Y. Meurice

Refining new-physics searches in B→Dτν with lattice QCD.

The semileptonic decay channel B→Dτν is sensitive to the presence of a scalar current, such as that mediated by a charged-Higgs boson. Recently, the BABAR experiment reported the first observation of the exclusive semileptonic decay B→Dτ(-)ν, finding an approximately 2σ disagreement with the standard-model prediction for the ratio R(D)=BR(B→Dτν)/BR(B→Dℓν), where ℓ = e,μ. We compute this ratio of branching fractions using hadronic form factors computed in unquenched lattice QCD and obtain R(D)=0.316(12)(7), where the errors are statistical and total systematic, respectively. This result is the first standard-model calculation of R(D) from ab initio full QCD. Its error is smaller than that of previous estimates, primarily due to the reduced uncertainty in the scalar form factor f(0)(q(2)). Our determination of R(D) is approximately 1σ higher than previous estimates and, thus, reduces the tension with experiment. We also compute R(D) in models with electrically charged scalar exchange, such as the type-II two-Higgs-doublet model. Once again, our result is consistent with, but approximately 1σ higher than, previous estimates for phenomenologically relevant values of the scalar coupling in the type-II model. As a by-product of our calculation, we also present the standard-model prediction for the longitudinal-polarization ratio P(L)(D)=0.325(4)(3).

B→Kl+l−decay form factors from three-flavor lattice QCD

We compute the form factors for the B → Kl+l- semileptonic decay process in lattice QCD using gauge-field ensembles with 2+1 flavors of sea quark, generated by the MILC Collaboration. The ensembles span lattice spacings from 0.12 to 0.045 fm and have multiple sea-quark masses to help control the chiral extrapolation. The asqtad improved staggered action is used for the light valence and sea quarks, and the clover action with the Fermilab interpretation is used for the heavy b quark. We present results for the form factors f+(q2), f0(q2), and fT(q2), where q2 is the momentum transfer, together with a comprehensive examination of systematic errors. Lattice QCD determines the form factors for a limited range of q2, and we use the model-independent z expansion to cover the whole kinematically allowed range. We present our final form-factor results as coefficients of the z expansion and the correlations between them, where the errors on the coefficients include statistical and all systematic uncertainties. Lastly, we use this complete description of the form factors to test QCD predictions of the form factors at high and low q2.

Refining New-Physics Searches inB→Dτνwith Lattice QCD

The semileptonic decay channel B→Dτν is sensitive to the presence of a scalar current, such as that mediated by a charged-Higgs boson. Recently, the BABAR experiment reported the first observation of the exclusive semileptonic decay B→Dτ(-)ν, finding an approximately 2σ disagreement with the standard-model prediction for the ratio R(D)=BR(B→Dτν)/BR(B→Dℓν), where ℓ = e,μ. We compute this ratio of branching fractions using hadronic form factors computed in unquenched lattice QCD and obtain R(D)=0.316(12)(7), where the errors are statistical and total systematic, respectively. This result is the first standard-model calculation of R(D) from ab initio full QCD. Its error is smaller than that of previous estimates, primarily due to the reduced uncertainty in the scalar form factor f(0)(q(2)). Our determination of R(D) is approximately 1σ higher than previous estimates and, thus, reduces the tension with experiment. We also compute R(D) in models with electrically charged scalar exchange, such as the type-II two-Higgs-doublet model. Once again, our result is consistent with, but approximately 1σ higher than, previous estimates for phenomenologically relevant values of the scalar coupling in the type-II model. As a by-product of our calculation, we also present the standard-model prediction for the longitudinal-polarization ratio P(L)(D)=0.325(4)(3).

Erratum: B s→D s/B→D semileptonic form-factor ratios and their application to BR(Bs0→μ +μ -)

We calculate form-factor ratios between the semileptonic decays B⎯⎯⎯0→D+l−ν⎯⎯ and B⎯⎯⎯0s→D+sl−ν⎯⎯ with lattice QCD. These ratios are a key theoretical input in a new strategy to determine the fragmentation fractions of neutral B decays, which are needed for measurements of BR(B0s→μ+μ−). We use the MILC ensembles of gauge configurations with 2+1 flavors of sea-quarks at two s of approximately 0.12 fm and 0.09 fm. We use the model-independent z parametrization to extrapolate our simulation results at small recoil toward maximum recoil. Our results for the form-factor ratios are f(s)0(M2π)/f(d)0(M2K)=1.046(44)stat(15)syst and f(s)0(M2π)/f(d)0(M2π)=1.054(47)stat(17)syst. In contrast to a QCD sum-rule calculation, no significant departure from U-spin (d↔s) symmetry is observed.

