Recently, the first ever lattice computation of the $γW$-box radiative correction to the rate of the semileptonic pion decay allowed for a reduction of the theory uncertainty of that rate by a factor of $\sim3$. A recent dispersion evaluation of the $γW$-box correction on the neutron also led to a significant reduction of the theory uncertainty, but shifted the value of $V_{ud}$ extracted from the neutron and superallowed nuclear $β$ decay, resulting in a deficit of the CKM unitarity in the top row. A direct lattice computation of the $γW$-box correction for the neutron decay would provide an independent cross-check for this result but is very challenging. Before those challenges are overcome, we propose a hybrid analysis, converting the lattice calculation on the pion to that on the neutron by a combination of dispersion theory and phenomenological input. The new prediction for the universal radiative correction to free and bound neutron $β$-decay reads $Δ_R^V=0.02477(24)$, in excellent agreement with the dispersion theory result $Δ_R^V=0.02467(22)$. Combining with other relevant information, the top-row CKM unitarity deficit persists.
In this talk I briefly review the precision test of the first row CKM unitarity, focusing mainly on $V_{ud}$ and $V_{us}$ extracted from pion, kaon, neutron and superallowed nuclear beta decays. I will discuss the current status of several important Standard Model theory inputs to these processes, and the need for future improvements.
The tau neutrino is the least well measured particle in the Standard Model. Most notably, the tau neutrino row of the lepton mixing matrix is quite poorly constrained when unitarity is not assumed. In this paper, we identify data sets involving tau neutrinos that improve our understanding of the tau neutrino part of the mixing matrix, in particular $ν_τ$ appearance in atmospheric neutrinos. We present new results on the elements of the tau row leveraging existing constraints on the electron and muon rows for the cases of unitarity violation, with and without kinematically accessible steriles. …
The unitarity of the CKM matrix is examined in the light of the latest available accurate data. The analysis shows that for the elements in the first row, there are two types of experimental measurements leading to different results for the violation of unitarity. A conclusive result cannot be derived at present. Only more precise data can determine whether the CKM matrix opens new vistas beyond the standard model or not. The experimental data for the elements in the second row are not as precise as for those in the first row, and within the measured uncertainty, the unitarity is not violated.…
The unitarity of the lepton mixing matrix is a critical assumption underlying the standard neutrino-mixing paradigm. However, many models seeking to explain the as-yet-unknown origin of neutrino masses predict deviations from unitarity in the mixing of the active neutrino states. Motivated by the prospect that future experiments may provide a precise measurement of the lepton mixing matrix, we revisit current constraints on unitarity violation from oscillation measurements and project how next-generation experiments will improve our current knowledge. With the next-generation data, the normali…
We present a new calculation of the $D \rightarrow π, l ν$ semileptonic form factor $f^{D \rightarrow π}_+(q^2)$ at $q^2 = 0$ based on HISQ charm and light valence quarks on MILC $N_f = 2 +1$ lattices. Using methods developed recently for HPQCD's study of $D \rightarrow K, l ν$ decays, we find $f^{D \rightarrow π}_+(0) = 0.666(29)$. This signifies a better than factor of two improvement in errors for this quantity compared to previous calculations. Combining the new result with CLEO-c branching fraction data, we extract the CKM matrix element $|V_{cd}| = 0.225(6)_{exp.}(10)_{lat.}$, where the …
Precision tests of first-row unitarity of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix currently display two intriguing tensions, both at the $3σ$ level. First, combining determinations of $V_{ud}$ from superallowed $β$ decays with $V_{us}$ from kaon decays suggests a deficit in the unitarity relation. At the same time, a tension of similar significance has emerged between $K_{\ell 2}$ and $K_{\ell 3}$ decays. In this Letter, we point out that a measurement of the $K_{\mu3}/K_{μ2}$ branching fraction at the level of $0.2\%$ would have considerable impact on clarifying the experimental situation in the…
In the Standard Model of elementary particles, quark-mixing is expressed in terms of a 3 x 3 unitary matrix V, the so called Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix. Significant unitarity checks are so far possible for the first row of this matrix. This article reviews the experimental and theoretical information on these matrix elements. On the experimental side, we find a 2.2 sigma to 2.7 sigma deviation from unitarity, which conflicts with the Standard Model.
