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Next to the $\pi^0$ pole, $\eta$ and $\eta'$ intermediate states give rise to the leading singularities of the hadronic light-by-light tensor, resulting in sizable contributions to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon $a_\mu$. The strength of the poles is determined by the respective transition form factors (TFFs) to two (virtual) photons. We present a calculation of these TFFs that implements a number of low- and high-energy constraints, including the $\eta^{(\prime)}\to\gamma\gamma$ decay widths, $\eta^{(\prime)}\to\pi^+\pi^-\gamma$ spectra, chiral symmetry for the $\eta^{(\prime)}\to2(\pi^+\pi^-)$ amplitudes, vector-meson couplings, and asymptotic limits. Crucially, we investigate the role of the leading left-hand singularity generated by the exchange of the $a_2$ tensor meson, yielding, for the first time, an estimate of the associated factorization-breaking corrections. Our final results, $a_\mu^{\eta\text{-pole}}=14.7(9)\times 10^{-11}$ and $a_\mu^{\eta'\text{-pole}}=13.5(7)\times 10^{-11}$, conclude a dedicated effort to evaluate the pseudoscalar-pole contributions to hadronic light-by-light scattering using dispersion relations, amounting to a combined $a_\mu^{\text{PS-poles}}=91.2^{+2.9}_{-2.4}\times 10^{-11}$., Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures

We present the results of Phase I of an ongoing review of Monte Carlo tools relevant for low-energy hadronic cross sections. This includes a detailed comparison of Monte Carlo codes for electron-positron scattering into a muon pair, pion pair, and electron pair, for scan and radiative-return experiments. After discussing the various approaches that are used and effects that are included, we show differential cross sections obtained with AfkQed, BabaYaga@NLO, KKMC, MCGPJ, McMule, Phokhara, and Sherpa, for scenarios that are inspired by experiments providing input for the dispersive evaluation of the hadronic vacuum polarisation., Comment: RadioMonteCarLow 2 Working Group report Phase I, 67 pages, 34 figures

Pion-kaon ($\pi K$) final states, often appearing in heavy-particle decays at the precision frontier, are important for Standard-Model tests, to describe crossed channels with exotic states, and for spectroscopy of excited kaon resonances. We construct a representation of the $\pi K$ $S$-wave form factor using the elastic $\pi K$ scattering phase shift via dispersion relations in the elastic region and extend this model into the inelastic region using resonance exchange, while maintaining unitarity and the correct analytic structure. As a first application, we successfully described the $\tau \to K_S \pi \nu_\tau$ spectrum to not only achieve a better distinction between $S$- and $P$-wave contributions, but also to provide an improved estimate of the $CP$ asymmetry produced by a tensor operator as well as the forward-backward asymmetry, both of which can be confronted with future data at Belle II., Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, Talk given at the 16th International Workshop on Tau Lepton Physics (Tau2021), to be published in SciPost Physics Proceedings, see https://scipost.org/submissions/scipost_202111_00029v1/

We discuss a novel and simple parametrisation of the pion vector form factor that transparently connects spacelike and timelike regions of the momentum transfer $q^2$. Our parametrisation employs the framework of conformal mapping and respects the known analyticity properties of the form factor, accounting explicitly for the $\rho(770)$-meson pole. The parametrisation manifestly fulfils the normalisation condition at $q^2 = 0$ as well as further restrictions at the pion production threshold and in the limit $|q^2| \to \infty$. In contrast to the widely used Omn\`es parametrisation, our approach does not use the pion-pion scattering phase shift as input. We confront the parametrisation with experimental data from $\pi H$ scattering and $\tau^- \to \pi^-\pi^0\nu$ decay. We already find a good description of the data with only five free parameters, which include the pole mass and decay width of the $\rho(770)$., Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, 1 table

The polarizabilities of light pseudoscalar mesons can be extracted from differential cross sections for Compton scattering near threshold. While this has been accomplished for charged pions employing Primakoff reactions, a corresponding measurement for kaons will be affected by the presence of the $K^*(892)$ resonance not too far from threshold. We propose a method to extend the energy range serviceable for this purpose by reconstructing the $K^*(892)$ contribution model-independently from its $K\pi$ intermediate state, using dispersion theory. We point out that, in contrast to the charged-pion analog, there is likely no strong hierarchy between sum and difference of electric and magnetic dipole polarizabilities; we discuss the sensitivity to disentangling both by improved experimental angular coverage., Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures

We study the effects of anomalous thresholds on the non-local form factors describing the hadronization of the light-quark contribution to $B\to(P,V)\gamma^*$ transitions. Starting from a comprehensive discussion of anomalous thresholds in the triangle loop function for different mass configurations, we detail how the dispersion relation for $\pi\pi$ intermediate states is affected by contour deformations mandated by the anomalous branch points. Phenomenological estimates of the size of the anomalous contributions to the form factors are provided with couplings determined from measured branching fractions and Dalitz plot distributions. Our key finding is that anomalous effects are suppressed on the $\rho(770)$ resonance, while off-peak the effects can become as large as $\mathcal{O}(10\%)$ of the full (light-quark-loop induced) non-local form factors. We comment on future generalizations towards higher intermediate states and the charm loop, outlining how the dispersive framework established in this work could help improve the non-local form factors needed as input for a robust interpretation of $B\to (P,V)\ell^+\ell^-$ decays., Comment: 55 pages, 24 figures; journal version

