Hadronic corrections to QCD sum rules and light quark masses

A parametrization of theJ ^p =0^? hadronic continuum, in the framework of Extended PCAC, is discussed with emphasis on finite-width effects and on the constraints imposed by the correct threshold behavior of the pion spectral function. As an application light quark masses are calculated using both Hilbert and Laplace transform QCD sum rules. The results for the runing quark masses are: \((\bar m_u + \bar m_d )|_{1 Gev} = 16 \pm 2 MeV,(\bar m_u + \bar m_s )|_{1 Gev} = 199 \pm 27 MeV\) , and a ratio \(R \equiv 2(\bar m_u + \bar m_s )/(\bar m_u + \bar m_d )_{1 Gev} = 25 \pm 4\) .     

Constituent quark masses from modified perturbative QCD

A recently proposed modified perturbative expansion for QCD incorporating gluon condensation is employed to evaluate the quark and gluon self-energy corrections in first approximation. The results predict mass values of 1/3 of the nucleon mass for the light quarks u, d, and s and a monotonously growing variation with the current mass. The only phenomenological input is that is evaluated up to order as a function of the unique parameter C defining the modified propagator, and then C is fixed to give a current estimate of . The light quarks u and d as a result are found to be confined and the s, c, b and t ones show damped propagation modes, suggesting a model for the large differences in stability between the nucleons and the higher resonances. The above properties of quark modes diverge from the fully confinement result following from the similar gluon propagator previously considered by Munczek and Nemirovski. On the other hand, the condensate effects on the gluon self-energy furnish a tachyonic mass shell as predicted by the Fukuda analysis of gluon condensation in QCD. Received: 28 September 2001 / Revised version: 15 November 2001 / Published online: 8 February 2002     

On QCD sum rules of the Laplace transform type and light quark masses

We discuss the relation between the usual dispersion relation sum rules and the Laplace transform type sum rules in QCD. Two specific examples corresponding to the ?-coupling constant sum rule and the light quark masses sum rules are considered. An interpretation, within QCD, of Leutwyler's formula for the current algebra quark masses is also given.     

Dynamical quark effects on light quark masses

Light quark masses are calculated in lattice QCD with two degenerate flavors of dynamical quarks. The calculations are made with improved actions with lattice spacing a = 0.22-0.11 fm. In the continuum limit we find m(M&Smacr;)(ud)(2 GeV) = 3.44(+0.14)(-0.22) MeV using the pi and rho meson masses as physical input, and m(M&Smacr;)(s)(2 GeV) = 88(+4)(-6) MeV or 90(+5)(-11) MeV with the K or straight phi meson mass as additional input. The quoted errors represent statistical and systematic combined, the latter including those from continuum and chiral extrapolations, and from renormalization factors. Compared to quenched results, two flavors of dynamical quarks reduce quark masses by about 25%.     

The β-function for effective quark masses to two loops in QCD

We calculate the evolution equation for effective masses in QCD to two loops in the minimal subtraction scheme of 't Hooft. We compare our result with two other recent calculations and make some comments on the gauge independence and regularization dependence of the β-functions.     

Hadron masses in QCD with one quark flavour

One-flavour QCD – a gauge theory with SU(3) colour gauge group and a fermion in the fundamental representation – is studied by Monte Carlo simulations. The mass spectrum of the hadronic bound states is investigated in a volume with extensions of L≃4.4r₀ (≃ 2.2 fm) at two different lattice spacings: a≃0.37r₀ (≃ 0.19 fm) and a≃0.27r₀ (≃ 0.13 fm). The lattice action is a Symanzik tree-level improved Wilson action for the gauge field and an (unimproved) Wilson action for the fermion.     

Meson screening masses from lattice QCD with two light quarks and one strange quark

