Search

We calculate the decay rates for $\eta_c \to \gamma \gamma$, $J/\psi \to \gamma \eta_c$ and $J/\psi \to \eta_c e^+e^-$ in lattice QCD with $u$, $d$, $s$ and $c$ quarks in the sea for the first time. We improve significantly on previous theory calculations to achieve accuracies of 1--2\%, giving lattice QCD results that are now more accurate than the experimental values. In particular our results transform the theoretical picture for $\eta_c\to\gamma\gamma$ decays. We use gluon field configurations generated by the MILC collaboration that include $n_f=2+1+1$ flavours of Highly Improved Staggered (HISQ) sea quarks at four lattice spacing values from 0.15 fm to 0.06 fm and with sea u/d masses down to their physical value. We also implement the valence $c$ quarks using the HISQ action. We find ${\Gamma (\eta_c \to \gamma \gamma) = 6.788(45)_{\text{fit}}(41)_{\text{syst}} \: \mathrm{keV}}$, in good agreement with experimental results using $\gamma\gamma \to \eta_c \to K\overline{K}\pi$ but in 4$\sigma$ tension with the Particle Data Group global fit result; we suggest this fit is revisited. We also calculate $\Gamma (J/\psi \to \gamma \eta_c) = 2.219(17)_{\text{fit}}(18)_{\text{syst}}(24)_{\text{expt}}(4)_{\text{QED}} \; \mathrm{keV}$, in good agreement with results from CLEO, and predict the Dalitz decay rate $\Gamma (J/\psi \to \eta_c e^+ e^-) = 0.01349(21)_{\text{latt}}(13)_{\text{QED}} \; \mathrm{keV}$. We use our results to calibrate other theoretical approaches and to test simple relationships between the form factors and $J/\psi$ decay constant expected in the nonrelativistic limit., Comment: 26 pages, 19 figures. Updated Figure 7, added 3 references and made further small changes to clarify the presentation. Further small changes to text, version accepted by Physical Review D

We present a lattice-QCD calculation of the light-quark connected contribution to window observables associated with the leading-order hadronic vacuum polarization contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, $a_\mu^{\mathrm{HVP,LO}}$. We employ the MILC Collaboration's isospin-symmetric QCD gauge-field ensembles, which contain four flavors of dynamical highly-improved-staggered quarks with four lattice spacings between $a\approx 0.06$-$0.15$~fm and close-to-physical quark masses. We consider several effective-field-theory-based schemes for finite-volume and other lattice corrections and combine the results via Bayesian model averaging to obtain robust estimates of the associated systematic uncertainties. After unblinding, our final results for the intermediate and ``W2'' windows are $a^{ll,{\mathrm W}}_{\mu}(\mathrm{conn.})=206.6(1.0) \times 10^{-10}$ and $a^{ll,\mathrm {W2}}_{\mu}(\mathrm{conn.}) = 100.7(3.2)\times 10^{-10}$, respectively., Comment: v3: Updated to reflect published version, which includes updates to the text in Sections II.B, III.C,D,E. Numerical results unchanged

An accurate determination of the leading-order hadronic vacuum polarisation (HVP) contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon is critical to understanding the size and significance of any discrepancy between the Standard Model prediction and experimental results being obtained by the Muon g-2 experiment at Fermilab. The Standard Model prediction is currently based on a data-driven approach to the HVP using experimental results for $\sigma(e^+e^-\rightarrow\,\mathrm{hadrons})$. Lattice QCD aims to provide a result with similar uncertainty from calculated vector-vector correlation functions, but the growth of statistical and systematic errors in the $u/d$ quark correlation functions at large Euclidean time has made this difficult to achieve. We show that restricting the lattice contributions to a one-sided window $0

The precision of lattice QCD calculations has been steadily improving for some time and is now approaching, or has surpassed, the 1% level for multiple quantities. At this level QED effects, i.e. the fact that quarks carry electric as well as color charge, come into play. In this report we will summarise results from the first lattice QCD+QED computations of the properties of ground-state charmonium and bottomonium mesons by the HPQCD Collaboration., Comment: Contribution to the proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Hadron Spectroscopy and Structure (HADRON 2021). Accepted for publication in Suplemento de la Revista Mexicana de F\'isica

As tests of QCD in the bottomonium system, we give the most accurate results to date for the ground-state hyperfine splitting and the $\Upsilon$ leptonic width from full lattice QCD. These quantities are both accurately known from experiment, so can provide a good test of $b$ physics, but previous lattice results have been rather imprecise. We also test the impact on these quantities of the $b$ quark's electric charge. Our results are: $M_{\Upsilon}-M_{\eta_b} = $ 57.5(2.3)(1.0) MeV (where the second uncertainty comes from neglect of quark-line disconnected correlation functions) and decay constants, $f_{\eta_b} =$ 724(12) MeV and $f_{\Upsilon} =$ 677.2(9.7) MeV, giving $\Gamma(\Upsilon \rightarrow e^+e^-) =$ 1.292(37)(3) keV. We also give a new determination of the ratio of the masses for $b$ and $c$ quarks that is completely nonperturbative in lattice QCD and includes the calculation of QED effects for the first time. This gives a result for the $b$ quark mass of $\overline{m}_b(\overline{m}_b,n_f=5) =$ 4.202(21) GeV., Comment: 6 pages, The 38th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory, LATTICE2021 26th-30th July, 2021 Zoom/Gather@Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Semileptonic $D \to{}K \ell \nu$ decays provide one angle of attack to get at the CKM matrix element $V_{cs}$, complementary to the study of leptonic $D_s$ decays. Here, HPQCD present the results of a recently published, improved determination of $V_{cs}$. We discuss a new, precise determination of $D\to K$ scalar and vector form factors from a lattice calculation on eight different $N_f=2+1+1$ MILC gluon field ensembles using the HISQ action, including three with physical light quark masses. When combined with experimental results, we are able to extract $|V_{cs}|=0.9663(80)$ to a sub percent level of precision for the first time. This is achieved using three different methods, which each combine our form factors with different sets of experimental results in different ways, with the results in very good agreement. Our primary method is to use $q^2$-binned data for the differential decay rate, but we also calculate $V_{cs}$ from the total branching fraction and from the value $|V_{cs}|f_+(0)$, which is also quoted by some experiments., Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures. Proceedings of the 38th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory - LATTICE2021

