Bs and Ds decay constants in three-flavor lattice QCD

Capitalizing on recent advances in lattice QCD, we present a calculation of the leptonic decay constants f(B(s)) and f(D(s)) that includes effects of one strange sea quark and two light sea quarks via an improved staggered action. By shedding the quenched approximation and the associated lattice scale uncertainty, lattice QCD greatly increases its predictive power. Nonrelativistic QCD is used to simulate heavy quarks with masses between 1.5m(c) and m(b). We arrive at the following results: f(B(s))=260+/-7+/-26+/-8+/-5 and f(D(s))=290+/-20+/-29+/-29+/-6 MeV. The first quoted error is the statistical uncertainty, and the rest estimate the sizes of higher order terms neglected in this calculation. All of these uncertainties are systematically improvable by including another order in the weak coupling expansion, the nonrelativistic expansion, or the Symanzik improvement program.     

Measurement of the lifetime difference in the B0(s) system

We present a study of the decay B0(s) --> J/psiphi. We obtain the CP-odd fraction in the final state at time zero, Rperpendicular = 0.16 +/- 0.10(stat) +/- 0.02 (syst), the average lifetime of the (B0(s), B0(s)) system, tau(B0(s)) = 1.39(+0.13)(-0.16)(stat)(+0.01)(-0.02)(syst) ps, and the relative width difference between the heavy and light mass eigenstates, DeltaGamma/Gamma tripple bond (GammaL - GammaH)/Gamma = 0.24(+0.28)(-0.38)(stat)(+0.03)(-0.04)(syst). With the additional constraint from the world average of the lifetime measurements using semileptonic decays, we find tau(B0(s)) = 1.39 +/- 0.06 ps and DeltaGamma/Gamma = 0.25(+0.14)(-0.15). For the ratio of the B0(s) and B0 lifetimes we obtain tau(B0(s))/tau(B0) = 0.91 +/- 0.09(stat) +/- 0.003(syst).     

High-precision determination of the pi, K, D, and Ds decay constants from lattice QCD

We determine D and D(s) decay constants from lattice QCD with 2% errors, 4 times better than experiment and previous theory: f(D(s))=241(3) MeV, f(D)=207(4) MeV, and fD(s))/f(D)=1.164(11). We also obtain f(K)/f(pi)=1.189(7) and (f(D(s))/f(D))/(f(K)/f(pi))=0.979(11). Combining with experiment gives V(us)=0.2262(14) and V(cs)/V(cd) of 4.43(41). We use a highly improved quark discretization on MILC gluon fields that include realistic sea quarks, fixing the u/d, s, and c masses from the pi, K, and eta(c) meson masses. This allows a stringent test against experiment for D and D(s) masses for the first time (to within 7 MeV).     

B-meson decay constant from unquenched lattice QCD

We present determinations of the -meson decay constant f(B) and f(B)(s)/f(B) using the MILC Collaboration unquenched gauge configurations, which include three flavors of light sea quarks. The mass of one of the sea quarks is kept around the strange quark mass, and we explore a range in masses for the two lighter sea quarks down to m(s)/8. The heavy quark is simulated using nonrelativistic QCD, and both the valence and sea light quarks are represented by the highly improved (AsqTad) staggered quark action. The good chiral properties of the latter action allow for a more accurate chiral extrapolation to physical up and down quarks than has been possible in the past. We find f(B)=216(9)(19)(4)(6) MeV and f(B)(s)/f(B)=1.20(3)(1).     