A reliable determination of the pole parameters and residues of nucleon resonances is notoriously challenging, given the required analytic continuation into the complex plane. We provide a comprehensive analysis of such resonance parameters accessible with Roy-Steiner equations for pion-nucleon scattering - a set of partial-wave dispersion relations that combines the constraints from analyticity, unitarity, and crossing symmetry - most prominently of the $\Delta(1232)$ resonance. Further, we study the Roper, $N(1440)$, resonance, which lies beyond the strict domain of validity, in comparison to Pad\'e approximants, comment on the role of subthreshold singularities in the $S$-wave, and determine the residues of the $f_0(500)$, $\rho(770)$, and $f_0(980)$ resonances in the $t$-channel process $\pi\pi\to\bar NN$. The latter allows us to test - for the first time fully model independently in terms of the respective residues - universality of the $\rho(770)$ couplings and the Goldberger-Treiman relation expected if the scalars behaved as dilatons, in both cases revealing large deviations from the narrow-resonance limit., Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure; journal version

We study the transition form factors (TFFs) of axial-vector mesons in the context of currently available experimental data, including new constraints from $e^+ e^- \to f_1(1285) \pi^+ \pi^-$ that imply stringent limits on the high-energy behavior and, for the first time, allow us to provide an unambiguous determination of the couplings corresponding to the two antisymmetric TFFs. We discuss how these constraints can be implemented in a vector-meson-dominance picture, and, in combination with contributions from the light-cone expansion, construct TFFs as input for the evaluation of axial-vector contributions to hadronic light-by-light scattering in the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon., Comment: 28 pages, 4 figures; journal version

We perform a theoretical analysis of the semileptonic decays $\eta^{(\prime)} \to \pi^0 \ell^+ \ell^-$ and $\eta' \to \eta \ell^+ \ell^-$, where $\ell = e, \mu$, via a charge-conjugation-conserving two-photon mechanism. The underlying form factors are modeled using vector-meson dominance, phenomenological input, and $\mathrm{U}(3)$ flavor symmetry. We consider both a monopole and a dipole model, the latter tailored such that the expected high-energy behavior is ensured. Furthermore, we benchmark the effect of $S$-wave rescattering contributions to the decays. We infer significant effects of the form factors neglected in the literature so far, still finding branching ratios of the various decays well below the current experimental upper limits., Comment: 21 pages, 9 figures, 13 tables; C++ interface for Collier and Passarino-Veltman decompositions as ancillary files; v2 as published in Phys. Rev. D

Isospin-breaking (IB) effects are required for an evaluation of hadronic vacuum polarization at subpercent precision. While the dominant contributions arise from the $e^+e^-\to\pi^+\pi^-$ channel, also IB in the subleading channels can become relevant for a detailed understanding, e.g., of the comparison to lattice QCD. Here, we provide such an analysis for $e^+e^-\to 3\pi$ by extending our dispersive description of the process, including estimates of final-state radiation (FSR) and $\rho$-$\omega$ mixing. In particular, we develop a formalism to capture the leading infrared-enhanced effects in terms of a correction factor $\eta_{3\pi}$ that generalizes the analog treatment of virtual and final-state photons in the $2\pi$ case. The global fit to the $e^+e^-\to 3\pi$ data base, subject to constraints from analyticity, unitarity, and the chiral anomaly, gives $a_\mu^{3\pi}|_{\leq 1.8\,\text{GeV}}=45.91(53)\times 10^{-10}$ for the total $3\pi$ contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, of which $a_\mu^\text{FSR}[3\pi]=0.51(1)\times 10^{-10}$ and $a_\mu^{\rho\text{-}\omega}[3\pi]=-2.68(70)\times 10^{-10}$ can be ascribed to IB. We argue that the resulting cancellation with $\rho$-$\omega$ mixing in $e^+e^-\to 2\pi$ can be understood from a narrow-resonance picture, and provide updated values for the vacuum-polarization-subtracted vector-meson parameters $M_\omega=782.70(3)\,\text{MeV}$, $M_\phi=1019.21(2)\,\text{MeV}$, $\Gamma_\omega=8.71(3)\,\text{MeV}$, and $\Gamma_\phi=4.27(1)\,\text{MeV}$., Comment: 29 pages, 4 figures, result for $\bar \eta_{3\pi}$ included as supplementary material; journal version

Puzzles in the determination of the hadronic-vacuum-polarization contribution currently impede a conclusive interpretation of the precision measurement of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon at the Fermilab experiment. One such puzzle concerns tensions between evaluations in lattice QCD and using $e^+e^-\to\text{hadrons}$ cross-section data. In lattice QCD, the dominant isospin-symmetric part and isospin-breaking (IB) corrections are calculated separately, with very different systematic effects. Identifying these two pieces in a data-driven approach provides an opportunity to compare them individually and trace back the source of the discrepancy. Here, we estimate the IB component of the lattice-QCD calculations from phenomenology, based on a comprehensive study of exclusive contributions that can be enhanced via infrared singularities, threshold effects, or hadronic resonances, including, for the first time, in the $e^+e^-\to3\pi$ channel. We observe sizable cancellations among different channels, with a sum that even suggests a slightly larger result for the QED correction than obtained in lattice QCD. We conclude that the tensions between lattice QCD and $e^+e^-$ data therefore cannot be explained by the IB contributions in the lattice-QCD calculations., Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures; journal version

