrapolation. We also study the tensor charge of the pion and obtain the value fT{\pi\pi}(0) = 0.195 (8_stat) (6_syst) in good agreement with, but more accurate than the result fT{\pi\pi}(0) = 0.216 (34) obtained by the QCDSF Collaboration using higher pion masses., Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables

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

We present the status of the Unitarity Triangle Analysis (UTA), within the Standard Model (SM) and beyond, with experimental and theoretical inputs updated for the ICHEP 2010 conference. Within the SM, we find that the general consistency among all the constraints leaves space only to some tension (between the UTA prediction and the experimental measurement) in BR(B -> tau nu), sin(2 beta) and epsilon_K. In the UTA beyond the SM, we allow for New Physics (NP) effects in (Delta F)=2 processes. The hint of NP at the 2.9 sigma level in the B_s-\bar B_s mixing turns out to be confirmed by the present update, which includes the new D0 result on the dimuon charge asymmetry but not the new CDF measurement of phi_s, being the likelihood not yet released., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, Proceedings of the 35th International Conference of High Energy Physics - ICHEP2010 (July 22-28, 2010, Paris)

We present a lattice QCD calculation of the heavy-light decay constants f_B and f_Bs performed with Nf=2 maximally twisted Wilson fermions, at four values of the lattice spacing. The decay constants have been also computed in the static limit and the results are used to interpolate the observables between the charm and the infinite-mass sectors, thus obtaining the value of the decay constants at the physical b quark mass. Our preliminary results are f_B=191(14) MeV, f_Bs=243(14) MeV, f_Bs/f_B=1.27(5). They are in good agreement with those obtained with a novel approach, recently proposed by our Collaboration (ETMC), based on the use of suitable ratios having an exactly known static limit., Comment: Proceedings of the 27th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2009), Beijing, China, 2009 July 26-31. 8 pages, 3 figures

We present an update of the Unitarity Triangle (UT) analysis, within the Standard Model (SM) and beyond. Within the SM the main novelties are the inclusion in epsilon_K of the contributions of xi and phi_epsilon \neq \pi/4 pointed out by A.J. Buras and D. Guadagnoli, and an accurate prediction of BR(B -> tau nu), by using the indirect determination of |V_ub| from the UT fit, which can be compared to the present experimental result. In the generalization of the UT analysis to investigate New Physics (NP) effects, the estimate of xi is more delicate and only the effect of phi_epsilon \neq \pi/4 has been included. We confirm an hint of NP in the B_s-\bar B_s mixing at the 2.9 sigma level, which makes a comparison with new experimental data certainly desired., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Proceedings of the 2009 Europhysics Conference on High Energy Physics, 16-22 July, Krakow

A method to extract B-physics parameters (b-quark mass and fB, fBs decay constants) from currently available lattice data is presented and tested. The approach is based on the idea of constructing appropriate ratios of heavy-light meson masses and decay constants, respectively, possessing a precisely known static limit, and evaluating them at various pairs of heavy quark masses around the charm. Via a smooth interpolation in the heavy quark mass from the easily accessible charm region to the asymptotic point, B-physics parameters are computed with a few percent (statistical + systematic) error using recently produced Nf=2 maximally twisted Wilson fermions data., Comment: 23 pages, 8 figures; version to appear in JHEP

The recently measured B -> tau nu branching ratio allows to test the Standard Model by probing virtual effects of new heavy particles, such as a charged Higgs boson. The accuracy of the test is currently limited by the experimental error on BR(B -> tau nu) and by the uncertainty on the parameters fB and |Vub|. The redundancy of the Unitarity Triangle fit allows to reduce the error on these parameters and thus to perform a more precise test of the Standard Model. Using the current experimental inputs, we obtain BR(B -> tau nu)_SM = (0.84 +- 0.11)x10^{-4}, to be compared with BR(B -> tau nu)_exp = (1.73 +- 0.34)x10^{-4}. The Standard Model prediction can be modified by New Physics effects in the decay amplitude as well as in the Unitarity Triangle fit. We discuss how to disentangle the two possible contributions in the case of minimal flavour violation at large tan beta and generic loop-mediated New Physics. We also consider two specific models with minimal flavour violation: the Type-II Two Higgs Doublet Model and the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model., Comment: 7 pages, 13 figures, 1 table. v2: added references and discussion of B -> D tau nu in the 2HDM. v3: added Bs->mumu in the 2HDM. Final version to appear in PLB