Measurement of the B0-->pi(-l)(+nu) form-factor shape and branching fraction, and determination of /Vub/ with a loose neutrino reconstruction technique

We report the results of a study of the exclusive charmless semileptonic decay, B0-->pi(-l)(+nu), undertaken with approximately 227 x 10(6) BB pairs collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector. The analysis uses events in which the signal B decays are reconstructed with an innovative loose neutrino reconstruction technique. We obtain partial branching fractions in 12 bins of q2, the momentum transfer squared, from which we extract the f + (q2) form-factor shape and the total branching fraction B(B0-->pi(-l)(+nu))=(1.46+/-0.07stat+/-0.08syst) x 10(-4). Based on a recent unquenched lattice QCD calculation of the form factor in the range q2>16 GeV2, we find the magnitude of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element /Vub/ to be (4.1+/-0.2stat +/- 0.2syst(+0.6)-0.4_{FF}) x 10(-3), where the last uncertainty is due to the normalization of the form factor.     

Measurement of the branching fraction and CP asymmetry in B+ --> rho+pi0

We report a measurement of the branching fraction for the decay B+ --> rho(+) pi(0) based on a 140 fb(-1) data sample collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric e(+)e(-) collider. We measure the branching fraction B(B(+) --> rho(+)pi(0)) = (13.2 +/- 2.3(stat)(+1.4)(-1.9)(syst)) x 10(-6), and the CP-violating asymmetry A(CP)(B-/+ -->rho(-/+)pi(0))=0.06 +/- 0.17(stat)(+0.04)(-0.05)(syst).     

Lattice calculation of the κ meson

We study the κ meson in 2+1 flavor QCD with sufficiently light u/d quarks. Using numerical simulations, we measure the point-to-point κ correlators in the "Asqtad" improved staggered fermion formulation. We then analyze these correlators using rooted staggered chiral perturbation theory (rSχPT), with particular attention paid to bubble contribution. After chiral extrapolation, we obtain the physical κ mass with 828±97 MeV, which is within the recent experimental value of 800-900 MeV. These numerical simulations are carried out with MILC 2+1 flavor gauge configurations at a lattice spacing of a ≈ 0.12 fm.     

Lattice calculation of the κ meson

We study the κ meson in 2+1 flavor QCD with sufficiently light u/d quarks. Using numerical simulations, we measure the point-to-point κ correlators in the "Asqtad" improved staggered fermion formulation. We then analyze these correlators using rooted staggered chiral perturbation theory (rSχPT), with particular attention paid to bubble contribution. After chiral extrapolation, we obtain the physical κ mass with 828±97 MeV, which is within the recent experimental value of 800-900 MeV. These numerical simulations are carried out with MILC 2+1 flavor gauge configurations at a lattice spacing of a ≈ 0.12 fm.     

Measurement of the Bs(0) lifetime using semileptonic decays

We report a measurement of the Bs(0) lifetime in the semileptonic decay channel Bs(0) --> Ds- mu+ nuX (and its charge conjugate), using approximately 0.4 fb(-1) of data collected with the D0 detector during 2002-2004. Using 5176 reconstructed Ds- mu+ signal events, we have measured the Bs(0) lifetime to be tau(Bs(0))=1.398+/-0.044(stat)(-0.025)(+0.028)(syst) ps. This is the most precise measurement of the Bs(0) lifetime to date.     

Precise determination of the f0(600) and f0(980) pole parameters from a dispersive data analysis

We use our latest dispersive analysis of ππ scattering data and the very recent K(?4) experimental results to obtain the mass, width, and couplings of the two lightest scalar-isoscalar resonances. These parameters are defined from their associated poles in the complex plane. The analytic continuation to the complex plane is made in a model-independent way by means of once- and twice-subtracted dispersion relations for the partial waves, without any other theoretical assumption. We find the f(0)(600) pole at (457(-13))+14))-i(279(-7)(+11)) MeV and that of the f(0)(980) at (996 ± 7)-i(25(-6)(+10)) MeV, whereas their respective couplings to two pions are 3.59(-0.13)(+0.11) and 2.3 ± 0.2 GeV.     

