Improving the kinetic couplings in lattice nonrelativistic QCD

We improve the non-relativistic QCD (NRQCD) action by comparing the dispersion relation to that of the continuum through $\mathcal{O}(p^6)$ in perturbation theory. The one-loop matching coefficients of the $\mathcal{O}(p^4)$ kinetic operators are determined, as well as the scale at which to evaluate $\alpha_s$ in the $V$-scheme for each quantity. We utilise automated lattice perturbation theory using twisted boundary conditions as an infrared regulator. The one-loop radiative corrections to the mass renormalisation, zero-point energy and overall energy-shift of an NRQCD $b$-quark are also found. We also explore how a Fat$3$-smeared NRQCD action and changes of the stability parameter $n$ aff…

Nucleon isovector charges and twist-2 matrix elements with Nf=2+1 dynamical Wilson quarks

We present results from a lattice QCD study of nucleon matrix elements at vanishing momentum transfer for local and twist-2 isovector operator insertions. Computations are performed on gauge ensembles with nonperturbatively improved ${N}_{f}=2+1$ Wilson fermions, covering four values of the lattice spacing and pion masses down to ${M}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}\ensuremath{\approx}200\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MeV}$. Several source-sink separations (typically $\ensuremath{\sim}1.0$ to $\ensuremath{\sim}1.5\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{fm}$) allow us to assess excited-state contamination. Results on individual ensembles are obtained from simultaneous two-state fits across all observables and all available sou…

Nucleon average quark momentum fraction with Nf = 2+1 Wilson fermions

We report on an analysis of the average quark momentum fraction of the nucleon and related quantities using Nf = 2 + 1 Wilson fermions. Computations are performed on four CLS ensembles covering three values of the lattice spacing at pion masses down to Mπ ≈ 200 MeV. Several source-sink separations (~ 1:0 fm to ~ 1:4 fm) are used to assess the excited-state contamination. To gain further insight, the generalized pencil-of-functions approach has been implemented to reduce the excited-state contamination in the relevant two-and three-point functions. Preliminary results are shown for the isovector nucleon charges from vector, axial vector and tensor derivative (twist-2) operators.

Hadronic light-by-light scattering contribution to the muon $g-2$ on the lattice

International Workshop on “Flavour Changing and Conserving Processes, FCCP2017, Anacapri, Italy, 7 Sep 2017 - 9 Sep 2017; The European physical journal / Web of Conferences 179, 01017 (2018). doi:10.1051/epjconf/201817901017

Decay constants of B-mesons from non-perturbative HQET with two light dynamical quarks

We present a computation of B-meson decay constants from lattice QCD simulations within the framework of Heavy Quark Effective Theory for the b-quark. The next-to-leading order corrections in the HQET expansion are included non-perturbatively. Based on Nf=2 gauge field ensembles, covering three lattice spacings a (0.08-0.05)fm and pion masses down to 190MeV, a variational method for extracting hadronic matrix elements is used to keep systematic errors under control. In addition we perform a careful autocorrelation analysis in the extrapolation to the continuum and to the physical pion mass limits. Our final results read fB=186(13)MeV, fBs=224(14)MeV and fBs/fB=1.203(65). A comparison with o…

The scalar radius of the pion in two-flavor Wilson lattice QCD

Charm quark mass and D-meson decay constants from two-flavour lattice QCD

We present a computation of the charm quark's mass and the leptonic D-meson decay constants f_D and f_{D_s} in two-flavour lattice QCD with non-perturbatively O(a) improved Wilson quarks. Our analysis is based on the CLS configurations at two lattice spacings (a=0.065 and 0.048 fm, where the lattice scale is set by f_K) and pion masses ranging down to ~ 190 MeV at L*m_pi > 4, in order to perform controlled continuum and chiral extrapolations with small systematic uncertainties.

Vector correlator and scale determination in lattice QCD

We implement a proposal made in [arXiv:1107.4388] to determine the lattice spacing by matching the lattice vector correlator at a reference distance scale with the same correlator obtained by a dispersion relation based on the $R$-ratio determined experimentally. We work with the isovector current, requiring a separation of the isovector hadronic final states on the phenomenological side. We also discuss the finite-size effect on the correlator, which must be controlled in order for the method to be applicable.