Based on recent progress in the systematic analysis of $C$ and $CP$ violation in the light-meson sector, we calculate the $C$-odd transition amplitudes $\eta\to\pi^0\ell^+\ell^-$ and $\eta'\to\eta\ell^+\ell^-$. Focusing on long-distance contributions driven by the lowest-lying hadronic intermediate states, we work out the correlations between these beyond-the-Standard-Model signals and the Dalitz-plot asymmetries in $\eta \rightarrow \pi^0 \pi^+ \pi^-$ and $\eta' \rightarrow \eta \pi^+ \pi^- $, using dispersion theory., Comment: 35 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables; v2: section 5 revised, discussion extended, version published in JHEP

In recent years, a persistent tension between phenomenological and lattice QCD determinations of the pion-nucleon $\sigma$-term $\sigma_{\pi N}$ has developed. In particular, lattice-QCD calculations have matured to the point that isospin-violating effects need to be included. Here, we point out that the standard conventions adopted in both fields are incompatible, with the data-driven extraction based on the charged-pion mass, but lattice-QCD conventions relying on the mass of the neutral pion to define the isospin limit. The corresponding correction amounts to $\Delta \sigma_{\pi N}=3.1(5)\,\text{MeV}$ when evaluated in chiral perturbation theory with low-energy constants determined from a Roy-Steiner analysis of pion-nucleon scattering as well as $\sigma_{\pi N}$ itself. It reduces the tension with lattice QCD, and should be included in the comparison to phenomenological determinations. We also update the extraction from pionic atoms accounting for the latest measurement of the width of pionic hydrogen, $\sigma_{\pi N}=59.0(3.5)\,\text{MeV}$, and provide the corresponding set of scalar couplings of the nucleon., Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure; journal version

Decays into three particles are often described in terms of two-body resonances and a non-interacting spectator particle. To go beyond this simplest isobar model, crossed-channel rescattering effects need to be accounted for. We quantify the importance of these rescattering effects in three-pion systems for different decay masses and angular-momentum quantum numbers. We provide the amplitude decompositions for four decay processes with total $J^{PC} = 0^{--}$, $1^{--}$, $1^{-+}$, and $2^{++}$, all of which decay predominantly as $\rho\pi$ states. Two-pion rescattering is described in terms of an Omn\`es function, which incorporates the $\rho$ resonance. Inclusion of crossed-channel effects is achieved by solving the Khuri-Treiman integral equations. The unbinned log-likelihood estimator is used to determine the significance of the rescattering effects beyond two-body resonances; we compute the minimum number of events necessary to unambiguously find these in future Dalitz-plot analyses. Kinematic effects that enhance or dilute the rescattering are identified for the selected set of quantum numbers and various masses., Comment: 22 pages, 13 figures; v2: reconstruction theorem for 2++ channel corrected

The quest for new sources of the simultaneous violation of $C$ and $CP$ symmetry was popular in the 1960s and has since been mostly neglected for more than half a century. In this work we revisit fundamental quark-level operators that break $C$ and $CP$ up to and including mass dimension 8 for flavor-conserving transitions, relying on the complete operator sets of the so-called Standard Model effective field theory and the low-energy effective field theory. With the formalism of chiral perturbation theory, we match these quark operators to light-meson physics, derive $C$- and $CP$-odd Lagrangians for several processes in the $\eta$, $\eta'$, and pion sectors, and furthermore, as a proof of principle, give estimates for the respective observables in explicit dependence of the underlying high-energy scale for new physics., Comment: 76 pages, 1 figure, 12 tables; v2: discussion extended, references added, version published in JHEP

It has been pointed out recently that a certain set of dimension-6 scalar $P$- and $CP$-violating light-quark-muon operators may be tested in $\eta$ and $\eta'$ decays to various final states involving $\mu^+\mu^-$ pairs, at a level not yet excluded by constraints from electric dipole moments. We here work out the hadronic matrix elements required for the predictions for the decays $\eta, \eta' \to\pi^+\pi^-\mu^+\mu^-$. We relate a new asymmetry in the angular distribution between the dipion and dimuon decay planes to the corresponding Wilson coefficients. Despite the advantage of not requiring the measurement of muon polarization, the projected sensitivities are shown to be moderate due to a combination of small phase space and chiral suppression. Such sensitivity studies are most timely in view of upcoming or planned high-statistics $\eta^{(\prime)}$ experiments such as the JLab eta factory or REDTOP., Comment: 23 pages, 1 figure, 4 tables

By far the biggest contribution to hadronic vacuum polarization (HVP) arises from the two-pion channel. Its quark-mass dependence can be evaluated by combining dispersion relations with chiral perturbation theory, providing guidance on the functional form of chiral extrapolations, or even interpolations around the physical point. In addition, the approach allows one to estimate in a controlled way the isospin-breaking (IB) corrections that arise from the pion mass difference. As an application, we present an updated estimate of phenomenological expectations for electromagnetic and strong IB corrections to the HVP contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. In particular, we include IB effects in the $\bar K K$ channel, which are enhanced due to the proximity of the $\bar K K$ threshold and the $\phi$ resonance. The resulting estimates make it unlikely that the current tension between lattice-QCD and data-driven evaluations of the HVP contribution is caused by IB corrections., Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure; proceedings of the 39th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (LATTICE2022)