Measurements of branching fraction, polarization, and charge asymmetry of B(+/-)-->rho(+/-)rho(0) and a search for B(+/-)-->rho(+/-)f(0)(980)

We measure the branching fraction (B), polarization (f(L)), and CP asymmetry (A(CP)) of B(+/-)-->rho(+/-)rho(0) decays and search for the decay B(+/-)-->rho(+/-)f(0)(980) based on a data sample of 231.8 x 10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->BB decays collected with the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP-II asymmetric-energy B factory. In B(+/-)-->rho(+/-)rho(0) decays we measure B=(16.8+/-2.2+/-2.3) x 10(-), f(L)=0.905+/-0.042(-0.027)(+0.023), and A(CP)=-0.12+/-0.13+/-0.10, and find an upper limit on the branching fraction of B(+/-)-->rho(+/-)f(0)(980)(-->pi(+)pi(-)) decays of 1.9 x 10(-6) at 90% confidence level.     

Up quark mass in lattice QCD with three light dynamical quarks and implications for strong CP invariance

A standing mystery in the standard model is the unnatural smallness of the strong CP violating phase. A massless up quark has long been proposed as one potential solution. A lattice calculation of the constants of the chiral Lagrangian essential for the determination of the up quark mass, 2alpha(8)-alpha(5), is presented. We find 2alpha(8)-alpha(5)=0.29+/-0.18, which corresponds to m(u)/m(d)=0.410+/-0.036. This is the first such calculation using a physical number of dynamical light quarks, N(f)=3.     

B0-B(-)0 mixing beyond factorization in QCD sum rules

We present a calculation of the B0-B(-)0 mixing matrix element in the framework of QCD sum rules for three-point functions. We compute alpha(s) corrections to a three-point function at the three-loop level in QCD perturbation theory, which allows one to extract the matrix element with next-to-leading order (NLO) accuracy. This calculation is imperative for a consistent evaluation of experimentally measured mixing parameters since the coefficient functions of the effective Hamiltonian for B0-B(-)0 mixing are known at NLO. We find that radiative corrections violate factorization at NLO; this violation is under full control and amounts to 10%. The resulting value of the B parameter is found to be B(B)(m(b))=1+0.1(PT)-0.05(non-PT).     

Observation of the decay xi0 --> sigma+ mu- nu(mu)

The xi0 muon semileptonic decay has been observed for the first time with nine identified events using the KTeV beam line and detector at Fermilab. The decay is normalized to the xi0 beta decay mode and yields a value for the ratio of decay rates gamma(xi0 --> sigma+ mu- nu(mu))/gamma(xi0 --> sigma+ e- nu(e)) of [1.8(-0.5)(+0.7)(stat) +/- 0.2(syst)] x 10(-2). This is in agreement with the SU(3) flavor symmetric quark model.     

Semileptonic decays of d mesons in three-flavor lattice QCD

We present the first three-flavor lattice QCD calculations for D-->pilnu and D-->Klnu semileptonic decays. Simulations are carried out using ensembles of unquenched gauge fields generated by the MILC Collaboration. With an improved staggered action for light quarks, we are able to simulate at light quark masses down to 1/8 of the strange mass. Consequently, the systematic error from the chiral extrapolation is much smaller than in previous calculations with Wilson-type light quarks. Our results for the form factors at q(2)=0 are f(D-->pi)(+)(0)=0.64(3)(6) and f(D-->K)(+)(0)=0.73(3)(7), where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic, added in quadrature. Combining our results with experimental branching ratios, we obtain the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix elements |V(cd)|=0.239(10)(24)(20) and |V(cs)|=0.969(39)(94)(24), where the last errors are from experimental uncertainties.     

Kl3 semileptonic form factor from (2+1)-flavor lattice QCD

We present the first results for the K13 form factor from simulations with 2+1 flavors of dynamical domain wall quarks. Combining our result, namely, f+(0)=0.964(5) with the latest experimental results for Kl3 decays leads to |V us|=0.2249(14), reducing the uncertaintity in this important parameter. For the O(p6) term in the chiral expansion we obtain Delta f=-0.013(5).     