Simple method to make asymptotic series of Feynman diagrams converge.

We show that, for two nontrivial lambda phi(4) problems (the anharmonic oscillator and the Landau-Ginzburg hierarchical model), improved perturbative series can be obtained by cutting off the large field contributions. The modified series converge to values exponentially close to the exact ones. For lambda larger than some critical value, the method outperforms Padés approximants and Borel summations. The method can also be used for series which are not Borel summable such as the double-well potential series. We show that semiclassical methods can be used to calculate the modified Feynman rules, estimate the error, and optimize the field cutoff.

Exact blocking formulas for spin and gauge models

Using the example of the two-dimensional (2D) Ising model, we show that in contrast to what can be done in configuration space, the tensor renormalization group formulation allows one to write exact, compact, and manifestly local blocking formulas and exact coarse-grained expressions for the partition function. We argue that similar results should hold for most models studied by lattice gauge theorists. We provide exact blocking formulas for several 2D spin models [the O(2) and O(3) sigma models and the SU(2) principal chiral model] and for the three-dimensional gauge theories with groups Z(2), U(1) and SU(2). We briefly discuss generalizations to other groups, higher dimensions and practical implementations.

Precise determination of the energy levels of the anharmonic oscillator from the quantization of the angle variable

Using an ansatz motivated by the classical form of el phi , where phi is the angle variable, we construct operators which satisfy the commutation relations of the creation-annihilation operators for the anharmonic oscillator. The matrix elements of these operators can be expressed in terms of entire functions in the position complex plane. These functions provide solutions of the Ricatti equation associated with the time-independent Schrodinger equation. We relate the normalizability of the eigenstates to the global properties of the flows of this equation. These exact results yield approximations which complement the WKB approximation and allow an arbitrarily precise determination of the energy levels. We give numerical results for the first 10 levels with 30 digits. We address the question of the quantum integrability of the system.

Fisher's Zeros as the Boundary of Renormalization Group Flows in Complex Coupling Spaces

We propose new methods to extend the renormalization group transformation to complex coupling spaces. We argue that Fishers zeros are located at the boundary of the complex basin of attraction of infrared fixed points. We support this picture with numerical calculations at finite volume for two-dimensional O(N) models in the large-N limit and the hierarchical Ising model. We present numerical evidence that, as the volume increases, the Fishers zeros of four-dimensional pure gauge SU(2) lattice gauge theory with a Wilson action stabilize at a distance larger than 0.15 from the real axis in the complex β=4/g{2} plane. We discuss the implications for proofs of confinement and searches for nontrivial infrared fixed points in models beyond the standard model.

Nonlinear aspects of the renormalization group flows of Dyson's hierarchical model

We review recent results concerning the renormalization group (RG) transformation of Dysons hierarchical model (HM). This model can be seen as an approximation of a scalar field theory on a lattice. We introduce the HM and show that its large group of symmetry simplifies drastically the blockspinning procedure. Several equivalent forms of the recursion formula are presented with unified notations. Rigourous and numerical results concerning the recursion formula are summarized. It is pointed out that the recursion formula of the HM is inequivalent to both Wilsons approximate recursion formula and Polchinskis equation in the local potential approximation (despite the very small difference with the exponents of the latter). We draw a comparison between the RG of the HM and functional RG equations in the local potential approximation. The construction of the linear and nonlinear scaling variables is discussed in an operational way. We describe the calculation of non-universal critical amplitudes in terms of the scaling variables of two fixed points. This question appears as a problem of interpolation between these fixed points. Universal amplitude ratios are calculated. We discuss the large-N limit and the complex singularities of the critical potential calculable in this limit. The interpolation between the HM and more conventional lattice models is presented as a symmetry breaking problem. We briefly introduce models with an approximate supersymmetry. One important goal of this review is to present a configuration space counterpart, suitable for lattice formulations, of functional RG equations formulated in momentum space (often called exact RG equations and abbreviated ERGE).

Tensor renormalization group study of classical XY model on the square lattice

Using the tensor renormalization group method based on the higher-order singular value decomposition, we have studied the thermodynamic properties of the continuous XY model on the square lattice. The temperature dependence of the free energy, the internal energy, and the specific heat agree with the Monte Carlo calculations. From the field dependence of the magnetic susceptibility, we find the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition temperature to be 0.8921(19), consistent with the Monte Carlo as well as the high temperature series expansion results. At the transition temperature, the critical exponent δ is estimated as 14.5, close to the analytic value by Kosterlitz.