Using dispersive methods, we study the $B \to \gamma^*$ form factors underlying the decay $B^- \to \ell^- \bar{\nu}_\ell \ell^{\prime-} \ell^{\prime+}$. We discuss the ambiguity that arises from a separation of the full $B^- \to \ell^- \bar{\nu}_\ell \ell^{\prime-} \ell^{\prime+}$ amplitude into a hadronic tensor and a final-state-radiation piece, including effects from nonvanishing lepton masses. For the eligibility of a dispersive treatment, we propose a decomposition of the hadronic part that leads to four form factors that are free of kinematic singularities. By establishing a set of dispersion relations, we then relate the $B \to \gamma^*$ form factors to the well-known $B \to V$, $V=\omega(782),\rho(770)$, analogues. Using the combination of a series expansion in a conformal variable and a vector-meson-dominance ansatz to parameterize the $B \to \gamma^*$ form factors, we infer the values of the associated unknown parameters from the available input on $B \to V$. The phenomenological application of our formalism includes the determination of the branching ratios and forward-backward asymmetries of the process $B^- \to \ell^- \bar{\nu}_\ell \ell^{\prime-} \ell^{\prime+}$ for the two lightest leptons., Comment: 23 pages, 6 figures, 5 tables; v2: branching ratios with tau leptons included, version published in Phys. Rev. D

Isospin-breaking (IB) effects in the two-pion contribution to hadronic vacuum polarization (HVP) can be resonantly enhanced, if related to the interference of the $\rho(770)$ and $\omega(782)$ resonances. This particular IB contribution to the pion vector form factor and thus the line shape in $e^+e^-\to \pi^+\pi^-$ can be described by the residue at the $\omega$ pole - the $\rho$-$\omega$ mixing parameter $\epsilon_\omega$. Here, we argue that while in general analyticity requires this parameter to be real, the radiative channels $\pi^0\gamma$, $\pi\pi\gamma$, $\eta\gamma$ can induce a small phase, whose size we estimate as $\delta_\epsilon=3.5(1.0)^\circ$ by using a narrow-width approximation for the intermediate-state vector mesons. We then perform fits to the $e^+e^-\to \pi^+\pi^-$ data base and study the consequences for the two-pion HVP contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, its IB part due to $\rho$-$\omega$ mixing, and the mass of the $\omega$ resonance. We find that the global fit does prefer a non-vanishing value of $\delta_\epsilon=4.5(1.2)^\circ$, close to the narrow-resonance expectation, but with a large spread among the data sets, indicating systematic differences in the $\rho$-$\omega$ region., Comment: 18 pages; journal version

The electromagnetic form factors of charged and neutral kaons are strongly constrained by their low-energy singularities, in the isovector part from two-pion intermediate states and in the isoscalar contribution in terms of $\omega$ and $\phi$ residues. The former can be predicted using the respective $\pi\pi\to\bar K K$ partial-wave amplitude and the pion electromagnetic form factor, while the latter parameters need to be determined from electromagnetic reactions involving kaons. We present a global analysis of time- and spacelike data that implements all of these constraints. The results enable manifold applications: kaon charge radii, elastic contributions to the kaon electromagnetic self energies and corrections to Dashen's theorem, kaon boxes in hadronic light-by-light (HLbL) scattering, and the $\phi$ region in hadronic vacuum polarization (HVP). Our main results are: $\langle r^2\rangle_\text{c}=0.359(3)\,\text{fm}^2$, $\langle r^2\rangle_\text{n}=-0.060(4)\,\text{fm}^2$ for the charged and neutral radii, $\epsilon=0.63(40)$ for the elastic contribution to the violation of Dashen's theorem, $a_\mu^{K\text{-box}}=-0.48(1)\times 10^{-11}$ for the charged kaon box in HLbL scattering, and $a_\mu^\text{HVP}[K^+K^-, \leq 1.05\,\text{GeV}]=184.5(2.0)\times 10^{-11}$, $a_\mu^\text{HVP}[K_SK_L, \leq 1.05\,\text{GeV}]=118.3(1.5)\times 10^{-11}$ for the HVP integrals around the $\phi$ resonance. The global fit to $\bar K K$ gives $\bar M_\phi=1019.479(5)\,\text{MeV}$, $\bar \Gamma_\phi=4.207(8)\,\text{MeV}$ for the $\phi$ resonance parameters including vacuum-polarization effects., Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures; v2 as published in EPJC

We present a dispersive representation of the $\eta'$ transition form factor that allows one to account, in a consistent way, for the effects of $\rho$-$\omega$ mixing in both the isoscalar and the isovector contributions. Using this formalism, we analyze recent data on $\eta'\to \pi^+\pi^-\gamma$ to constrain the isovector part of the form factor, individually and in combination with data for the pion vector form factor. As a first application, we use our results, in combination with the most recent input for the isoscalar part of the form factor, to predict the corresponding spectrum of $\eta'\to\ell^+\ell^-\gamma$, in particular we find the slope parameter $b_{\eta'}=1.431(23)\, \text{GeV}^{-2}$. With forthcoming data on the latter process, our results establish the necessary framework to improve the evaluation of the $\eta'$-pole contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon using experimental input from both $\eta'$ decay channels., Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures, tension in $\epsilon_{\rho\omega}$ resolved by including higher orders in $e^2$

We construct hadronic amplitudes for the three-body decays $\eta^{(\prime)}\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$ and $\eta'\to\eta\pi^+\pi^-$ in a non-perturbative fashion, allowing for $C$- and $CP$-violating asymmetries in the $\pi^+\pi^-$ distributions. These amplitudes are consistent with the constraints of analyticity and unitarity. We find that the currently most accurate Dalitz-plot distributions taken by the KLOE-2 and BESIII collaborations confine the patterns of these asymmetries to a relative per mille level. Our dispersive representation allows us to extract the individual coupling strengths of the $C$- and $CP$-violating contributions arising from effective isoscalar and isotensor operators in $\eta^{(\prime)}\to\pi^+\pi^-\pi^0$ and an effective isovector operator in $\eta'\to\eta\pi^+\pi^-$, while the strongly different sensitivities to these operators can be understood from chiral power counting arguments., Comment: 43 pages, 9 figures, 5 tables; v2: discussion extended, version published in JHEP; v3: incorporates an erratum that fixes the phases of the C-violating norms by hermiticity and time reversal