We provide a 0.8\%-accurate determination of $V_{cs}$ from combining experimental results for the differential rate of $D \rightarrow K$ semileptonic decays with precise form factors that we determine from lattice QCD. This is the first time that $V_{cs}$ has been determined with an accuracy that allows its difference from 1 to be seen. Our lattice QCD calculation uses the Highly Improved Staggered Quark (HISQ) action for all valence quarks on gluon field configurations generated by the MILC collaboration that include the effect of $u$, $d$, $s$ and $c$ HISQ quarks in the sea. We use eight gluon field ensembles with five values of the lattice spacing ranging from 0.15 fm to 0.045 fm and include results with physical $u/d$ quarks for the first time. Our calculated form factors cover the full $q^2$ range of the physical decay process and enable a Standard Model test of the shape of the differential decay rate as well as the determination of $V_{cs}$ from a correlated weighted average over $q^2$ bins. We obtain $|V_{cs}|= 0.9663(53)_{\text{latt}}(39)_{\text{exp}}(19)_{\eta_{EW}}(40)_{\text{EM}}$, where the uncertainties come from lattice QCD, experiment, short-distance electroweak and electromagnetic corrections, respectively. This last uncertainty, neglected for $D \rightarrow K \ell \nu$ hitherto, now needs attention if the uncertainty on $V_{cs}$ is to be reduced further. We also determine $V_{cs}$ values in good agreement using the measured total branching fraction and the rates extrapolated to $q^2=0$. Our form factors enable tests of lepton flavour universality violation. We find the ratio of branching fractions for $D^0 \rightarrow K^-$ with $\mu$ and $e$ in the final state to be $R_{\mu/e}=0.9779(2)_{\text{latt}}(50)_{\mathrm{EM}}$ in the Standard Model, with the uncertainty dominated by that from electromagnetic corrections., Comment: 27 pages, 28 figures. Small changes to text to improve readability. Updated to include the BES average for the D to K branching fraction from 2104.08081

We extend HPQCD's earlier $n_f=4$ lattice-QCD analysis of the ratio of $\overline{\mathrm{MSB}}$ masses of the $b$ and $c$ quark to include results from finer lattices (down to 0.03fm) and a new calculation of QED contributions to the mass ratio. We find that $\overline{m}_b(\mu)/\overline{m}_c(\mu)=4.586(12)$ at renormalization scale $\mu=3$\,GeV. This result is nonperturbative. Combining it with HPQCD's recent lattice QCD$+$QED determination of $\overline{m}_c(3\mathrm{GeV})$ gives a new value for the $b$-quark mass: $\overline{m}_b(3\mathrm{GeV}) = 4.513(26)$GeV. The $b$-mass corresponds to $\overline{m}_b(\overline{m}_b, n_f=5) = 4.202(21)$GeV. These results are the first based on simulations that include QED., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures

We calculate the mass difference between the $\Upsilon$ and $\eta_b$ and the $\Upsilon$ leptonic width from lattice QCD using the Highly Improved Staggered Quark formalism for the $b$ quark and including $u$, $d$, $s$ and $c$ quarks in the sea. We have results for lattices with lattice spacing as low as 0.03 fm and multiple heavy quark masses, enabling us to map out the heavy quark mass dependence and determine values at the $b$ quark mass. Our results are: $M_{\Upsilon} -M_{\eta_b} = 57.5(2.3)(1.0) \,\mathrm{MeV}$ (where the second uncertainty comes from neglect of quark-line disconnected correlation functions) and decay constants, $f_{\eta_b}=724(12)$ MeV and $f_{\Upsilon} =677.2(9.7)$ MeV, giving $\Gamma(\Upsilon \rightarrow e^+e^-) = 1.292(37)(3) \,\mathrm{keV}$. The hyperfine splitting and leptonic width are both in good agreement with experiment, and provide the most accurate lattice QCD results to date for these quantities by some margin. At the same time results for the time moments of the vector-vector correlation function can be compared to values for the $b$ quark contribution to $\sigma(e^+e^- \rightarrow \mathrm{hadrons})$ determined from experiment. Moments 4--10 provide a 2\% test of QCD and yield a $b$ quark contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon of 0.300(15)$\times 10^{-10}$. Our results, covering a range of heavy quark masses, may also be useful to constrain QCD-like composite theories for beyond the Standard Model physics., Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures Version accepted by PRD: Appendix with tables of fit parameters that allow the dependence on heavy quark mass of the hyperfine splitting and decay constants to be reconstructed added

This article describes how the author successfully adapted techniques drawn from the literature on active learning for use in a graduate-level course on quantum field theory. Students completed readings and online questions ahead of each class and spent class time working through problems that required them to practice the decisions and skills typical of a theoretical physicist. The instructor monitored these activities and regularly provided timely feedback to guide their thinking. Instructor-student interactions and student enthusiasm were similar to that encountered in one-on-one discussions with advanced graduate students. Course coverage was not compromised. The teaching techniques described here are well suited to other advanced courses.

Hadron masses are subject to few MeV corrections arising from QED interactions, almost entirely arising from the electric charge of the valence quarks. The QED effects include both self-energy contributions and interactions between the valence quarks/anti-quarks. By combining results from different signs of the valence quark electric charge we are able to isolate the interaction term which is dominated by the Coulomb piece, $\langle \alpha_{\mathrm{QED}}e_{q_1}e_{\overline{q}_2}/r \rangle$, in the nonrelativistic limit. We study this for $D_s$, $\eta_c$ and $J/\psi$ mesons, working in lattice QCD plus quenched QED. We use gluon field configurations that include up, down, strange and charm quarks in the sea at multiple values of the lattice spacing. Our results, including also values for mesons with quarks heavier than charm, can be used to improve phenomenological models for the QED contributions. The QED interaction term carries information about meson structure; we derive effective sizes $\langle 1/r_{\mathrm{eff}} \rangle^{-1}$ for $\eta_c$, $J/\psi$ and $D_s$ of 0.206(8) fm, 0.321(14) fm and 0.307(31) fm respectively., Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures

We describe a new algorithm, VEGAS+, for adaptive multidimensional Monte Carlo integration. The new algorithm adds a second adaptive strategy, adaptive stratified sampling, to the adaptive importance sampling that is the basis for its widely used predecessor VEGAS. Both VEGAS and VEGAS+ are effective for integrands with large peaks, but VEGAS+ can be much more effective for integrands with multiple peaks or other significant structures aligned with diagonals of the integration volume. We give examples where VEGAS+ is 2-19 times more accurate than VEGAS. We also show how to combine VEGAS+ with other integrators, such as the widely available MISER algorithm, to make new hybrid integrators. For a different kind of hybrid, we show how to use integrand samples, generated using MCMC or other methods, to optimize VEGAS+ before integrating. We give an example where preconditioned VEGAS+ is more than 100 times as efficient as VEGAS+ without preconditio ing. Finally, we give examples where VEGAS+ is more than 10 times as efficient as MCMC for Bayesian integrals with D = 3 and 21 parameters. We explain why VEGAS+ will often outperform MCMC for small and moderate sized problems., Comment: 23 pages, 11 figures

Lattice QCD calculations of form factors for rare Standard Model processes such as $B \to K \ell^+ \ell^-$ use tensor currents that require renormalisation. These renormalisation factors, $Z_T$, have typically been calculated within perturbation theory and the estimated uncertainties from missing higher order terms are significant. Here we study tensor current renormalisation using lattice implementations of momentum-subtraction schemes. Such schemes are potentially more accurate but have systematic errors from nonperturbative artefacts. To determine and remove these condensate contributions we calculate the ground-state charmonium tensor decay constant, $f_{J/\psi}^T$, which is also of interest in beyond the Standard Model studies. We obtain $f_{J/\psi}^T(\bar{\text{MS}}, 2\ \mathrm{GeV})=0.3927(27)$ GeV, with ratio to the vector decay constant of 0.9569(52), significantly below 1. We also give $Z_T$ factors, converted to the $\bar{\mathrm{MS}}$ scheme, corrected for condensate contamination. This contamination reaches 1.5\% at a renormalisation scale of 2 GeV (in the preferred RI-SMOM scheme) and so must be removed for accurate results., Comment: 12 pages, version accepted for publication in PRD

We have performed the first $n_f = 2+1+1$ lattice QCD computations of the properties (masses and decay constants) of ground-state charmonium mesons. Our calculation uses the HISQ action to generate quark-line connected two-point correlation functions on MILC gluon field configurations that include $u/d$ quark masses going down to the physical point, tuning the $c$ quark mass from $M_{J/\psi}$ and including the effect of the $c$ quark's electric charge through quenched QED. We obtain $M_{J/\psi}-M_{\eta_c}$ (connected) = 120.3(1.1) MeV and interpret the difference with experiment as the impact on $M_{\eta_c}$ of its decay to gluons, missing from the lattice calculation. This allows us to determine $\Delta M_{\eta_c}^{\mathrm{annihiln}}$ =+7.3(1.2) MeV, giving its value for the first time. Our result of $f_{J/\psi}=$ 0.4104(17) GeV, gives $\Gamma(J/\psi \rightarrow e^+e^-)$=5.637(49) keV, in agreement with, but now more accurate than experiment. At the same time we have improved the determination of the $c$ quark mass, including the impact of quenched QED to give $\overline{m}_c(3\,\mathrm{GeV})$ = 0.9841(51) GeV. We have also used the time-moments of the vector charmonium current-current correlators to improve the lattice QCD result for the $c$ quark HVP contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. We obtain $a_{\mu}^c = 14.638(47) \times 10^{-10}$, which is 2.5$\sigma$ higher than the value derived using moments extracted from some sets of experimental data on $R(e^+e^- \rightarrow \mathrm{hadrons})$. This value for $a_{\mu}^c$ includes our determination of the effect of QED on this quantity, $\delta a_{\mu}^c = 0.0313(28) \times 10^{-10}$., Comment: Added extra discussion on QED setup, some new results to study the effects of strong isospin breaking in the sea (including new Fig. 1) and a fit stability plot for the hyperfine splitting (new Fig. 7). Version accepted for publication in PRD

We present an update on the ongoing calculations by the Fermilab Lattice, HPQCD, and MILC Collaboration of the leading-order (in electromagnetism) hadronic vacuum polarization contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. Our project employs ensembles with four flavors of highly improved staggered fermions, physical light-quark masses, and four lattice spacings ranging from $a \approx 0.06$ to 0.15 fm for most of the results thus far., Comment: LATTICE 2019, 7 pages, 7 figures

Predicting the $B_s^0-\bar{B}_s^0$ width difference $\Delta\Gamma_s$ relies on the heavy quark expansion and on hadronic matrix elements of $\Delta B=2$ operators. We present the first lattice QCD results for matrix elements of the dimension-7 operators $R_{2,3}$ and linear combinations $\tilde{R}_{2,3}$ using nonrelativistic QCD for the bottom quark and a highly improved staggered quark (HISQ) action for the strange quark. Computations use MILC ensembles of gauge field configuations with $2+1+1$ flavors of sea quarks with the HISQ discretization, including lattices with physically light up/down quark masses. We discuss features unique to calculating matrix elements of these operators and analyze uncertainties from series truncation, discretization, and quark mass dependence. Finally we report the first Standard Model determination of $\Delta\Gamma_s$ using lattice QCD results for all hadronic matrix elements through $\mathcal{O}(1/m_b)$. The main result of our calculations yields the $1/m_b$ contribution $\Delta \Gamma_{1/m_b} = -0.022(10)~\mathrm{ps}^{-1}$. Adding this to the leading order contribution, the Standard Model prediction is $\Delta \Gamma_s = 0.092(14)~\mathrm{ps}^{-1}$., Comment: 6 pages

We examine the renormalisation of flavour-diagonal vector currents in lattice QCD with the aim of understanding and quantifying the systematic errors from nonperturbative artefacts associated with the use of intermediate momentum-subtraction schemes. Our study uses the Highly Improved Staggered Quark (HISQ) action on gluon field configurations that include $n_f=2+1+1$ flavours of sea quarks, but our results have applicability to other quark actions. Renormalisation schemes that make use of the exact lattice vector Ward-Takahashi identity for the conserved current also have renormalisation factors, $Z_V$, for nonconserved vector currents that are free of contamination by nonperturbative condensates. We show this by explicit comparison of two such schemes: that of the vector form factor at zero momentum transfer and the RI-SMOM momentum-subtraction scheme. The two determinations of $Z_V$ differ only by discretisation effects (for any value of momentum-transfer in the RI-SMOM case). The RI$^{\prime}$-MOM scheme, although widely used, does not share this property. We show that $Z_V$ determined in the standard way in this scheme has $\mathcal{O}(1\%)$ nonperturbative contamination that limits its accuracy. Instead we define an RI$^{\prime}$-MOM $Z_V$ from a ratio of local to conserved vector current vertex functions and show that this $Z_V$ is a safe one to use in lattice QCD calculations. We also perform a first study of vector current renormalisation with the inclusion of quenched QED effects on the lattice using the RI-SMOM scheme., Comment: Minor changes to the text and references added. Version accepted by Phys. Rev. D

