In this talk we review the theoretical status of the lifetime ratios of heavy hadrons and of the B-mixing quantities $ΔM_s$, $ΔΓ_s$ and $ϕ_s$. While $ΔM_s$ and $ΔΓ_s$ suffer from large uncertainties due to the badly known decay constants, the ratio $ΔΓ_s / ΔM_s$ can be determined with almost no non-perturbative uncertainties, therefore it can be used to look for possible new physics effects.
We give an update on the lifetime difference of $B_s$ mesons which accounts for recent lattice bag parameter results, and obtain $(ΔΓ/Γ)_{B_s}=(9.3^{+3.4}_{-4.6})%$. We then review the current theoretical uncertainties and conclude with a pessimistic perspective on further improvements.
We review the current status of the high order perturbative QCD evaluation of the hadronic decay rates of the Z and Higgs bosons. A systematic classification of the various types of QCD corrections to $O(α_s^2)$ and $O(α_s^3)$ is made and their numerical status is clarified.
We review recent experimental results on hadronic decays and lifetimes of hadrons containing b and c quarks. We discuss charm counting and the semileptonic branching fraction in B decays, the color suppressed amplitude in B and D decay, and the search for gluonic penguins in B decay.
We briefly review the current status of theoretical calculations for Higgs production at hadron colliders within the Standard Model. We focus on the main production mechanisms and decay modes at the Tevatron and the LHC.
The status of heavy quark expansions for charm and beauty lifetime ratios is reviewed. Taking note of the surprising semiquantitative success of this description for charm hadrons I interprete the new data on $τ(D_s)$ and re-iterate the call for more precise measurements of $τ(Ξ_c^{0,+})$ and $τ(Ω_c)$. A slightly larger $B^-$ than $B_d$ lifetime is starting to emerge as predicted; the largest lifetime difference in the beauty sector, namely in $τ(B_c)$ vs. $τ(B)$ has correctly been predicted; the problem posed by the short $Λ_b$ lifetime remains. The need for more accurate data also on $τ(B_s)…
The problem of the hierarchy of lifetimes of charmed hadrons is reviewed. The QCD-based theory of preasymptotic effects in inclusive weak decays dating back to the beginning of the eighties is now entering its mature phase. Combining recent and old results we argue that the observed hierarchy reflects most intimate features of the hadronic structure. The problem of a wide spread of lifetimes of charmed hadrons is addressed. We speculate on what is to be expected from QCD to provide the observed pattern. A number of predictions is given for the hierarchy of lifetimes in the family of the beauti…
Hadron elementary particle measurements have long revealed an alpha-dependence in the long-lived threshold-state lifetimes, together with an alpha-related mass structure, where alpha ~ 1/137 is the fine structure constant. A detailed lifetime analysis shows that of the 156 particles with well-determined lifetimes, the 120 shortest lifetimes have a continuum of values, but the 36 longer lifetimes occur in alpha-spaced groups which are sorted into s, c, b quark flavors. Guided by these lifetime results, we deduce an alpha-generated set of universal mass quanta, based on the electron ground state…
We present the theoretical status of the lifetimes of weakly decaying heavy hadrons containing a bottom or a charm quark, and discuss the current predictions, based on the framework of the Heavy Quark Expansion (HQE), for both mesons and baryons. Potential improvements to reduce the theoretical uncertainties are also highlighted.
We review current status of theoretical predictions of lifetimes of heavy hadrons in heavy-quark expansion. We present a calculation of subleading 1/m_b corrections to spectator effects in the ratios of beauty hadron lifetimes. We find that these effects are sizable and should be taken into account in systematic analyses of heavy hadron lifetimes. In particular, the inclusion of 1/m_b corrections brings into agreement the theoretical predictions and experimental observations of the ratio of lifetimes of Lambda_b-baryon and B_d meson. We obtain τ(B_u)/τ(B_d) = 1.09 \pm 0.03, τ(B_s)/τ(B_d)= 1.00…
A theoretical treatment for the weak decays of heavy-flavour hadrons has been developed that is genuinely based on QCD. Its methodology as it applies to total lifetimes and the underlying theoretical issues are sketched. Predictions are compared with present data. One discrepancy emerges: the beauty baryon lifetime appears to be significantly shorter than expected. The ramifications of those findings are analyzed in detail.
B-hadron physics plays a fundamental role to test and improve our understanding of flavor dynamics within and beyond the Standard Model. Of particular phenomenological interest are beauty hadron lifetime ratios and, width differences and semileptonic CP-asymmetries in B_d and B_s systems. We discuss their theoretical predictions which, in the last years, have been improved thanks to accurate lattice calculations of operator matrix elements and perturbative computations of Wilson coefficients.