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

The UT{\it{fit}} Collaboration has produced several analyses in the context of flavour physics both within and beyond the Standard Model. In this paper we present updated results for the Standard Model analysis of the Unitarity Triangle using the latest experimental and lattice QCD inputs, as well as an update of the Unitarity Triangle analysis in a scenario beyond the Standard Model. Combining all available experimental and theoretical information on $\Delta F=2$ processes and using a model-independent parameterization, we extract the allowed New Physics contributions in the $K^0$, $D^0$, $B_d$, and $B_s$ sectors. We observe a departure of the $B_s$ mixing phase from the Standard Model expectation with a significance of about $3\sigma$., Comment: Heavy Quarks and Leptons, Melbourne, 2008

We propose a method to quantify the Standard Model uncertainty in B to K pi decays using the experimental data, assuming that power counting provides a reasonable estimate of the subleading terms in the 1/mb expansion. Using this method, we show that present B to K pi data are compatible with the Standard Model. We analyze the pattern of subleading terms required to reproduce the B to K pi data and argue that anomalously large subleading terms are not needed. Finally, we find that S(KS pi0) is fairly insensitive to hadronic uncertainties and obtain the Standard Model estimate S(KS pi0)=0.74 +- 0.04., Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables. v2:final version to appear in Phys. Lett. B

We combine all the available experimental information on Bs mixing, including the very recent tagged analyses of Bs to J/Psi phi by the CDF and D0 collaborations. We find that the phase of the Bs mixing amplitude deviates more than 3 sigma from the Standard Model prediction. While no single measurement has a 3 sigma significance yet, all the constraints show a remarkable agreement with the combined result. This is a first evidence of physics beyond the Standard Model. This result disfavours New Physics models with Minimal Flavour Violation with the same significance., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables. v2: added a note on more recent Tevatron results

We update the constraints on new-physics contributions to Delta F=2 processes from the generalized unitarity triangle analysis, including the most recent experimental developments. Based on these constraints, we derive upper bounds on the coefficients of the most general Delta F=2 effective Hamiltonian. These upper bounds can be translated into lower bounds on the scale of new physics that contributes to these low-energy effective interactions. We point out that, due to the enhancement in the renormalization group evolution and in the matrix elements, the coefficients of non-standard operators are much more constrained than the coefficient of the operator present in the Standard Model. Therefore, the scale of new physics in models that generate new Delta F=2 operators, such as next-to-minimal flavour violation, has to be much higher than the scale of minimal flavour violation, and it most probably lies beyond the reach of direct searches at the LHC., Comment: 32 pages, 11 figures, 6 tables. v2: error in the implementation of D0 untagged Bs->J/Psi phi correlation matrix corrected. Improved presentation of the results and discussion of ambiguities in untagged Bs->J/Psi phi. Results for NP in Bs oscillations changed. Final version to appear in JHEP

Motivated by a recent paper that compares the results of the analysis of the CKM angle alpha in the frequentist and in the Bayesian approaches, we have reconsidered the information on the hadronic amplitudes, which helps constraining the value of alpha in the Standard Model. We find that the Bayesian method gives consistent results irrespective of the parametrisation of the hadronic amplitudes and that the results of the frequentist and Bayesian approaches are equivalent when comparing meaningful probability ranges or confidence levels. We also find that from B to pi pi decays alone the 95% probability region for alpha is the interval [80^o,170^o], well consistent with recent analyses of the unitarity triangle where, by using all the available experimental and theoretical information, one gets alpha = (93 +- 4)^o. Last but not least, by using simple arguments on the hadronic matrix elements, we show that the unphysical region alpha ~ 0, present in several experimental analyses, can be eliminated., Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures

We present results of dynamical simulations with 2 flavours of degenerate Wilson twisted mass quarks at maximal twist in the range of pseudo scalar masses from 300 to 550 MeV. The simulations are performed at one value of the lattice spacing a \lesssim 0.1 fm. In order to have O(a) improvement and aiming at small residual cutoff effects, the theory is tuned to maximal twist by requiring the vanishing of the untwisted quark mass. Precise results for the pseudo scalar decay constant and the pseudo scalar mass are confronted with chiral perturbation theory predictions and the low energy constants F, \bar{l}_3 and \bar{l}_4 are evaluated with small statistical errors., Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures, references added, typos corrected

The recent measurements of the B_s meson mixing amplitude by CDF and of the leptonic branching fraction BR(B to tau nu) by Belle call for an upgraded analysis of the Unitarity Triangle in the Standard Model. Besides improving the previous constraints on the parameters of the CKM matrix, these new measurements, combined with the recent determinations of the angles alpha, beta and gamma from non-leptonic decays, allow, in the Standard Model, a quite accurate extraction of the values of the hadronic matrix elements relevant for K-Kbar and B_{s,d}-B_{s,d}bar mixing and of the leptonic decay constant f_B. These values, obtained ``experimentally'', can then be compared with the theoretical predictions, mainly from lattice QCD. In this paper we upgrade the UT fit, we determine from the data the kaon B-parameter B_Khat, the B^0 mixing amplitude parameters f_Bs B^{1/2}_Bs and xi, the decay constant f_B, and make a comparison of the obtained values with lattice predictions. We also discuss the different determinations of V_ub and show that current data do not favour the value measured in inclusive decays., Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures. v2: references added, version to appear in JHEP