As the only lattice vector current that does not require renormalisation is the point-split conserved current it is convenient to have a robust, precise and computationally cheap methodology for the calculation of vector current renormalisation factors, $Z_V$. Momentum subtraction schemes, such as RI-SMOM, implemented nonperturbatively on the lattice provide such a method if it can be shown that the systematic errors, e.g. from condensates, are well controlled. We present $Z_V$ calculations for the conserved current in both the RI-SMOM and RI$'$-MOM momentum subtraction schemes as well as local current renormalisation in the RI-SMOM scheme. By performing these calculations at various values of the momentum scale $\mu$ and different lattice spacings we can investigate the presence of power suppressed nonperturbative contributions and compare the results to expectations arising from the Ward-Takahashi identity. Our results show that the RI-SMOM scheme provides a well controlled determination of $Z_V$ but the standard RI$'$-MOM scheme does not. We then present some preliminary uses of these $Z_V$ calculations in charm physics., Comment: Proceedings of Lattice 2019

We calculate the bag parameters for neutral $B$-meson mixing in and beyond the Standard Model, in full four-flavour lattice QCD for the first time. We work on gluon field configurations that include the effect of $u$, $d$, $s$ and $c$ sea quarks with the Highly Improved Staggered Quark (HISQ) action at three values of the lattice spacing and with three $u/d$ quark masses going down to the physical value. The valence $b$ quarks use the improved NRQCD action and the valence light quarks, the HISQ action. Our analysis was blinded. Our results for the bag parameters for all five operators are the most accurate to date. For the Standard Model operator between $B_s$ and $B_d$ mesons we find: $\hat{B}_{B_s}=1.232(53)$, $\hat{B}_{B_d}=1.222(61)$. Combining our results with lattice QCD calculations of the decay constants using HISQ quarks from the Fermilab/MILC collaboration and with experimental values for $B_s$ and $B_d$ oscillation frequencies allows determination of the CKM elements $V_{ts}$ and $V_{td}$. We find $V_{ts} = 0.04189(93)$, $V_{td} = 0.00867(23)$ and $V_{ts}/V_{td} = 0.2071(27)$. Our results agree well (within $2\sigma$) with values determined from CKM unitarity constraints based on tree-level processes (only). Using a ratio to $\Delta M$ in which CKM elements cancel in the Standard Model, we determine the branching fractions ${\text{Br}}(B_s\rightarrow \mu^+\mu^-) = 3.81(18) \times 10^{-9}$ and ${\text{Br}}(B_d\rightarrow \mu^+\mu^-) = 1.031(54) \times 10^{-10}$. We also give results for matrix elements of the operators $R_0$, $R_1$ and $\tilde{R}_1$ that contribute to neutral $B$-meson width differences., Comment: 27 pages, 16 figures. Slight changes to text to clarify arguments. Updated Figure 10. Version accepted by Physical Review D

We have studied the impact of incoming preparation and demographic variables on student performance on the final exam in physics 1, the standard introductory, calculus-based mechanics course This was done at three different institutions using multivariable regression analysis to determine the extent to which exam scores can be predicted by a variety of variables that are available to most faculty and departments. We have found that the results are surprisingly consistent across the institutions, with the only two variables that have predictive power being math SAT/ACT scores and concept inventory pre-scores. The importance of both variables is comparable and fairly similar across the institutions. They explain 20 - 30 percent of the variation in students' performance on the final exam. Most notably, the demographic variables (gender, under-represented minority, first generation to attend college) are not significant. In all cases, although there appear to be gaps in exam performance if one considers only the demographic variable, once these two proxies of incoming preparation are included in the model, there is no longer a demographic gap. There is only a preparation gap that applies equally across the entire student population. This work shows that to properly understand differences in student performance across a diverse population, and hence to design more effective instruction, it is important to do statistical analyses that take multiple variables into account. It also illustrates the importance of having measures that are sensitive to both subject specific and more general preparation. The results suggest that better matching of the course design and teaching to the incoming student preparation will likely be the most effective way to eliminate observed performance gaps across demographic groups while also improving the success of all students.

Lattice QCD can provide a direct determination of meson electromagnetic form factors, making predictions for upcoming experiments at Jefferson Lab. The form factors are a reflection of the bound-state nature of the meson and so these calculations give information about how confinement by QCD affects meson internal structure. The region of high squared (space-like) momentum-transfer, $Q^2$, is of particular interest because perturbative QCD predictions take a simple form in that limit that depends on the meson decay constant. We previously showed in\cite{jonnaff} that, up to $Q^2$ of 6 $\mathrm{GeV}^2$, the form factor for a `pseudo-pion' made of strange quarks was significantly larger than the asymptotic perturbative QCD result and showed no sign of heading towards that value at higher $Q^2$. Here we give predictions for real mesons, the $K^+$ and $K^0$, in anticipation of JLAB results for the $K^+$ in the next few years. We also give results for a heavier meson, the $\eta_c$, up to $Q^2$ of 25 $\mathrm{GeV}^2$ for a comparison to perturbative QCD in a higher $Q^2$ regime., Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, Proceedings of LATTICE2018

We calculate the contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment hadronic vacuum polarization from {the} connected diagrams of up and down quarks, omitting electromagnetism. We employ QCD gauge-field configurations with dynamical $u$, $d$, $s$, and $c$ quarks and the physical pion mass, and analyze five ensembles with lattice spacings ranging from $a \approx 0.06$ to~0.15~fm. The up- and down-quark masses in our simulations have equal masses $m_l$. We obtain, in this world where all pions have the mass of the $\pi^0$, $10^{10} a_\mu^{ll}({\rm conn.}) = 637.8\,(8.8)$, in agreement with independent lattice-QCD calculations. We then combine this value with published lattice-QCD results for the connected contributions from strange, charm, and bottom quarks, and an estimate of the uncertainty due to the fact that our calculation does not include strong-isospin breaking, electromagnetism, or contributions from quark-disconnected diagrams. Our final result for the total $\mathcal{O}(\alpha^2)$ hadronic vacuum polarization to the muon's anomalous magnetic moment is~$10^{10}a_\mu^{\rm HVP,LO} = 699(15)_{u,d}(1)_{s,c,b}$, where the errors are from the light-quark and heavy-quark contributions, respectively. Our result agrees with both {\it ab-initio} lattice-QCD calculations and phenomenological determinations from experimental $e^+e^-$-scattering data. It is $1.3\sigma$ below the "no new physics" value of the hadronic-vacuum-polarization contribution inferred from combining the BNL E821 measurement of $a_\mu$ with theoretical calculations of the other contributions., Comment: 19 pages, 12 figures, 6 tables; updated to correct a small mistake in the finite volume correction resulting in small changes to the results, matches published version