We present results for screening masses of mesons built from light and strange quarks in the temperature range of approximately between 140 MeV to 800 MeV. The lattice computations were performed with 2+1 dynamical light and strange flavors of improved (p4) staggered fermions along a line of constant physics defined by a pion mass of about 220 MeV and a kaon mass of 500 MeV. The lattices had temporal extents N _τ =4, 6 and 8 and aspect ratios of N _s /N _τ ≥4. At least up to a temperature of 140 MeV the pseudo-scalar screening mass remains almost equal to the corresponding zero temperature pseudo-scalar (pole) mass. At temperatures around 3T _c (T _c being the transition temperature) the continuum extrapolated pseudo-scalar screening mass approaches very close to the free continuum result of 2πT from below. On the other hand, at high temperatures the vector screening mass turns out to be larger than the free continuum value of 2πT. The pseudo-scalar and the vector screening masses do not become degenerate even for a temperature as high as 4T _c . Using these mesonic spatial correlation functions we have also investigated the restoration of chiral symmetry and the effective restoration of the axial symmetry. We have found that the vector and the axial-vector screening correlators become degenerate, indicating chiral symmetry restoration, at a temperature which is consistent with the QCD transition temperature obtained in previous studies. On the other hand, the pseudo-scalar and the scalar screening correlators become degenerate only at temperatures larger than 1.3T _c , indicating that the effective restoration of the axial symmetry takes place at a temperature larger than the QCD transition temperature.     

QCD equation of state: Physical quark masses and asymptotic temperatures

Within a phenomenological quasiparticle model, the quark mass and temperature dependence of the QCD equation of state is discussed and compared with lattice QCD results. Different approximations for the quasiparticle dispersion relations are employed, scaling properties of the equation of state with quark mass and deconfinement temperature are investigated and a continuation to asymptotically large temperatures is presented.     

The effect of quark masses on the running of the QCD coupling constant

The presence of thresholds for finite quark masses alters the behavior of the QCD coupling constant. While the alterations are small they can have significant influence on the determination of the scale parameter Λ. Part of the discrepancy between recent highQ ² determinations of Λ and older lowQ ² determinations can be attributed to charm and bottom thresholds. We present simple, analytic expressions for the mass dependence of α(Q ²) and exploit these to discuss Λ determinations, scale breaking and the phenomenon of temporary freedom when more than 17 quark flavors exist.     

On the choice of quark currents in the QCD sum rules for baryon masses

The cryteria for the choice of the most suitable quark currents in the QCD sum rules for baryon masses are discussed. The currents used in [1, 2] are preferable comparing with those adopted in [3, 4] since the latters result in large power corrections.     

QCD predictions for charm and bottom quark production at RHIC

We make up-to-date QCD predictions for open charm and bottom production at RHIC in nucleon-nucleon collisions at square root of S=200 GeV. We also calculate the electron spectrum resulting from heavy flavor decays to allow direct comparison to the data. A rigorous benchmark, including the theoretical uncertainties, is established against which nuclear collision data can be compared to obtain evidence for nuclear effects.     

Analysis of the QCD spectrum and chiral symmetry breaking with varying quark masses

The meson spectrum of QCD is studied in the framework of nonperturbative QCD as a function of varying quark masses m _q . It is shown that the total spectrum consists of two branches: 1) the standard one, which may be called the flux-tube spectrum, depending approximately linearly on m _q , and 2) the chiral symmetry breaking (CSB) spectrum for pseudoscalar (PS) flavor nonsinglet mesons with mass dependence √m _q . The formalism for PS mesons is derived from the QCD Lagrangian with m _q corrections, and a unified form of the PS propagator was derived. It is shown that the CSB branch of PS mesons joins to the flux-tube branch at around m _q = 200 MeV. All these results are in close correspondence with recent numerical data on large lattices.     

Non-relativistic QCD for heavy quark systems

We employ a non-relativistic version of QCD (NRQCD) to study heavy bound states in the lowest approximation without fine structure. We use gluon configurations on a 6³×48 lattice at β=6.2 from the UKQCD Collaboration. For a bare quark mass near that of the b-quark (Ma=1.6) we obtain the bound state masses for the S-, P- and both types of D-waves. We also detect signals for two types of hybriges ( states). The results are sufficiently accurate to confirm that the values of the D-wave mass from both D-waves coincide thus indicating that the cubical invariance of the lattice is restored to full rotational invariance to a good approximation. We also study S- and P-wave masses for values of the range of bare quark mass Ma=1.0, 1.3, 1.6 and 1.9. The results confirm the idea that the S/P-splitting is relatively insensitive to the value of the bare quark mass.     

Isospin violation,light quark masses,and all that

Isospin violation is driven through the light quark mass difference and electromagnetic effects.I review recent progress in extracting the light quark mass difference and tests of the chiral dynamics of Quantum Chromodynamics in various reactions involving light as well as heavy quarks.     

Isospin violation, light quark masses, and all that

Isospin violation is driven through the light quark mass difference and electromagnetic effects. I review recent progress in extracting the light quark mass difference and tests of the chiral dynamics of Quantum Chromodynamics in various reactions involving light as well as heavy quarks.