We propose a formalism to extract the $\gamma\pi\to\pi\pi$ chiral anomaly $F_{3\pi}$ from calculations in lattice QCD performed at larger-than-physical pion masses. To this end, we start from a dispersive representation of the $\gamma^{(*)}\pi\to\pi\pi$ amplitude, whose main quark-mass dependence arises from the $\pi\pi$ scattering phase shift and can be derived from chiral perturbation theory via the inverse-amplitude method. With parameters constrained by lattice calculations of the $P$-wave phase shift, we use this combination of dispersion relations and effective field theory to extrapolate two recent $\gamma^{(*)}\pi\to\pi\pi$ calculations in lattice QCD to the physical point. Our formalism allows us to extract the radiative coupling of the $\rho(770)$ meson and, for the first time, the chiral anomaly $F_{3\pi}=38(16)(11)\,\text{GeV}^{-3}$. The result is consistent with the chiral prediction albeit within large uncertainties, which will improve in accordance with progress in future lattice-QCD computations., Comment: 29 pages, 5 figures; version published in JHEP: high-energy continuation of phase explained in more detail

We study the pion-mass dependence of the two-pion channel in the hadronic-vacuum-polarization (HVP) contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon $a_\mu^\text{HVP}$, by using an Omn\`es representation for the pion vector form factor with the phase shift derived from the inverse-amplitude method (IAM). Our results constrain the dominant isospin-$1$ part of the isospin-symmetric light-quark contribution, and should thus allow one to better control the chiral extrapolation of $a_\mu^\text{HVP}$, required for lattice-QCD calculations performed at larger-than-physical pion masses. In particular, the comparison of the one- and two-loop IAM allows us to estimate the associated systematic uncertainties and show that these are under good control., Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures; journal version; Mathematica implementation included as supplemental material

We present an improved Standard-Model (SM) prediction for the dilepton decay of the neutral pion. The loop amplitude is determined by the pion transition form factor for $\pi^0\to\gamma^*\gamma^*$, for which we employ a dispersive representation that incorporates both space-like and time-like data as well as short-distance constraints. The resulting SM branching fraction, $\text{BR}[\pi^0\to e^+e^-]=6.25(3)\times 10^{-8}$ , sharpens constraints on physics beyond the SM, including pseudoscalar and axial-vector mediators., Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures; journal version

Estimating the contribution from axial-vector intermediate states to hadronic light-by-light scattering requires input on their transition form factors (TFFs). Due to the Landau-Yang theorem, any experiment sensitive to these TFFs needs to involve at least one virtual photon, which complicates their measurement. Phenomenologically, the situation is best for the $f_1(1285)$ resonance, for which information is available from $e^+e^-\to e^+e^- f_1$, $f_1\to 4\pi$, $f_1\to \rho \gamma$, $f_1\to \phi \gamma$, and $f_1\to e^+e^-$. We provide a comprehensive analysis of the $f_1$ TFFs in the framework of vector meson dominance, including short-distance constraints, to determine to which extent the three independent TFFs can be constrained from the available experimental input, a prerequisite for improved calculations of the axial-vector contribution to hadronic light-by-light scattering. In particular, we focus on the process $f_1\to e^+e^-$, evidence for which has been reported recently by SND for the first time, and discuss the impact that future improved measurements will have on the determination of the $f_1$ TFFs., Comment: 60 pages, 14 figures; v2: Appendix D on alternative $f_1 \to 4\pi$ mechanism added, references updated, version published in JHEP

Pion-kaon ($\pi K$) pairs occur frequently as final states in heavy-particle decays. A consistent treatment of $\pi K$ scattering and production amplitudes over a wide energy range is therefore mandatory for multiple applications: in Standard Model tests; to describe crossed channels in the quest for exotic hadronic states; and for an improved spectroscopy of excited kaon resonances. In the elastic region, the phase shifts of $\pi K$ scattering in a given partial wave are related to the phases of the respective $\pi K$ form factors by Watson's theorem. Going beyond that, we here construct a representation of the scalar $\pi K$ form factor that includes inelastic effects via resonance exchange, while fulfilling all constraints from $\pi K$ scattering and maintaining the correct analytic structure. As a first application, we consider the decay ${\tau\to K_S\pi\nu_\tau}$, in particular, we study to which extent the $S$-wave $K_0^*(1430)$ and the $P$-wave $K^*(1410)$ resonances can be differentiated and provide an improved estimate of the $CP$ asymmetry produced by a tensor operator. Finally, we extract the pole parameters of the $K_0^*(1430)$ and $K_0^*(1950)$ resonances via Pad\'e approximants, $\sqrt{s_{K_0^*(1430)}}=[1408(48)-i\, 180(48)]$ MeV and $\sqrt{s_{K_0^*(1950)}}=[1863(12)-i\,136(20)]$ MeV, as well as the pole residues. A generalization of the method also allows us to formally define a branching fraction for ${\tau\to K_0^*(1430) \nu_\tau}$ in terms of the corresponding residue, leading to the upper limit ${\text{BR}(\tau\to K_0^*(1430) \nu_\tau)<1.6 \times 10^{-4}}$., Comment: 18 pages, 12 figures; journal version