Lattice QCD provides several avenues for the high precision determination of quark masses. Using the RI-SMOM scheme applied to lattice calculations with the HISQ action, we obtain mass renormalisation factors that we use to provide strange and charm quark masses with 1% precision. The calculation involves the study of various sources of systematic uncertainty, including an analysis of possible nonperturbative (condensate) contributions. These results allow a comparison of different mass determination methods of comparable precision. In particular we (HPQCD) find good agreement between RI-SMOM and current-current correlator determinations based on the same lattice QCD bare masses, providing a strong test of our understanding of systematic uncertainties., Comment: Proceedings from Lattice 2018

We derive the Operator Product Expansion whose vacuum expectation value gives the time-moments of the pseudoscalar heavy-light current-current correlator up to and including terms in $\alpha_s^2$ multiplying $\langle\overline{\psi}\psi\rangle/M^3$ and terms in $\alpha_s$ multiplying $\langle \alpha_s G^2 \rangle/M^4$, where $M$ is the heavy-quark mass. Using lattice QCD results for heavy-strange correlators obtained for a variety of heavy quark masses on gluon field configurations including $u$, $d$ and $s$ quarks in the sea at three values of the lattice spacing, we are able to show that the contribution of the strange-quark condensate to the time-moments is very substantial. We use our lattice QCD time-moments and the OPE to determine a value for the condensate, fitting the 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th time-moments simultaneously. Our result, $\langle \overline{s}s \rangle^{\overline{\text{MS}}}(2 \text{GeV}) = -(296(11) \,\mathrm{MeV})^3$, agrees well with HPQCD's earlier, more direct, lattice QCD determination~\cite{McNeile:2012xh}. As well as confirming that the $s$ quark condensate is close in value to the light quark condensate, this demonstrates clearly the consistency of the Operator Product Expansion for fully nonperturbative calculations of matrix elements of short-distance operators in lattice QCD., Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures

We present a lattice quantum chromodynamics determination of the ratio of the scalar and vector form factors for two semileptonic decays of the $B_s$ meson: $B_s \rightarrow K \ell \nu$ and $B_s \rightarrow D_s \ell \nu$. In conjunction with future experimental data, our results for these correlated form factors will provide a new method to extract $|V_{ub}/V_{cb}|$, which may elucidate the current tension between exclusive and inclusive determinations of these Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa mixing matrix parameters. In addition to the form factor results, we determine the ratio of the differential decay rates, and forward-backward and polarization asymmetries, for the two decays., Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures. Version published in PRD: minor typos fixed and two figures updated. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1703.09728

We introduce a new method for calculating the ${\rm O}(\alpha^3)$ hadronic-vacuum-polarization contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment from ${ab-initio}$ lattice QCD. We first derive expressions suitable for computing the higher-order contributions either from the renormalized vacuum polarization function $\hat\Pi(q^2)$, or directly from the lattice vector-current correlator in Euclidean space. We then demonstrate the approach using previously-published results for the Taylor coefficients of $\hat\Pi(q^2)$ that were obtained on four-flavor QCD gauge-field configurations with physical light-quark masses. We obtain $10^{10} a_\mu^{\rm HVP,HO} = -9.3(1.3)$, in agreement with, but with a larger uncertainty than, determinations from $e^+e^- \to {\rm hadrons}$ data plus dispersion relations., Comment: Expanded and clarified discussion and revised Figure 4. Results unchanged. 11 pages, 5 tables, 5 figures. Version accepted to Physical Review D

We determine the charm and strange quark masses in the $\overline{\text{MS}}$ scheme, using $n_f=2+1+1$ lattice QCD calculations with highly improved staggered quarks (HISQ) and the RI-SMOM intermediate scheme to connect the bare lattice quark masses to continuum renormalisation schemes. Our study covers analysis of systematic uncertainties from this method, including nonperturbative artefacts and the impact of the non-zero physical sea quark masses. We find $m_c^{\overline{\text{MS}}}(3 \text{GeV}) = 0.9896(61)$ GeV and $m_s^{\overline{\text{MS}}}(3 \text{GeV}) = 0.08536(85)$ GeV, where the uncertainties are dominated by the tuning of the bare lattice quark masses. These results are consistent with, and of similar accuracy to, those using the current-current correlator approach coupled to high-order continuum QCD perturbation theory, implemented in the same quark formalism and on the same gauge field configurations. This provides a strong test of the consistency of methods for determining the quark masses to high precision from lattice QCD. We also give updated lattice QCD world averages for $c$ and $s$ quark masses., Comment: 23 pages, 14 figures

We present lattice QCD results for the matrix elements of $R_2$ and other dimension-7, $\Delta B = 2$ operators relevant for calculations of $\Delta \Gamma_s$, the $B_s-\bar{B}_s$ width difference. We have computed correlation functions using 5 ensembles of the MILC Collaboration's 2+1+1-flavour gauge field configurations, spanning 3 lattice spacings and light sea quarks masses down to the physical point. The HISQ action is used for the valence strange quarks, and the NRQCD action is used for the bottom quarks. Once our analysis is complete, the theoretical uncertainty in the Standard Model prediction for $\Delta \Gamma_s$ will be substantially reduced., Comment: 8 pages. To appear in the Proceedings of the 35th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory, 18-24 June 2017, Granada, Spain

All lattice-QCD calculations of the hadronic-vacuum-polarization contribution to the muon's anomalous magnetic moment to-date have been performed with degenerate up- and down-quark masses. Here we calculate directly the strong-isospin-breaking correction to $a_\mu^{\rm HVP}$ for the first time with physical values of $m_u$ and $m_d$ and dynamical $u$, $d$, $s$, and $c$ quarks, thereby removing this important source of systematic uncertainty. We obtain a relative shift to be applied to lattice-QCD results obtained with degenerate light-quark masses of $\delta a_\mu^{{\rm HVP,} m_u \neq m_d}$= +1.5(7)%, in agreement with estimates from phenomenology and a recent lattice-QCD calculation with unphysically heavy pions., Comment: v2: 6 pages, 2 tables, 2 figures. Additional references and expanded discussion of systematic errors. Version accepted to Physical Review Letters