We review the status of mixing and lifetimes of $b$-hadrons. We will show that $ΔΓ/ ΔM$, $a_{sl}$ and $ϕ$ are better suited to search for new physics effects than $ΔM$ alone, because of our poor knowledge of the decay constants. The theoretical precision in the determination of $Γ_{12} / M_{12}$ - which contains all information on $ΔΓ/ ΔM$, $a_{sl}$ and $ϕ$ - can be tested directly by investigating the lifetimes of $b$-hadrons, because both quantities rely on the same theoretical footing. In particular we will also present a numerical estimate for the lifetime of the $Ξ_b$-baryon.
We develop perturbative QCD factorization theorems for inclusive b-hadron decays, in which radiative corrections characterized by the hadronic scale, the b-hadron mass, and the W boson mass are absorbed into a heavy hadron distribution function, a hard b quark decay amplitude, and a "harder" function, respectively. Double logarithmic corrections associated with a light energetic final-state quark, which appear at kinematic end points, are absorbed into a jet function. Various large logarithms contained in the above functions are summed to all orders, leading to the evolution factors among the …
I discuss the heavy quark expansion for the inclusive widths of heavy-light hadrons, which predicts quite well the experimental ratios of B_q meson lifetimes. As for $Λ_b$, current determinations of ${\cal O}(m_b^{-3})$ contribution to $τ(Λ_b)$ do not allow to explain the small measured value of $τ(Λ_b)/τ(B_d)$. As a final topic, I discuss the implications of the measurement of the B_c lifetime.
The lifetime splitting between the B^+ and B_d^0 mesons has recently been calculated in the next-to-leading order of QCD. These corrections are necessary for a reliable theoretical prediction, in particular for the meaningful use of hadronic matrix elements computed with lattice QCD. Using results from quenched lattice QCD we find tau(B^+)/tau(B^0_d)=1.053 +/- 0.016 +/- 0.017, where the uncertainties from unquenching and 1/m_b corrections are not included. The lifetime difference of heavy baryons Xi_b^0 and Ξ_b^- is also discussed.
We discuss (i) the evaluation of the expectation values of four-quark operators assuming that the heavy quark expansion for $b$ sector converges at the third order in $1/m_Q$, and (ii) the estimation of the duality breaking short distance nonperturbative corrections to the parton decay rate. We finally point out the implications of the result obtained for the assumption of quark-hadron duality in heavy quark expansion.
We show that in a confining hidden valley model where the lightest hidden particles are dark hadrons that have mass splittings larger than $\mathcal{O}(0.1)$ GeV, if the lightest dark hadron is either stable or decays into Standard Model (SM) hadrons/charged leptons during the big-bang nucleosynthesis (BBN), at least one of the heavier dark hadrons needs to decay into SM particles within $\mathcal{O}(10)$ nanosec. Once being produced at collider experiments, this heavier dark hadron is likely to decay within $\mathcal{O}(1)$ meter distance, which strengthens the motivation of searching for lon…
We give an updated summary of the topics covered in Working Group I of the 2nd Workshop on the CKM Unitarity Triangle, with emphasis on the results obtained since the 1st CKM Workshop. The topics covered include the measurement of |V_{ub}|, of |V_{cb}| and of non-perturbative Heavy Quark Expansion parameters, and the determination of b-hadron lifetimes and lifetime differences.
Over the last few years a theoretical treatment for the weak decays of heavy-flavour hadrons has been developed that is genuinely based on QCD. Its methodology is described as it applies to total lifetimes, and the underlying theoretical issues are discussed. Theoretical expectations are compared with present data. One discrepancy emerges: the beauty baryon lifetime appears to be significantly shorter than predicted. The ramifications of those findings are analyzed in detail, and future refinements are described.
We give a review of the theoretical status of the lifetime predictions in the standard model. In case of $(ΔΓ/ Γ)_{B_s}$ we are already in a rather advanced stage. We obtain $(ΔΓ/Γ)_{B_s}=(9.3^{+3.4}_{-4.6})%$. It seems to be difficult to improve these errors substantially. In addition now some experimental results are available. For $τ_{B^+}/τ_{B_d}$ and $τ_{Λ_b} / τ_{B_d}$ the theoretical status is much less advanced and the discrepancy between experiment and theory still remains. We conclude with a what-to-do-list for theorists.
We update the hadronic tau determination of |V_{us}|, showing that current strange branching fractions produce results 2-3 sigma lower than 3-family unitarity expectations. Issues related to the size of theoretical uncertainties and results from an alternate, mixed tau-electroproduction sum rule determination (which, by construction, produces a much smaller theoretical uncertainty), are also considered.