Branching fraction measurements of B+-->rho+gamma, B0-->rho0gamma, and B0-->omegagamma

We present a study of the decays B+-->rho+gamma, B0-->rho0gamma, and B0-->omegagamma. The analysis is based on data containing 347 x 10(6) BB[over ] events recorded with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric B factory. We measure the branching fractions B(B+-->rho+)gamma)=(1.10_(-0.33)(+0.37)+/-0.09)x10(-6) and B(B0-->rho0gamma)=(0.79(-0.20)(+0.22)+/-0.06)x10(-6), and set a 90% C.L. upper limit B(B0-->omegagamma)<0.78 x 10(-6). We also measure the isospin-averaged branching fraction B(B-->(rho/omega)gamma)=(1.25(-0.24)(+0.25)+/-0.09)x10(-6), from which we determine |Vtd/Vts|=0.200(-0.020)(+0.021)+/-0.015, where the first uncertainty is experimental and the second is theoretical.     

Observation of B decays to two kaons

Using 449x10(6) BB[over ] pairs collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider, we observe clear signals for B(+)-->K[over ](0)K(+) and B(0)-->K[over ](0)K(0) decays with 5.3sigma and 6.0sigma significance, respectively. We measure the branching fractions B(B(+)-->K[over ](0)K(+))=(1.22(-0.28-0.16)(+0.32+0.13))x10(-6) and B(B(0)-->K[over ](0)K(0))=(0.87(-0.20)(+0.25)+/-0.09)x10(-6), and partial-rate asymmetries A(CP)(B(+)-->K[over ](0)K(+))=0.13(-0.24)(+0.23)+/-0.02 and A(CP)(B(0)-->K[over ](0)K(0))=-0.58(-0.66)(+0.73)+/-0.04. From a simultaneous fit, we also obtain B(B(+)-->K(0)pi(+))=(22.8(-0.7)(+0.8)+/-1.3)x10(-6) and A(CP)(B(+)-->K(0)pi(+))=0.03+/-0.03+/-0.01. The first and second error in the branching fractions and the partial-rate asymmetries are statistical and systematic, respectively. No signal is observed for B(0)-->K(+)K(-) decays, and for this branching fraction, we set an upper limit of 4.1x10(-7) at the 90% confidence level.     

Measurements of CP-violating asymmetries in B0-->K(0)(s)pi(0) decays

We present a measurement of the time-dependent CP-violating (CPV) asymmetries in B0-->K(0)(S)pi(0) decays based on 124x10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->BB decays collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B factory at SLAC. In a sample containing 122+/-16 signal decays, we obtain the magnitudes of the direct CPV asymmetry CK(0)(S)(pi(0))=0.40(+0.27)(-0.28)+/-0.09 and of the CPV asymmetry in the interference between mixing and decay SK(0)(S)(pi(0))=0.48(+0.38)(-0.47)+/-0.06 where the first error is statistical and the second systematic.     

Testing the chiral magnetic and chiral vortical effects in heavy ion collisions

We devise a test of the chiral magnetic and chiral vortical effects (CME and CVE) in relativistic heavy ion collisions that relies only on the general properties of triangle anomalies. We show that the ratio R(EB) = J(E)/J(B) of charge J(E) and baryon J(B) currents for CME is R(EB)(CME) → ∞ for three light flavors of quarks (N(f) = 3), and R(EB)(CME) = 5 for N(f) = 2, whereas for CVE it is R(EB)(CVE) = 0 for N(f) = 3 and R(EB)(CME) = 1/2 for N(f) = 2. The physical world with light u,d quarks and a heavier s quark is in between the N(f) = 2 and N(f) = 3 cases; therefore, the ratios R(EB) for CME and CVE should differ by over an order of magnitude providing a possibility to separate clearly the CME and CVE contributions. In both cases, there has to be a positive correlation between the charge and baryon number asymmetries that can be tested on the event-by-event basis.