Precision studies at electron-positron colliders with center-of-mass energies in the charm-tau region and below have strongly contributed to our understanding of light-meson interactions at low energies. We focus on the processes involving two or three light mesons with invariant masses below nucleon-antinucleon threshold. A prominent role is given to the interactions of the nine lightest pseudoscalar mesons (pions, kaons, $\eta$, and $\eta'$) and the two narrow neutral isoscalar vector mesons $\omega$ and $\phi$. Experimental methods used to produce the mesons are reviewed as well as theory tools to extract properties of the meson-meson interactions. Examples of recent results from the DA$\Phi$NE, BEPCII, and VEPP-2000 colliders are presented. In the outlook we briefly discuss prospects for further studies at future super-charm-tau factories., Comment: 132 pages, 74 figures (v2: typos corrected, references updated, corresponds to the published version)

We provide a dispersion-theoretical representation of the reaction amplitudes $\gamma K\to K \pi$ in all charge channels, based on modern pion-kaon $P$-wave phase shift input. Crossed-channel singularities are fixed from phenomenology as far as possible. We demonstrate how the subtraction constants can be matched to a low-energy theorem and radiative couplings of the $K^*(892)$ resonances, thereby providing a model-independent framework for future analyses of high-precision kaon Primakoff data., Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures; version published in EPJC

The lightest charmed scalar meson is known as the $D_0^*(2300)$, which is one of the earliest new hadron resonances observed at modern $B$ factories. We show here that the parameters assigned to the lightest scalar $D$-meson are in conflict with the precise LHCb data of the decay $B^-\to D^+ \pi^- \pi^-$. On the contrary, these data can be well described by an unitarized chiral amplitude containing a much lighter charmed scalar meson, the $D_0^*(2100)$. We also extract the low-energy $S$-wave $D\pi$ phase of the decay $B^-\to D^+ \pi^- \pi^-$ from the data in a model-independent way, and show that its difference from the $D\pi$ scattering phase shift can be traced back to an intermediate $\rho^-$ exchange. Our work highlights that an analysis of data consistent with chiral symmetry, unitarity, and analyticity is mandatory in order to extract the properties of the ground-state scalar mesons in the singly heavy sector correctly, in analogy to the light scalar mesons $f_0(500)$ and $K_0^*(700)$., Comment: Note: Title slightly changed, version to appear in Phys. Rev. Lett.; 9 pages, 5 figures

We present a comprehensive analysis of form factors for two light pseudoscalar mesons induced by scalar, vector, and tensor quark operators. The theoretical framework is based on a combination of unitarized chiral perturbation theory and dispersion relations. The low-energy constants in chiral perturbation theory are fixed by a global fit to the available data of the two-meson scattering phase shifts. Each form factor derived from unitarized chiral perturbation theory is improved by iteratively applying a dispersion relation. This study updates the existing results in the literature and explores those that have not been systematically studied previously, in particular the two-meson tensor form factors within unitarized chiral perturbation theory. We also discuss the applications of these form factors as mandatory inputs for low-energy phenomena, such as the semi-leptonic decays $B_s\to \pi^+\pi^-\ell^+\ell^-$ and the $\tau$ lepton decay $\tau\rightarrow\pi^{-}\pi^{0}\nu_{\tau}$, in searches for physics beyond the Standard Model., Comment: 53 pages, 21 figures, 3 tables

Analyzing the pion-mass dependence of $\pi\pi$ scattering phase shifts beyond the low-energy region requires the unitarization of the amplitudes from chiral perturbation theory. In the two-flavor theory, unitarization via the inverse-amplitude method (IAM) can be justified from dispersion relations, which is therefore expected to provide reliable predictions for the pion-mass dependence of results from lattice QCD calculations. In this work, we provide compact analytic expression for the two-loop partial-wave amplitudes for $J=0,1,2$ required for the IAM at subleading order. To analyze the pion-mass dependence of recent lattice QCD results for the $P$-wave, we develop a fit strategy that for the first time allows us to perform stable two-loop IAM fits and assess the chiral convergence of the IAM approach. While the comparison of subsequent orders suggests a breakdown scale not much below the $\rho$ mass, a detailed understanding of the systematic uncertainties of lattice QCD data is critical to obtain acceptable fits, especially at larger pion masses., Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures; version published in PRL: Appendix E.1 and Bayesian information criterion added; Mathematica notebook with two-loop expressions included as supplementary material

We study the reaction $e^+e^-\to\pi^0\gamma$ based on a dispersive representation of the underlying $\pi^0\to\gamma\gamma^*$ transition form factor. As a first application, we evaluate the contribution of the $\pi^0\gamma$ channel to the hadronic-vacuum-polarization correction to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. We find $a_\mu^{\pi^0\gamma}\big|_{\leq 1.35\,\text{GeV}}=43.8(6)\times 10^{-11}$, in line with evaluations from the direct integration of the data. Second, our fit determines the resonance parameters of $\omega$ and $\phi$. We observe good agreement with the $e^+e^-\to3\pi$ channel, explaining a previous tension in the $\omega$ mass between $\pi^0\gamma$ and $3\pi$ by an unphysical phase in the fit function. Combining both channels we find $\bar M_\omega=782.736(24)\,\text{MeV}$ and $\bar M_\phi=1019.457(20)\,\text{MeV}$ for the masses including vacuum-polarization corrections. The $\phi$ mass agrees perfectly with the PDG average, which is dominated by determinations from the $\bar K K$ channel, demonstrating consistency with $3\pi$ and $\pi^0\gamma$. For the $\omega$ mass, our result is consistent but more precise, exacerbating tensions with the $\omega$ mass extracted via isospin-breaking effects from the $2\pi$ channel., Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures; version published in EPJC