The preasymptotic effects originating from the four-quark operators are disentangled from the other contributions by considering appropriate combinations of inclusive decay rates. Under the assumption of the isospin and heavy-quark symmetry, a set of relations connecting charmed and beauty decays is obtained without invoking specific models. The results are compared with other approaches and confronted with experiment.
I review recent evaluations of the hadronic contributions to the muon anomalous magnetic moment (g-2)_mu and to the effective fine structure constant alpha (M_Z). A new estimate for the hadronic shift delta_alpha hadronic = 0.027782 +/- 0.000254 is presented which implies 1/alpha (M_Z) = 128.913 +/- 0.035. It is based on a recent perturbative calculation of the Adler function which includes mass effects up to three-loops in a MOM scheme and requires little ad hoc assumptions. I then discuss perspectives for possible improvements in estimations of g-2 which we expect from the Phi--factory DAPHN…
We review recent experimental results on lifetimes and hadronic decays of hadrons that contain $c$ and $b$ quarks. The theoretical implications of these results are also considered. An understanding of hadronic decays of heavy quarks is required to interpret the CP violating asymmetries in $B$ decays that will be observed in experiments planned for the near future.
The lifetime differences of bottom hadrons are known to be properly explained within the framework of heavy quark effective field theory(HQEFT) of QCD via the inverse expansion of the dressed heavy quark mass. In general, the spectrum around the endpoint region is not well behaved due to the invalidity of $1/m_Q$ expansion near the endpoint. The curve fitting method is adopted to treat the endpoint behavior. It turns out that the endpoint effects are truly small and the explanation on the lifetime differences in the HQEFT of QCD is then well justified. The inclusion of the endpoint effects mak…
Inclusive bottom hadron decays are analyzed based on the heavy quark effective field theory (HQEFT). Special attentions in this paper are paid to the b\to u transitions and nonspectator effects. As a consequence, the CKM quark mixing matrix elements |V_ub| and |V_cb| are reliably extracted from the inclusive semileptonic decays B\to X_u e νand B\to X_c e ν. Various observables, such as the semileptonic branch ratio B_SL, the lifetime differences among B^-, B^0, B_s and Λ_b hadrons, the charm counting n_c, are predicted and found to be consistent with the present experimental data.
Employing an approach based on the Green functions of Landau-gauge QCD, some selected results from a calculation of meson and baryon properties are presented. A rainbow-ladder truncation to the quark Dyson-Schwinger equation is used to arrive at a unified description of mesons and baryons by solving Bethe-Salpeter and covariant Faddeev equations, respectively.
We describe a theoretical approach to compute inclusive widths of heavy hadrons, based on a systematic expansion in the inverse powers of the heavy quark mass. The method reproduces quite well the experimental ratios of $B$ mesons lifetimes. As for $τ(Λ_b)/τ(B_d)$, we present a QCD sum rule calculation of the $O(m_b^{-3})$ contribution to $τ(Λ_b)$; we conclude that such correction is not responsible of the small experimental value of $τ(Λ_b)/τ(B_d)$.
A detailed, quantitative re-examination of the effect of hadron dynamics on baryon decay, modeled in terms of Skyrme-field tunneling, indicates that any hadronic suppression should be quite mild. This appears to be another illustration of the `Cheshire-cat' phenomenon, that variation of the apportionment between description of the nucleon as a bag of quarks and description as a Skyrme field configuration has little influence on many nucleon properties. Perhaps the largest remaining uncertainty in evaluating the decay rate has to do with the overlap between a specified quark-antiquark configura…
Inclusive heavy-flavour decays can be described through $1/m_Q$ expansions derived from QCD with the help of an operator product expansion. I sketch their methodology and apply them first to semileptonic B decays; $|V(cb)|$ can be extracted from $Γ_{SL}(B)$ and $\bar B \to l νD^*$ with the result: $|V(cb)|_{incl} = 0.0413 \pm 0.0016_{exp} \pm 0.002_{theor}$, $|V(cb)|_{excl} = 0.0377 \pm 0.0016_{exp} \pm 0.002_{theor}$. The lifetimes of charm and beauty hadrons are discussed. The charm lifetimes are predicted/reproduced as well as could be expected. Predictions on B meson lifetimes agree with a…
The heavy quark expansion implemented through an operator product expansion provides us with a treatment of inclusive decays of beauty and charm hadrons that is genuinely derived from QCD,though it requires one additional assumption, namely that of 'local' quark-hadron duality. Subtleties in the application of factorization to hadronic expectation values are pointed out. The observed pattern in the charm lifetime ratios is reproduced in a semi-quantitative manner. The ratio $τ(Λ_b)/τ(B_d)$ cannot be pushed significantly below 0.9 -- unless one invokes a new hitherto unknown paradigm for evalua…
The status of theoretical predictions for top-quark pair production at hadron colliders is reviewed, focusing on the total cross section, differential distributions, and the description of top-quark production and decay including off-shell effects.