We present the first calculation of the pion electromagnetic form factor at physical light quark masses. This form factor parameterises the deviations from the behaviour of a point-like particle when a photon hits the pion. These deviations result from the internal structure of the pion and can thus be calculated in QCD. We use three sets (different lattice spacings) of $n_f = 2+1+1$ lattice configurations generated by the MILC collaboration. The Highly Improved Staggered Quark formalism (HISQ) is used for all of the sea and valence quarks. Using lattice configurations with $u$/$d$ quark masses very close to the physical value is a big advantage, as we avoid the chiral extrapolation. We study the shape of the vector ($f_+$) form factor in the $q^2$ range from $0$ to $-0.15$~GeV$^2$ and extract the mean square radius, $\langle r^2_v\rangle$. The shape of the vector form factor and the resulting radius is compared with experiment. We also discuss the scalar form factor and radius extracted from that, which is not directly accessible to experiment. We have also calculated the contributions from the disconnected diagrams to the scalar form factor at small $q^2$ and discuss their impact on the scalar radius $\langle r^2_s\rangle$., Comment: Talk presented at the 33rd International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2015), 14-18 July 2015, Kobe, Japan

Measurements and theoretical calculations of meson form factors are essential for our understanding of internal hadron structure and QCD, the dynamics that bind the quarks in hadrons. The pion electromagnetic form factor has been measured at small space-like momentum transfer $|q^2| < 0.3$~GeV$^2$ by pion scattering from atomic electrons and at values up to $2.5$~GeV$^2$ by scattering electrons from the pion cloud around a proton. On the other hand, in the limit of very large (or infinite) $Q^2=-q^2$, perturbation theory is applicable. This leaves a gap in the intermediate $Q^2$ where the form factors are not known. As a part of their 12 GeV upgrade Jefferson Lab will measure pion and kaon form factors in this intermediate region, up to $Q^2$ of $6$~GeV$^2$. This is then an ideal opportunity for lattice QCD to make an accurate prediction ahead of the experimental results. Lattice QCD provides a from-first-principles approach to calculate form factors, and the challenge here is to control the statistical and systematic uncertainties as errors grow when going to higher $Q^2$ values. Here we report on a calculation that tests the method using an $\eta_s$ meson, a 'heavy pion' made of strange quarks, and also present preliminary results for kaon and pion form factors. We use the $n_f=2+1+1$ ensembles made by the MILC collaboration and Highly Improved Staggered Quarks, which allows us to obtain high statistics. The HISQ action is also designed to have small discretisation errors. Using several light quark masses and lattice spacings allows us to control the chiral and continuum extrapolation and keep systematic errors in check., Comment: Presented at Lattice 2017, the 35th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory at Granada, Spain (18-24 June 2017)

The quark flavor sector of the Standard Model is a fertile ground to look for new physics effects through a unitarity test of the Cabbibo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix. We present a lattice QCD calculation of the scalar and the vector form factors (over a large $q^2$ region including $q^2 = 0$) associated with the $D \rightarrow Kl{\nu}$ semi-leptonic decay. This calculation will then allow us to determine the central CKM matrix element, $V_{cs}$ in the Standard Model, by comparing the lattice QCD results for the form factors and the experimental decay rate. This form factor calculation has been performed on the $N_f =2+1+1$ MILC HISQ ensembles with the physical light quark masses., Comment: Proceedings for the 35th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2017), 8 pages, 5 figures

We present a lattice quantum chromodynamics determination of the scalar and vector form factors for the $B_s \rightarrow D_s \ell \nu$ decay over the full physical range of momentum transfer. In conjunction with future experimental data, our results will provide a new method to extract $|V_{cb}|$, which may elucidate the current tension between exclusive and inclusive determinations of this parameter. Combining the form factor results at non-zero recoil with recent HPQCD results for the $B \rightarrow D \ell \nu$ form factors, we determine the ratios $f^{B_s \rightarrow D_s}_0(M_\pi^2) / f^{B \rightarrow D}_0(M_K^2) = 1.000(62)$ and $f^{B_s \rightarrow D_s}_0(M_\pi^2) / f^{B \rightarrow D}_0(M_\pi^2) = 1.006(62)$. These results give the fragmentation fraction ratios $f_s/f_d = 0.310(30)_{\mathrm{stat.}}(21)_{\mathrm{syst.}}(6)_{\mathrm{theor.}}(38)_{\mathrm{latt.}} $ and $f_s/f_d = 0.307(16)_{\mathrm{stat.}}(21)_{\mathrm{syst.}}(23)_{\mathrm{theor.}}(44)_{\mathrm{latt.}}$, respectively. The fragmentation fraction ratio is an important ingredient in experimental determinations of $B_s$ meson branching fractions at hadron colliders, in particular for the rare decay ${\cal B}(B_s \rightarrow \mu^+ \mu^-)$. In addition to the form factor results, we make the first prediction of the branching fraction ratio $R(D_s) = {\cal B}(B_s\to D_s\tau\nu)/{\cal B}(B_s\to D_s\ell\nu) = 0.301(6)$, where $\ell$ is an electron or muon. Current experimental measurements of the corresponding ratio for the semileptonic decays of $B$ mesons disagree with Standard Model expectations at the level of nearly four standard deviations. Future experimental measurements of $R(D_s)$ may help understand this discrepancy., Comment: 21 pages, 15 figures

We compare correlators for pseudoscalar and vector mesons made from valence strange quarks using the clover quark and highly improved staggered quark (HISQ) formalisms in full lattice QCD. We use fully nonperturbative methods to normalise vector and axial vector current operators made from HISQ quarks, clover quarks and from combining HISQ and clover fields. This allows us to test expectations for the renormalisation factors based on perturbative QCD, with implications for the error budget of lattice QCD calculations of the matrix elements of clover-staggered $b$-light weak currents, as well as further HISQ calculations of the hadronic vacuum polarisation. We also compare the approach to the (same) continuum limit in clover and HISQ formalisms for the mass and decay constant of the $\phi$ meson. Our final results for these parameters, using single-meson correlators and neglecting quark-line disconnected diagrams are: $m_{\phi} =$ 1.023(6) GeV and $f_{\phi} = $ 0.238(3) GeV in good agreement with experiment. The results come from calculations in the HISQ formalism using gluon fields that include the effect of $u$, $d$, $s$ and $c$ quarks in the sea with three lattice spacing values and $m_{u/d}$ values going down to the physical point., Comment: 21 pages, 11 figures. Version published by Phys.Rev.D. Minor changes to text. HISQ Z_V value derived in Appendix B for a=0.06fm lattices changed slightly