The status of the Unitarity Triangle beyond the Standard Model including the most recent results on Delta m_s, on dilepton asymmetries and on width differences is presented. Even allowing for general New Physics loop contributions the Unitarity Triangle must be very close to the Standard Model result. With the new measurements from the Tevatron, we obtain for the first time a significant constraint on New Physics in the B_s sector. We present the allowed ranges of New Physics contributions to Delta F=2 processes, and of the time-dependent CP asymmetry in B_s to J/Psi phi decays., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. v2: numerical error in Delta Gamma_s/Gamma_s corrected. Plots and tables updated. v3: update after ICHEP06, final version published in Phys Rev Letters

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 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

Starting from a (new physics independent) tree level determination of rhobar and etabar, we perform the Unitarity Triangle analysis in general extensions of the Standard Model with arbitrary new physics contributions to loop-mediated processes. Using a simple parameterization, we determine the allowed ranges of non-standard contributions to |Delta F|=2 processes. Remarkably, the recent measurements from B factories allow us to determine with good precision the shape of the Unitarity Triangle even in the presence of new physics, and to derive stringent constraints on non-standard contributions to |Delta F|=2 processes. Since the present experimental constraints favour models with Minimal Flavour Violation, we present the determination of the Universal Unitarity Triangle that can be defined in this class of extensions of the Standard Model. Finally, we perform a combined fit of the Unitarity Triangle and of new physics contributions in Minimal Flavour Violation, reaching a sensitivity to a new physics scale of about 5 TeV. We also extrapolate all these analyses into a "year 2010" scenario for experimental and theoretical inputs in the flavour sector. All the results presented in this paper are also available at the URL http://www.utfit.org, where they are continuously updated., Comment: 29 pages, 56 figures

We present a new study of SU(3)-breaking corrections in hyperon vector form factors relevant for the extraction of Vus. A lattice quenched simulation has been performed, showing that it is possible to reach the required precision to extract SU(3)-breaking corrections in the regime of simulated masses. In order to perform the chiral extrapolation we calculated the chiral corrections to the vector form factor in HBChPT. Besides the one-loop O(p^2) contribution, we included also the subleading O(p^3) and O(1/M_B) corrections that, due to the Ademollo-Gatto theorem, are free from the contamination of unknown low energy constants. The results complete and correct previous calculations, and show that subleading corrections cannot be neglected. We also studied decuplet contributions within HBChPT and show that, in this case, the chiral expansion breaks down, rising doubts on the consistency of the theory., Comment: 6 pages, talk presented at XXIIIrd International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory, 25-30 July 2005, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

When analyzed in terms of the Symanzik expansion, lattice correlators of multi-local (gauge-invariant) operators with non-trivial continuum limit exhibit in maximally twisted lattice QCD ``infrared divergent'' cutoff effects of the type a^{2k}/(m_\pi^2)^{h}, 2k\geq h\geq 1 (k,h integers), which tend to become numerically large when the pion mass gets small. We prove that, if the action is O(a) improved a` la Symanzik or, alternatively, the critical mass counter-term is chosen in some ``optimal'' way, these lattice artifacts are reduced to terms that are at worst of the order a^{2}(a^2/m_\pi^2)^{k-1}, k\geq 1. This implies that the continuum extrapolation of lattice results is smooth at least down to values of the quark mass, m_q, satisfying the order of magnitude inequality m_q >a^2\Lambda^3_{\rm QCD}., Comment: 23 pages, no figures. Revised version, published by JHEP. Various sections shortened, alternative determination of the "optimal" critical mass discussed, section about the pion decay constant inserted. Conclusions unchanged

We show that a flavour symmetry a la Froggatt-Nielsen can be naturally incorporated in models with gauge-Higgs unification, by exploiting the heavy fermions that are anyhow needed to realize realistic Yukawa couplings. The case of the minimal five-dimensional model, in which the SU(2)_L x U(1)_Y electroweak group is enlarged to an SU(3)_W group, and then broken to U(1)_em by the combination of an orbifold projection and a Scherk-Schwarz twist, is studied in detail. We show that the minimal way of incorporating a U(1)_F flavour symmetry is to enlarge it to an SU(2)_F group, which is then completely broken by the same orbifold projection and Scherk-Schwarz twist. The general features of this construction, where ordinary fermions live on the branes defined by the orbifold fixed-points and messenger fermions live in the bulk, are compared to those of ordinary four-dimensional flavour models, and some explicit examples are constructed., Comment: LaTex, 37 pages, 2 figures; some clarifying comments and a few references added