The scalar pion form factor in two-flavor lattice QCD

We calculate the scalar form factor of the pion using two dynamical flavors of non-perturbatively $\mathcal{O}(a)$-improved Wilson fermions, including both the connected and the disconnected contribution to the relevant correlation functions. We employ the calculation of all-to-all propagators using stochastic sources and a generalized hopping parameter expansion. From the form factor data at vanishing momentum transfer, $Q^2=0$, and two non-vanishing $Q^2$ we obtain an estimate for the scalar radius $\left^\pi_{_{\rm S}}$ of the pion at one value of the lattice spacing and for five different pion masses. Using Chiral Perturbation Theory at next-to-leading order, we find $\left^\pi_{_{\rm S…

Nucleon matrix elements from lattice QCD with all-mode-averaging and a domain-decomposed solver: An exploratory study

We study the performance of all-mode-averaging (AMA) when used in conjunction with a locally deflated SAP-preconditioned solver, determining how to optimize the local block sizes and number of deflation fields in order to minimize the computational cost for a given level of overall statistical accuracy. We find that AMA enables a reduction of the statistical error on nucleon charges by a factor of around two at the same cost when compared to the standard method. As a demonstration, we compute the axial, scalar and tensor charges of the nucleon in $N_f=2$ lattice QCD with non-perturbatively O(a)-improved Wilson quarks, using O(10,000) measurements to pursue the signal out to source-sink sepa…

Lattice calculation of the hadronic leading order contribution to the muon g − 2

The European physical journal / Web of Conferences Web of Conferences : proceedings proceedings 234, 01016 - (2020). doi:10.1051/epjconf/202023401016

The b-quark mass from non-perturbative Nf=2 Heavy Quark Effective Theory at O(1/mh)

Abstract We report our final estimate of the b-quark mass from N f = 2 lattice QCD simulations using Heavy Quark Effective Theory non-perturbatively matched to QCD at O ( 1 / m h ) . Treating systematic and statistical errors in a conservative manner, we obtain m ¯ b MS ¯ ( 2 GeV ) = 4.88 ( 15 ) GeV after an extrapolation to the physical point.

Excited state systematics in extracting nucleon electromagnetic form factors

We present updated preliminary results for the nucleon electromagnetic form factors for non-perturbatively $\mathcal{O}(a)$ improved Wilson fermions in $N_f=2$ QCD measured on the CLS ensembles. The use of the summed operator insertion method allows us to suppress the influence of excited states in our measurements. A study of the effect that excited state contaminations have on the $Q^2$ dependence of the extracted nucleon form factors may then be made through comparisons of the summation method to standard plateau fits, as well as to excited state fits.

The leading disconnected contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon

The hadronic vacuum polarization can be determined from the vector correlator in a mixed time-momentum representation. We explicitly calculate the disconnected contribution to the vector correlator, both in the $N_f = 2$ theory and with an additional quenched strange quark, using non-perturbatively $O(a)$-improved Wilson fermions. All-to-all propagators are computed using stochastic sources and a generalized hopping parameter expansion. Combining the result with the dominant connected contribution, we are able to estimate an upper bound for the systematic error that arises from neglecting the disconnected contribution in the determination of $(g-2)_\mu$.

Hindered M1 radiative decay ofϒ(2S)from lattice NRQCD

We present a calculation of the hindered M1 $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Upsilon}}(2S)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\eta}}_{b}(1S)\ensuremath{\gamma}$ decay rate using lattice nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics. The calculation includes spin-dependent relativistic corrections to the NRQCD action through $\mathcal{O}({v}^{6})$ in the quark's relative velocity, relativistic corrections to the leading order current which mediates the transition through the quark's magnetic moment, radiative corrections to the leading spin-magnetic coupling and for the first time a full error budget. We also use gluon field ensembles at multiple lattice spacing values, all of which include $u$, $d$, $s$ and…

Light-by-light forward scattering amplitudes in Lattice QCD

We present our preliminary results on the calculation of hadronic light-by-light forward scattering amplitudes using vector four-point correlation functions computed on the lattice. Using a dispersive approach, forward scattering amplitudes can be described by $\gamma^* \gamma^* \to$ hadrons fusion cross sections and then compared with phenomenology. We show that only a few states are needed to reproduce our data. In particular, the sum rules considered in this study imply relations between meson$-\gamma\gamma$ couplings and provide valuable information about individual form factors which are often used to estimate the meson-pole contributions to the hadronic light-by-light contribution to …

Scale setting via the \Omega\ baryon mass

We present the first results of an ongoing effort to determine the lattice scale on the N_f=2 CLS lattice ensembles via the mass of the \Omega\ baryon. Results from different methods are compared, and various sources of systematic uncertainty are discussed.