We give an accurate determination of the vector (electromagnetic) form factor, $F(Q^2)$, for a light pseudoscalar meson up to squared momentum transfer $Q^2$ values of 6 $\mathrm{GeV}^2$ for the first time from full lattice QCD, including $u$, $d$, $s$ and $c$ quarks in the sea at multiple values of the lattice spacing. Our results show good control of lattice discretisation and sea quark mass effects. We study a pseudoscalar meson made of valence $s$ quarks but the qualitative picture obtained applies also to the $\pi$ meson, relevant to upcoming experiments at Jefferson Lab. We find that $Q^2F(Q^2)$ becomes flat in the region between $Q^2$ of 2 $\mathrm{GeV}^2$ and 6 $\mathrm{GeV}^2$, with a value well above that of the asymptotic perturbative QCD expectation, but well below that of the vector-meson dominance pole form appropriate to low $Q^2$ values. Our calculations show that we can reach higher $Q^2$ values in future to shed further light on where the perturbative QCD result emerges., Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures. Version accepted by Physical Review D. Includes results from a third value of the lattice spacing, change to the title and two additional figures in the appendix discussing analysis of systematic and statistical errors

The loss of particles due to highly inelastic reactions has previously been taken into account in effective field theories for low-energy particles by adding local anti-Hermitian terms to the effective Hamiltonian. An additional modification is required in the time evolution equation for the density matrix of a multi-particle system. An effective density matrix can be defined by tracing over states containing high-momentum particles produced by the highly inelastic reactions and by a time average that eliminates short-time correlations. The effective density matrix satisfies the Lindblad equation, with local Lindblad operators that are determined by the anti-Hermitian terms in the effective Hamiltonian., Comment: 6 pages, presented at 38th International Conference on High Energy Physics

We present a calculation of the form factors, $f_0$ and $f_+$, for the $B_{(s)} \to D_{(s)}$ semileptonic decays. Our work uses the MILC $n_f=2+1$ AsqTad configurations with NRQCD and HISQ valence quarks at four values of the momentum transfer $q^2$. We provide results for the chiral-continuum extrapolations of the scalar and vector form factors., Comment: Proceedings of the 34th annual International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory. PoS(LATTICE2016) 298. v2 corrects some minor typographical errors

The loss of ultracold trapped atoms due to deeply inelastic reactions has previously been taken into account in effective field theories for low-energy atoms by adding local anti-Hermitian terms to the effective Hamiltonian. Here we show that when multi-atom systems are considered, an additional modification is required in the equation governing the density matrix. We define an effective density matrix by tracing over the states containing high-momentum atoms produced by deeply inelastic reactions. We show that it satisfies a Lindblad equation, with local Lindblad operators determined by the local anti-Hermitian terms in the effective Hamiltonian. We use the Lindblad equation to derive the universal relation for the two-atom inelastic loss rate for fermions with two spin states and the universal relation for the three-atom inelastic loss rate for identical bosons., Comment: 24 pages, 4 figures

Effective field theories have often been applied to systems with deeply inelastic reactions that produce particles with large momenta outside the domain of validity of the effective theory. The effects of the deeply inelastic reactions have been taken into account in previous work by adding local anti-Hermitian terms to the effective Hamiltonian. Here we show that when multi-particle systems are considered, an additional modification is required in equations governing the density matrix. We define an effective density matrix by tracing over the states containing high-momentum particles, and show that it satisfies a Lindblad equation, with local Lindblad operators determined by the anti-Hermitian terms in the effective Hamiltonian density., Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures

We determine the contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon from the $\alpha^2_{\mathrm{QED}}$ hadronic vacuum polarization diagram using full lattice QCD and including $u/d$ quarks with physical masses for the first time. We use gluon field configurations that include $u$, $d$, $s$ and $c$ quarks in the sea at multiple values of the lattice spacing, multiple $u/d$ masses and multiple volumes that allow us to include an analysis of finite-volume effects. We obtain a result for $a_{\mu}^{\mathrm{HVP,LO}}$ of $667(6)(12)$, where the first error is from the lattice calculation and the second includes systematic errors from missing QED and isospin-breaking effects and from quark-line disconnected diagrams. Our result implies a discrepancy between the experimental determination of $a_{\mu}$ and the Standard Model of 3$\sigma$., Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures. Discussion of method extended with additional tests and figures added. Typographical errors corrected

The quark-line disconnected diagram is a potentially important ingredient in lattice QCD calculations of the hadronic vacuum polarization contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. It is also a notoriously difficult one to evaluate. Here, for the first time, we give an estimate of this contribution based on lattice QCD results that have a statistically significant signal, albeit at one value of the lattice spacing and an unphysically heavy value of the $u/d$ quark mass. We use HPQCD's method of determining the anomalous magnetic moment by reconstructing the Adler function from time-moments of the current-current correlator at zero spatial momentum. Our results lead to a total (including $u$, $d$ and $s$ quarks) quark-line disconnected contribution to $a_{\mu}$ of $-0.15\%$ of the $u/d$ hadronic vacuum polarization contribution with an uncertainty which is 1\% of that contribution., Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures

We present the first calculation of the electromagnetic form factor of the $\pi$ meson at physical light quark masses. We use configurations generated by the MILC collaboration including the effect of $u$, $d$, $s$ and $c$ sea quarks with the Highly Improved Staggered Quark formalism. We work at three values of the lattice spacing on large volumes and with $u$/$d$ quark masses going down to the physical value. We study scalar and vector form factors for a range in space-like $q^2$ from 0.0 to -0.1 $\mathrm{GeV}^2$ and from their shape we extract mean square radii. Our vector form factor agrees well with experiment and we find $\langle r^2 \rangle_V = 0.403(18)(6) \,\mathrm{fm}^2$. For the scalar form factor we include quark-line disconnected contributions which have a significant impact on the radius. We give the first results for SU(3) flavour-singlet and octet scalar mean square radii, obtaining: $\langle r^2 \rangle_S^{\mathrm{singlet}} = 0.506(38)(53) \mathrm{fm}^2$ and $\langle r^2 \rangle_S^{\mathrm{octet}} = 0.431(38)(46) \mathrm{fm}^2$. We discuss the comparison with expectations from chiral perturbation theory., Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures

We report our (HPQCD) progress on the calculation of the Hadronic Vacuum Polarisation contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of muon. In this article we discuss the calculations for the light (up/down) quark connected contribution using our method described in Phys.Rev. D89(2014) 11, 114501 and give an estimate for the disconnected contribution. Our calculation has been carried out on MILC Collaboration's $n_f = 2+1+1$ HISQ ensembles at multiple values of the lattice spacing, multiple volumes and multiple light sea quark masses (including physical pion mass configurations)., Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, The 33rd International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory

The HPQCD collaboration has used radiatively-improved NonRelativistic QCD (NRQCD) for $b$ quarks in bottomonium to determine the decay rate of $\Upsilon$ and $\Upsilon^\prime$ mesons to leptons in lattice QCD. Using time-moments of vector bottomonium current-current correlators, we are also able to determine the $b$ quark mass in the $\overline{\mathrm{MS}}$ scheme. We use the same NRQCD $b$ quarks and Highly Improved Staggered Quark (HISQ) light quarks -- with masses down to their physical values -- to give a complete picture of heavy-light meson decay constants including those for vector mesons. We also study the semileptonic $B\rightarrow\pi\ell\nu$ decay at zero recoil to show that lattice QCD is consistent with the soft pion theorem for this decay: $f_0(q^2_{\mathrm{max}})=f_B/f_\pi$ in the massless pion limit. Finally, we present preliminary results for the $B_c \rightarrow \eta_c \ell \nu$ semileptonic decay form factors. This is a showcase for the comparison of results for NRQCD $b$ quarks with those from HISQ $b$ quarks (both with HISQ $c$ quarks). We give the first 3-point results from our `heavy HISQ' programme, which will allow us to improve the normalisation of NRQCD-HISQ currents for other calculations., Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, Talk presented at the 33rd International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2015), 14-18 July 2015, Kobe International Conference Center, Kobe, Japan

The exclusive semileptonic decay $B \rightarrow \pi \ell \nu$ is a key process for the determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element $V_{ub}$ from the comparison of experimental rates as a function of $q^2$ with theoretically determined form factors. The sensitivity of the form factors to the $u/d$ quark mass has meant significant systematic uncertainties in lattice QCD calculations at unphysically heavy pion masses. Here we give the first lattice QCD calculations of this process for u/d quark masses going down to their physical values, calculating the $f_0$ form factor at zero recoil to 3\%. We are able to resolve a long-standing controversy by showing that the soft-pion theorem result $f_0(q^2_{max}) = f_B/f_{\pi}$ does hold as $m_{\pi} \rightarrow 0$. We use the Highly Improved Staggered Quark formalism for the light quarks and show that staggered chiral perturbation theory for the $m_{\pi}$ dependence is almost identical to continuum chiral perturbation theory for $f_0$, $f_B$ and $f_{\pi}$. We also give results for other processes such as $B_s \rightarrow K \ell \nu$., Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures

We present a lattice QCD calculation of the $B \rightarrow D l \nu$ semileptonic decay form factors $f_+(q^2)$ and $f_0(q^2)$ for the entire physical $q^2$ range. Non-relativistic QCD (NRQCD) bottom quarks and Highly Improved Staggered Quark (HISQ) charm and light quarks are employed together with $N_f = 2+1$ MILC gauge configurations. A joint fit to our lattice and BaBar experimental data allows an extraction of the CKM matrix element $|V_{cb}|$. We also determine the phenomenologically interesting ratio $R(D) = {\cal B}(B \rightarrow D \tau \nu_\tau) / {\cal B}(B \rightarrow D l \nu_l)$ ($l = e, \mu$). We find $|V_{cb}|_{excl.}^{B \rightarrow D} = 0.0402(17)(13)$, where the first error consists of the lattice simulation errors and the experimental statistical error and the second error is the experimental systematic error. For the branching fraction ratio we find $R(D) = 0.300(8)$., Comment: Fixed typos in Eq. (44). Some editorial fixes

We extend the picture of $B$-meson decay constants obtained in lattice QCD beyond those of the $B$, $B_s$ and $B_c$ to give the first full lattice QCD results for the $B^*$, $B^*_s$ and $B^*_c$. We use improved NonRelativistic QCD for the valence $b$ quark and the Highly Improved Staggered Quark (HISQ) action for the lighter quarks on gluon field configurations that include the effect of $u/d$, $s$ and $c$ quarks in the sea with $u/d$ quark masses going down to physical values. For the ratio of vector to pseudoscalar decay constants, we find $f_{B^*}/f_B$ = 0.941(26), $f_{B^*_s}/f_{B_s}$ = 0.953(23) (both $2\sigma$ less than 1.0) and $f_{B^*_c}/f_{B_c}$ = 0.988(27). Taking correlated uncertainties into account we see clear indications that the ratio increases as the mass of the lighter quark increases. We compare our results to those using the HISQ formalism for all quarks and find good agreement both on decay constant values when the heaviest quark is a $b$ and on the dependence on the mass of the heaviest quark in the region of the $b$. Finally, we give an overview plot of decay constants for gold-plated mesons, the most complete picture of these hadronic parameters to date., Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures. Minor updates to the discussion in several places and some additional references

We present the first lattice QCD calculation of the $B_s$ and $B_d$ mixing parameters with physical light quark masses. We use MILC gluon field configurations that include $u$, $d$, $s$ and $c$ sea quarks at 3 values of the lattice spacing and with 3 values of the $u/d$ quark mass going down to the physical value. We use improved NRQCD for the valence $b$ quarks. Preliminary results show significant improvements over earlier values., Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, Proceedings of Lattice2014

The charmonium system has several excited states below the energy threshold for decay into $D$ and $\bar{D}$ mesons, which can in principle be studied accurately in lattice QCD. Studies that include many states in the spectrum have typically only been done at one value of the lattice spacing and with relatively heavy light quarks in the sea. Here we give preliminary results for radial and orbital excitation energies for charmonium from a calculation on 2+1+1 MILC configurations at multiple lattice spacings and including physical values for $u/d$ quark masses. We use the HISQ formulation for $c$ to obtain small discretisation errors and smeared operators to improve excited state overlap., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures. Presented at the 32nd International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2014), 23-28 June 2014, New York, USA