Using the latest determinations of several theoretical and experimental parameters, we update the Unitarity Triangle analysis in the Standard Model. The basic experimental constraints come from the measurements of |V_ub/V_cb|, Delta M_d, the lower limit on Delta M_s, epsilon_k, and the measurement of the phase of the B_d - anti B_d mixing amplitude through the time-dependent CP asymmetry in B^0 to J/psi K^0 decays. In addition, we consider the direct determination of alpha, gamma, 2 beta + gamma and cos(2 beta) from the measurements of new CP-violating quantities, recently performed at the B factories. We also discuss the opportunities offered by improving the precision of the various physical quantities entering in the determination of the Unitarity Triangle parameters. The results and the plots presented in this paper can also be found at http://www.utfit.org, where they are continuously updated with the newest experimental and theoretical results., Comment: 32 pages, 17 figures. High resolution figures and updates can be found at http://www.utfit.org v2: misprints corrected

A series of Silicon crystal undulator samples were produced based on the approach presented in PRL 90 (2003) 034801, with the periods of undulation from 0.1 mm to 1 mm, and the number of periods on the order of 10. The samples were characterized by X-rays, revealing the sine-like shape of the crystal lattice in the bulk. Next step in the characterization has been the channeling tests done with 70 GeV protons, where good channeling properties of the undulated Silicon lattice have been observed. The photon radiation tests of crystal undulators with high energy positrons are in progress on several locations: IHEP Protvino, LNF Frascati, and CERN SPS. The progress in the experimental activities and the predictions from detailed simulations are reported., Comment: Invited talk at the NATO ARW "Advanced Photon Sources and Their Application" (Nor Hamberd, Armenia August 29 – September 02, 2004)

We present the first direct evaluation of DI = 3/2 K -> pi pi matrix elements with the aim of determining all the low-energy constants at NLO in the chiral expansion. Our numerical investigation demonstrates that it is indeed possible to determine the K -> pi pi matrix elements directly for the masses and momenta used in the simulation with good precision. In this range however, we find that the matrix elements do not satisfy the predictions of NLO chiral perturbation theory. For the chiral extrapolation we therefore use a hybrid procedure which combines the observed polynomial behaviour in masses and momenta of our lattice results, with NLO chiral perturbation theory at lower masses. In this way we find stable results for the quenched matrix elements of the electroweak penguin operators (= (0.68 +- 0.09) GeV^3 and = (0.12 +- 0.02) GeV^3 in the NDR-MSbar scheme at the scale 2 GeV), but not for the matrix elements of O_4 (for which there are too many Low-Energy Constants at NLO for a reliable extrapolation). For all three operators we find that the effect of including the NLO corrections is significant (typically about 30%). We present a detailed discussion of the status of the prospects for the reduction of the systematic uncertainties., Comment: 44 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication on Nuclear Physics B

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 present preliminary results of an exploratory lattice study of the vector form factor $f_1(q^2 = 0)$ relevant for the semileptonic hyperon decay $\Sigma^{-} --> n l \nu$. This study is based on the same method used for the extraction of $f^+(0)$ for the decay $K^0 --> \pi^{-} l \nu$. The main purpose of this study is to test the method for hyperon form factors in order to estimate the precision that can be reached and the importance of SU(3)-breaking effects., Comment: 3 pages, 5 figures, talk presented at Lattice2004(weak), Fermilab, Batavia, Illinois, 21-26 June 2004

Using the most recent determinations of several theoretical and experimental parameters, we update the Unitarity Triangle analysis in the Standard Model. The basic experimental constraints come from the measurements of epsilon_k, Vub/Vcb and Delta m_d, the limit on Delta m_s, and the measurement of the CP asymmetry in the B sector through the J/psi K^0 channel. In addition we also include in our analysis the direct determination of sin 2 alpha, gamma and sin(2 beta + gamma) from the measurements of new CP-violating quantities, recently coming from the B-Factories. We also discuss the opportunities offered by improving the precision of the measurements of the various physical quantities entering in the determination of the Unitarity Triangle parameters. The results and the plots presented in this paper can be also found at http://www.utfit.org, where they are continuously updated with the newest experimental and theoretical results., Comment: LaTeX, 27 pages, 16 figures. Submitted to the 32nd International Conference on High-Energy Physics, ICHEP 04, 16-22 August 2004, Beijing, China