A phenomenological analysis of lifetimes of bottom and charmed hadrons within the framework of the heavy quark expansion is performed. The baryon matrix element is evaluated using the bag model and the nonrelativistic quark model. We find that bottom-baryon lifetimes follow the pattern $τ(Ω_b)\simeqτ(Ξ_b^-)>τ(Λ_b)\simeqτ(Ξ_b^0)$. However, neither the lifetime ratio $τ(Λ_b)/τ( B_d)$ nor the absolute decay rates of the $Λ_b$ baryon and $B$ mesons can be explained. One way of solving both difficulties is to allow the presence of linear $1/m_Q$ corrections by scaling the inclusive nonleptonic widt…
For the envisioned precision measurement of the W-boson mass at present and future lepton and hadron colliders it is crucial that the theoretical predictions for the underlying production processes are well under control. We briefly describe the status of the predictions for the W-pair-production processes at e+ e- colliders, e+ e- -> W+ W- -> 4f, and for W- and Z-boson production at pp and p anti-p colliders, pp, p anti-p -> W -> l nu_l and pp, p anti-p -> Z,gamma -> l+ l- (l=e,mu). We also discuss the theoretical improvements needed to meet the experimental accuracies one hopes to achieve in…
This report summarizes the experimental and theoretical status of hadronic molecules, which are weakly-bound states of two or more hadrons. We begin with a brief history of the subject and discuss a few good candidates, and then abstract some signatures for molecules which may be of interest in the classification of possible molecule states. Next we argue that a more general understanding of $2\to 2$ hadron-hadron scattering amplitudes will be crucial for molecule searches, and discuss some of our recent work in this area. We conclude with a discussion of a few more recent molecule candidates …
I briefly review the status and recent progress in the theoretical understanding of non-leptonic decays of beauty and charm hadrons. Focusing on a personal selection of topics, this covers perturbative calculations in quantum chromodynamics, analyses using flavour symmetries of strong interactions, and the modelling of the relevant hadronic input functions.
We present an update of the theoretical predictions for the cross section of top-quark pair production at Tevatron and LHC. In particular we employ improvements due to soft gluon resummation at next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy. We expand the resummed results and derive analytical finite-order cross sections through next-to-next-to-leading order which are exact in all logarithmically enhanced terms near threshold. These results are the best present estimates for the top-quark pair production cross section. We investigate the scale dependence as well as the sensitivity on the parton …
In this talk we review the recent progress on the numerical determination of the Hadronic Light-by-Light contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon and we discuss the role of experimental data on the accuracy of its determination. Special emphasis on the main contribution, the pseudoscalar piece, is made. Gathering recent progress in the light-by-light scattering contribution we consider $a_μ^{\mathrm{HLBL}} = (12.1\pm3.0)\times10^{-10}$ as a good summary of the state-of-the-art calculations which still claims for a $4σ$ deviation between theory and experiment for the $(g-2)_μ$.
In this work we discuss the theoretical status for the study of the lifetime of heavy hadrons. After presenting some introductory topics like the effective weak Hamiltonian and the heavy quark effective theory (HQET), we describe the construction of the heavy quark expansion (HQE), which constitutes the theoretical framework to systematically compute the total decay width of heavy hadrons, in terms of an expansion in inverse powers of the heavy quark mass. The structure of the HQE is discussed in detail, and the computation of the lowest dimensional contributions, explicitly outlined. Particul…
We review the theoretical status of the lifetime ratios $τ_{B^+} / τ_{B_d}$, $τ_{B_s} / τ_{B_d}$, $τ_{Λ_b} / τ_{B_d}$ and $τ_{B_c}$ and of the mixing quantities $ΔM_s$, $ΔΓ_s$ and $ϕ_s$. $ΔM_s$ and $ΔΓ_s$ suffer from large uncertainties due to the badly known decay constants, while the ratio $ΔΓ_s / ΔM_s$ can be determined with almost no non-perturbative uncertainties, therefore it can be used perfectly to find possible new physics contributions in the mixing parameters. We suggest a very clear method of visualizing the bounds on new physics and demonstrate this by combining the latest experim…
Combined results on b-hadron lifetimes, b-hadron production rates, B^0_d - \bar{B^0_d} and B^0_s -\bar{B^0_s} oscillations, the decay width difference between the mass eigenstates of the B^0_s -\bar{B^0_s} system, and the values of the CKM matrix elements | V_cb | and \Vert V_ub | are obtained from published and preliminary measurements available in Summer 99 from the ALEPH, CDF, DELPHI, L3, OPAL and SLD Collaborations.