Unitarity is a fundamental property of any theory required to ensure we work in a theoretically consistent framework. In comparison with the quark sector, experimental tests of unitarity for the 3x3 neutrino mixing matrix are considerably weaker. It must be remembered that the vast majority of our information on the neutrino mixing angles originates from $\overlineν_e$ and $ν_μ$ disappearance experiments, with the assumption of unitarity being invoked to constrain the remaining elements. New physics can invalidate this assumption for the 3x3 subset and thus modify our precision measurements. W…
Due to a recent more precise evaluation of $V_{ud}$ and $V_{us}$, the unitarity condition of the first row in the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix: $|V_{ud}|^2 + |V_{us}|^2 + |V_{ub}|^2 = 0.99798 \pm 0.00038$ now stands at a deviation more than $4σ$ from unity. Furthermore, a mild excess in the overall Higgs signal strength appears at about $2σ$ above the standard model (SM) prediction, as well as the long-lasting discrepancy in the forward-backward asymmetry ${\cal A}_{\rm FB}^b$ in $Z\to b\bar b$ at LEP. Motivated from the above three anomalies we investigate an extension of the SM wit…
The angles of all unitarity triangles of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix are determined from the experimental data. Our analysis is independent of the parameterization of the CKM matrix and it is based on the predictions of the unitarity for the angles and the areas of the unitarity triangles. We note that the lengths of the sides of the four unitarity triangles determined from the experimental data do not form a triangle. We resolve this incompatibility by performing a constrained fit, assuming the equality of the area of the unitarity triangles. We demonstrate that the measured data are…
New developments in both the theories and experiments related to the extraction of the top-row Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix elements $V_{ud}$ and $V_{us}$ led to a series of new anomalies, for instance the apparent violation of the top-row unitarity relation. It is important to further reduce all the associated Standard Model theory uncertainties in order to better understand whether such observations point towards the possibility of physics beyond the Standard Model, or rather some unexpectedly large Standard Model effects. This requires improved studies of tree-level and higher-order Sta…
We point out that hints of deviations from unitarity in the first row of the CKM matrix may be explained by the presence of a single vector-like top. We study how the stringent experimental constraints arising from CP Violation in the kaon sector and from meson mixing such as $D^0$-$\overline{D}^0$, $K^0$-$\overline{K}^0$ and $B^0_{d,s}$-$\overline{B}^0_{d,s}$ can be satisfied in the proposed framework. In order for the deviations from unitarity to be of the required size while keeping the theory perturbative, the new top quark should have a mass $m_T \lesssim 7$ TeV which could be probed in u…
$f_K/f_π$ in iso-symmetric QCD and the CKM matrix unitarity
Helmholtz Institute Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg University（美因茨亥姆霍兹研究所，约翰内斯·古腾堡大学）；GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research（GSI重离子研究中心）；John von Neumann-Institut für Computing NIC, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY（约翰·冯·诺依曼计算研究所NIC，德国电子同步加速器DESY）；Instituto de Física Corpuscular (IFIC), CSIC-Universitat de València（粒子物理研究所(IFIC)，西班牙科学理事会-瓦伦西亚大学）
We explore the possibility of resolving simultaneously the $W$-boson mass shift reported by the CDF collaboration and the apparent deviation from unitarity in the first row of the CKM mixing matrix in a class of left-right symmetric models. The fermion masses are generated in these models through a universal seesaw mechanism, utilizing vector-like partners of the usual fermions. We find a unique solution to the two anomalies where the mixing of the down quark with a vector-like quark (VLQ) resolves the CKM unitarity puzzle, and the mixing of the top quark with a VLQ partner explains the $W$ bo…
A new critical survey is presented of all half-life, decay-energy and branching-ratio measurements related to 20 superallowed 0+ --> 0+ beta decays. Included are 222 individual measurements of comparable precision obtained from 177 published references. Compared with our last review in 2008, we have added results from 24 new publications and eliminated 9 references, the results from which having been superseded by much more precise modern data. We obtain world-average ft-values for each of the eighteen transitions that have a complete set of data, then apply radiative and isospin-symmetry-brea…