Direct calculation of hadronic light-by-light scattering

We report calculations of hadronic light-by-light scattering amplitudes via lattice QCD evaluation of Euclidean four-point functions of vector currents. These initial results include only the fully quark-connected contribution. Particular attention is given to the case of forward scattering, which can be related via dispersion relations to the $\gamma^* \gamma^* \to$ hadrons cross section, and thus allows lattice data to be compared with phenomenology. We also present a strategy for computing the hadronic light-by-light contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment.

Getting covariantly smeared sources into better shape

The use of covariantly smeared sources in hadronic correlators is a common method of improving the projection onto the ground state. Studying the dependence of the shape of such sources on the gauge field background, we find that localized fluxes of magnetic field can strongly distort the sources. This results in a reduction of the smearing radii that can be reached by iterative smearing prescriptions, in particular as the continuum limit is approached. As a remedy, we propose a novel covariant smearing procedure (“free-form smearing”) enabling the creation of arbitrarily shaped sources, including in particular Gaussians of arbitrary radius, as well as shapes with nodes, such as hydrogenic …

Isovector Axial Form Factor of the Nucleon from Lattice QCD

The isovector axial form factor of the nucleon plays a key role in interpreting data from long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments. We present a lattice QCD calculation of this form factor, introducing a new method to directly extract its z-expansion from lattice correlators. Our final parameterization of the form factor, which extends up to spacelike virtualities of 0.7 GeV^2 with fully quantified uncertainties, agrees with previous lattice calculations but is significantly less steep than neutrino-deuterium scattering data suggests.

B-physics from non-perturbatively renormalized HQET in two-flavour lattice QCD.

We report on the ALPHA Collaboration's lattice B-physics programme based on N_f=2 O(a) improved Wilson fermions and HQET, including all NLO effects in the inverse heavy quark mass, as well as non-perturbative renormalization and matching, to fix the parameters of the effective theory. Our simulations in large physical volume cover 3 lattice spacings a ~ (0.08-0.05) fm and pion masses down to 190 MeV to control continuum and chiral extrapolations. We present the status of results for the b-quark mass and the B_(s)-meson decay constants, f_B and f_{B_s}.

Electromagnetic form factors and axial charge of the nucleon from Nf = 2 + 1 Wilson fermions

We present an update on our determination of the electromagnetic form factors and axial charge of the nucleon from theNf= 2 + 1 CLS ensembles with increased statistics and an additional finer lattice spacing. We also investigate the impact ofO(a)-improvement of the currents.

Hadronic light-by-light scattering amplitudes from lattice QCD versus dispersive sum rules

The hadronic contribution to the eight forward amplitudes of light-by-light scattering ($\gamma^*\gamma^*\to \gamma^*\gamma^*$) is computed in lattice QCD. Via dispersive sum rules, the amplitudes are compared to a model of the $\gamma^*\gamma^*\to {\rm hadrons}$ cross sections in which the fusion process is described by hadronic resonances. Our results thus provide an important test for the model estimates of hadronic light-by-light scattering in the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, $a_\mu^{\rm HLbL}$. Using simple parametrizations of the resonance $M\to \gamma^*\gamma^*$ transition form factors, we determine the corresponding monopole and dipole masses by performing a global fit to …

Lattice QCD calculation of hadronic light-by-light scattering

We perform a lattice QCD calculation of the hadronic light-by-light scattering amplitude in a broad kinematical range. At forward kinematics, the results are compared to a phenomenological analysis based on dispersive sum rules for light-by-light scattering. The size of the pion pole contribution is investigated for momenta of typical hadronic size. The presented numerical methods can be used to compute the hadronic light-by-light contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. Our calculations are carried out in two-flavor QCD with the pion mass in the range of 270 to 450MeV, and contain so far only the diagrams with fully connected quark lines.

Fitting strategies to extract the axial charge of the nucleon from lattice QCD

We report on a comparison of several fit methods used for the extraction of the nucleon axial charge gA from lattice QCD with two dynamical flavours of O(a) improved Wilson quarks. We use plateau fits, summed operator insertions (the summation method) and a new “midpoint” method to investigate contributions from excited states that affect the determination of gA. We also present a method to perform correlated fits when the standard estimator for the inverse of the covariance matrix becomes unstable.