Lifetime differences of heavy hadrons can be consistently computed in heavy-quark expansion. The leading effects appear through spectator interactions at order 1/m_b^3. We compute a well-defined subset of 1/m_b^4 corrections to the lifetime ratio of Lambda_b baryon and B_d meson. We find that these corrections are large and should be taken into account in the systematic analysis of heavy hadron lifetimes. We claim that they could shift the ratio τ_{Λ_b}/τ_{B_d} by as much as -4.5%, significantly reducing the discrepancy between the theoretical predictions and experimental observations.
I give a detailed introduction into the theoretical formalism for epsilon'/epsilon, which measures direct CP-violation in K -> pi pi decays. The current status of hadronic matrix elements and the strange quark mass is discussed. Several possible explanations of the unexpectedly high experimental results for epsilon'/epsilon are pointed out: A small strange quark mass, an enhancement of the hadronic parameter B_6^(1/2) from the sigma resonance, an underestimate of isospin breaking and possible new physics contributions in the sdZ-vertex and the sd-gluon-vertex.
Recent measurements of lifetimes of some $b$-flavored hadrons are presented and interpreted in the context of theoretical models, especially the Heavy Quark Expansion. Decay widths and decay width differences in the $B_s^0-\overline{B}_s^0$ system are discussed from studies of decays into the final states $J/ψK^+K^-$, $J/ψπ^+π^-$, $D_s^+D_s^-$, $K^+K^-$, and $D_s^{\pm}π^{\mp}$. Lifetime measurements of the baryons $Λ_b^0$, $Ξ_b^-$, $Ξ_b^0$, and $Ω_b^-$ are also shown.
We present a calculation of subleading 1/m_b corrections to spectator effects in the ratios of beauty hadron lifetimes in heavy-quark expansion. We find that these effects are sizable and should be taken into account in systematic analyses of heavy hadron lifetimes. In particular, the inclusion of 1/m_b corrections brings into agreement the theoretical predictions and experimental observations of the ratio of lifetimes of Λ_b-baryon and B_d meson. We obtain τ(B_u)/τ(B_d) = 1.06 \pm 0.02, τ(B_s)/τ(B_d)= 1.00 \pm 0.01, τ(Λ_b)/τ(B_d)= 0.86 \pm 0.05.
I review the present status of the automatic NLO tools MadLoop and aMC@NLO by presenting, as an example of their use, phenomenological studies of hadron collider processes. Perspectives on applications to linear collider Physics are also discussed
We discuss neutral B_{s,d} meson mixing and b-hadron lifetimes from the perspective of recent lattice calculations. In particular, we consider matrix elements which can be combined with measured ΔM_{s,d} to constrain |V_{td}|, the lifetime ratios τ(Λ_b)/τ(B_d) and τ(B^-)/τ(B_d) and the lifetime difference, ΔΓ_s/Γ_s, in the neutral B_s meson system.
Hadronic resonances, having very short lifetime, like $\rm{K}^{*0}$, can act as useful probes to understand and estimate lifetime of hadronic phase in ultra-relativistic proton-proton, p--Pb and heavy-ion collisions. Resonances with relatively longer lifetime, like $ϕ$ meson, can serve as a tool to locate the QGP phase boundary. We estimate a lower limit of hadronic phase lifetime in Cu--Cu and Au--Au collisions at RHIC, and in pp, p--Pb and Pb--Pb collisions at different LHC collision energies. Also, we obtain the effective temperature of $ϕ$ meson using Boltzmann-Gibbs Blast-Wave function, w…
The theoretical status of Higgs boson and supersymmetric particle production at hadron colliders is reviewed with particular emphasis on recent results and open problems.
We provide an extensive study of the lifetimes of singly charmed baryons and mesons, within the heavy quark expansion with all known corrections included. A special attention is devoted to the choice of the charm mass and wavefunctions of heavy baryons. We give our predictions for lifetimes, lifetime ratios, and semileptonic branching ratios of singly charmed baryons. Our results accommodate the experimentally-favoured hierarchy of singly charmed baryon lifetimes \begin{eqnarray*} τ\left(Ξ_c^{0}\right) < τ\left(Λ_c^{+}\right)< τ\left(Ω_c^{0}\right) < τ\left(Ξ_c^{+}\right)\, \end{eqnarray*} in …