Decays of the neutral and long-lived $\eta$ and $\eta'$ mesons provide a unique, flavor-conserving laboratory to test low-energy Quantum Chromodynamics and search for new physics beyond the Standard Model. They have drawn world-wide attention in recent years and have inspired broad experimental programs in different high-intensity-frontier centers. New experimental data will offer critical inputs to precisely determine the light quark mass ratios, $\eta$-$\eta'$ mixing parameters, and hadronic contributions to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. At the same time, it will provide a sensitive probe to test potential new physics. This includes searches for hidden photons, light Higgs scalars, and axion-like particles that are complementary to worldwide efforts to detect new light particles below the GeV mass scale, as well as tests of discrete symmetry violation. In this review, we give an update on theoretical developments, discuss the experimental opportunities, and identify future research needed in this field., Comment: 124 pages, 43 figures, 12 tables; v2: sections 6.10 and 10.4 added, references updated, version published in Phys. Rept

The isovector and isoscalar $ND$ $s$-wave scattering lengths are extracted by fitting to the LHCb data of the $pD^0$ invariant-mass distribution in the decay $\Lambda_b\rightarrow\pi^-pD^0$, making use of the cusp effect at the $nD^+$ threshold. The analysis is based on a coupled-channel nonrelativistic effective field theory. We find that the real part of the isovector $ND$ scattering length is unnaturally large due to the existence of a near-threshold state with a mass around 2.8 GeV. The state is consistent with the $\Sigma_c(2800)^+$ resonance observed at Belle. Our results suggest that it couples strongly to the $ND$ channel in an $s$-wave, and that its quantum numbers are $J^P=1/2^-$. The strong cusp behavior at the $nD^+$ threshold can be verified using updated LHCb data., Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures; version to be published in Phys. Lett. B

We study the processes $e^+ e^- \to Y(4260) \to J/\psi \pi\pi(K\bar{K})$. The strong final-state interactions, especially the coupled-channel ($\pi\pi$ and $K\bar{K}$) final-state interaction in the $S$-wave are taken into account in a model-independent way using dispersion theory. It is found that the light-quark SU(3) octet state plays a significant role in these transitions, implying that the $Y(4260)$ contains a large light-quark component. Our findings suggest that the $Y(4260)$ is neither a hybrid nor a conventional charmonium state. Furthermore, through an analysis of the ratio of the light-quark SU(3) octet and singlet components, we show that the $Y(4260)$ does not behave like a pure $\bar D D_1$ hadronic molecule as well., Comment: 5 pages, proceedings for the 18th International Conference on Hadron Spectroscopy and Structure (Hadron 2019)

We address the contribution of the $3\pi$ channel to hadronic vacuum polarization (HVP) using a dispersive representation of the $e^+e^-\to 3\pi$ amplitude. This channel gives the second-largest individual contribution to the total HVP integral in the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon $(g-2)_\mu$, both to its absolute value and uncertainty. It is largely dominated by the narrow resonances $\omega$ and $\phi$, but not to the extent that the off-peak regions were negligible, so that at the level of accuracy relevant for $(g-2)_\mu$ an analysis of the available data as model independent as possible becomes critical. Here, we provide such an analysis based on a global fit function using analyticity and unitarity of the underlying $\gamma^*\to3\pi$ amplitude and its normalization from a chiral low-energy theorem, which, in particular, allows us to check the internal consistency of the various $e^+e^-\to 3\pi$ data sets. Overall, we obtain $a_\mu^{3\pi}|_{\leq 1.8\,\text{GeV}}=46.2(6)(6)\times 10^{-10}$ as our best estimate for the total $3\pi$ contribution consistent with all (low-energy) constraints from QCD. In combination with a recent dispersive analysis imposing the same constraints on the $2\pi$ channel below $1\,\text{GeV}$, this covers nearly $80\%$ of the total HVP contribution, leading to $a_\mu^\text{HVP}=692.3(3.3)\times 10^{-10}$ when the remainder is taken from the literature, and thus reaffirming the $(g-2)_\mu$ anomaly at the level of at least $3.4\sigma$. As side products, we find for the vacuum-polarization-subtracted masses $M_\omega=782.63(3)(1)\,\text{MeV}$ and $M_\phi=1019.20(2)(1)\,\text{MeV}$, confirming the tension to the $\omega$ mass as extracted from the $2\pi$ channel., Comment: 24 pages, 1 figure; Appendix B added; version published in JHEP

The $Y(4260)$ has been one of the most puzzling pieces among the so-called $XYZ$ states. In this paper, we try to gain insights into the structure of the $Y(4260)$ from the light-quark perspective. We study the dipion invariant mass spectrum of the $e^+ e^- \to Y(4260) \to J/\psi \pi^+\pi^-$ process and the ratio of the cross sections ${\sigma(e^+e^- \to J/\psi K^+ K^-)}/{\sigma(e^+e^- \to J/\psi \pi^+\pi^-)}$. In particular, we consider the effects of different light-quark SU(3) eigenstates inside the $Y(4260)$. The strong pion-pion final-state interactions as well as the $K\bar{K}$ coupled channel in the $S$-wave are taken into account in a model-independent way using dispersion theory. We find that the SU(3) octet state plays a significant role in these transitions, implying that the $Y(4260)$ contains a large light-quark component. Our findings suggest that the $Y(4260)$ is neither a hybrid nor a conventional charmonium state, and they are consistent with the $Y(4260)$ having a sizeable $\bar D D_1$ component which, however, is not completely dominant., Comment: 22 pages, 5 figures

Usually the simulation of scattering processes in lattice QCD is carried out at unphysically high values of the quark masses. Hence, a method to extrapolate data obtained in lattice calculations to physical masses is needed to allow for comparison between theory and experiment. To obtain a sound extrapolation, dispersion relations and chiral perturbation theory can be invoked. While a simple combined approach known as the inverse amplitude method allows for a successful extrapolation of $\pi\pi\to\pi\pi$ data, a more complicated framework is needed for inelastic processes such as $\gamma^{*}\pi\to\pi\pi$. By employing a well-established dispersive description, the extrapolation can be performed for $\gamma^{*}\pi\to\pi\pi$ both for on-shell as well as virtual photons, the decay $\gamma^*\rightarrow\pi\pi\pi$ is also within the range of applicability. This particular process is interesting due to both its contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon and its connection to the axial anomaly., Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, proceedings for The 9th International Workshop on Chiral Dynamics, Durham, North Carolina, USA, September 17-21, 2018

If physics beyond the Standard Model enters well above the electroweak scale, its low-energy effects are described by Standard Model Effective Field Theory. Already at dimension six many operators involve the antisymmetric quark tensor $\bar q \sigma^{\mu\nu} q$, whose matrix elements are difficult to constrain from experiment, Ward identities, or low-energy theorems, in contrast to the corresponding vector and axial-vector or even scalar and pseudoscalar currents. However, with normalizations determined from lattice QCD, analyticity and unitarity often allow one to predict the momentum dependence in a large kinematic range. Starting from recent results in the meson sector, we extend this method to the nucleon case and, in combination with pole dominance, provide a comprehensive assessment of the current status of the nucleon form factors of the quark tensor., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures; strangeness input updated

We derive a new parametrization for the scalar pion form factors that allows us to analyze data over a large energy range via the inclusion of resonances, and at the same time to ensure consistency with the high-accuracy dispersive representations available at low energies. As an application the formalism is used to extract resonance properties of excited scalar mesons from data for $\bar B^0_s\to J/\psi \pi\pi$. In particular we find for the pole positions of $f_0(1500)$ and $f_0(2020)$ $1465\pm 18 - i (50\pm 9)\,\text{MeV}$ and $1910\pm 50 - i(199\pm 40)\,\text{MeV}$, respectively. In addition, from their residues we calculate the respective branching ratios into $\pi\pi$ to be $(58\pm31)\%$ and $(1.3\pm1.8)\%$., Comment: 18 pages, 11 figures; v2: discussion+figure on pi pi --> K Kbar added, version published in EPJC

We study the quark-mass dependence of $\omega\to3\pi$ decays, based on a dispersion-theoretical framework. We rely on the quark-mass-dependent scattering phase shift for the pion-pion $P$-wave extracted from unitarized chiral perturbation theory. The dispersive representation then takes into account the final-state rescattering among all three pions. The described formalism may be used as an extrapolation tool for lattice QCD calculations of three-pion decays, for which $\omega\to3\pi$ can serve as a paradigm case., Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures; v2: added two references, version published in EPJC

The pion-pole contribution to hadronic light-by-light scattering in the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon $(g-2)_\mu$ is fully determined by the doubly-virtual pion transition form factor. Although this crucial input quantity is, in principle, directly accessible in experiment, a complete measurement covering all kinematic regions relevant for $(g-2)_\mu$ is not realistic in the foreseeable future. Here, we report in detail on a reconstruction from available data, both space- and time-like, using a dispersive representation that accounts for all the low-lying singularities, reproduces the correct high- and low-energy limits, and proves convenient for the evaluation of the $(g-2)_\mu$ loop integral. We concentrate on the systematics of the fit to $e^+e^-\to 3\pi$ data, which are key in constraining the isoscalar dependence, as well as the matching to the asymptotic limits. In particular, we provide a detailed account of the pion transition form factor at low energies in the time- and space-like region, including the error estimates underlying our final result for the pion-pole contribution, $a_\mu^{\pi^0\text{-pole}}=62.6^{+3.0}_{-2.5}\times 10^{-11}$, and demonstrate how forthcoming singly-virtual measurements will further reduce its uncertainty., Comment: 55 pages, 16 figures, result for the space-like pion transition form factor attached as ancillary material; journal version

The $\pi^0$ pole constitutes the lowest-lying singularity of the hadronic light-by-light (HLbL) tensor, and thus provides the leading contribution in a dispersive approach to HLbL scattering in the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon $(g-2)_\mu$. It is unambiguously defined in terms of the doubly-virtual pion transition form factor, which in principle can be accessed in its entirety by experiment. We demonstrate that, in the absence of a direct measurement, the full space-like doubly-virtual form factor can be reconstructed very accurately based on existing data for $e^+e^-\to 3\pi$, $e^+e^-\to e^+e^-\pi^0$, and the $\pi^0\to\gamma\gamma$ decay width. We derive a representation that incorporates all the low-lying singularities of the form factor, matches correctly onto the asymptotic behavior expected from perturbative QCD, and is suitable for the evaluation of the $(g-2)_\mu$ loop integral. The resulting value, $a_\mu^{\pi^0\text{-pole}}=62.6^{+3.0}_{-2.5}\times 10^{-11}$, for the first time, represents a complete data-driven determination of the pion-pole contribution with fully controlled uncertainty estimates. In particular, we show that already improved singly-virtual measurements alone would allow one to further reduce the uncertainty in $a_\mu^{\pi^0\text{-pole}}$., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures; journal version