The structure of the mixing matrix, in the electroweak quark sector with four generations of quarks is investigated. We conclude that the area of the unitarity quadrangle is not a good choice as a possible measure of the CP~violation. In search of new physics we analyze how the existence of the 4-th quark family may influence on the values of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix and we show that one can test for the existence of the 4-th generation using the Jarlskog invariants of the known quarks only. The analysis based on the measured unitary triangle exhibits some tension with the assumpti…
Recent high precision determinations of $V_{us}$ and $V_{ud}$ indicate towards anomalies in the first row of the CKM matrix. Namely, determination of $V_{ud}$ from superallowed beta decays and of $V_{us}$ from kaon decays imply a violation of first row unitarity at about $4σ$ level. Moreover, there is tension between determinations of $V_{us}$ obtained from leptonic $K\mu2$ and semileptonic $K\ell3$ kaon decays. These discrepancies can be explained if there exist extra vector-like quarks at the TeV scale, which have large enough mixings with the lighter quarks. In particular, extra vector-like…
The Cabibbo-Cobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix parametrizes the misalignement between the up- and down-quark mass basis in the Standard Model (SM). The observation of first row CKM unitarity violation has recently emerged as a new anomaly of the SM, known as the "Cabibbo Angle Anomaly" (CAA). With current measurements, comparing the elements $V_{ud}$ and $V_{us}$ extracted from beta and kaon decays respectively, the tension with the SM prediction amounts to $\sim$$3\,σ$. Recently, it has been pointed out that this anomaly can also be seen as a discrepancy in the determination of the Fermi constant…
Experimental checks of the second row unitarity of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix involve extractions of the matrix element $V_{cd}$, which may be obtained from semileptonic decay rates of $D$ to $π$. These decay rates are proportional to hadronic form factors which parameterize how the quark $c \to d$ transition is realized in $D \to π$ meson decays. The form factors can not yet be analytically computed over the whole range of available momentum transfer $q^2$, but can be parameterized with a varying degree of model dependency. We propose using artificial neural networks trained f…
We determine the ratio FK/Fpi in QCD with Nf=2+1 flavors of sea quarks, based on a series of lattice calculations with three different lattice spacings, large volumes and a simulated pion mass reaching down to about 190 MeV. We obtain FK/Fpi=1.192 +/- 0.007(stat) +/- 0.006(syst). This result is then used to give an updated value of the CKM matrix element |Vus|. The unitarity relation for the first row of this matrix is found to be well observed.
The existing experimental evidence on the vector and axial-vector coupling constants, $G_V$ and $G_A$, for neutron $β$-decay exhibits two prominent problems: (i) the unitarity for the first row of the CKM matrix seems violated; (ii) one obtains different values of $G_A/G_V$ according to whether one uses as input the neutron lifetime or neutron-decay correlation observables. We show that the in-medium modification of $G_A$ can influence both the inner and outer radiative corrections used in deducing $G_V$ from the super-allowed Fermi transitions and that this effect may resolve the long-standin…
A new critical survey is presented of all half-life, decay-energy and branching-ratio measurements related to 20 0+ to 0+ beta decays. Compared with our last review, there are numerous improvements: First, we have added 27 recently published measurements and eliminated 9 references; of particular importance, the new data include a number of high-precision Penning-trap measurements of decay energies. Second, we have used the recently improved isospin symmetry-breaking corrections. Third, our calculation of the statistical rate function now accounts for possible excitation in the daughter atom. …
We present a lattice QCD computation and preliminary results for the leptonic decay constants of the pseudoscalar mesons $K$, $D$ and $D_{s}$ in the isosymmetric QCD limit. The computation is based on simulations of $N_f = 2+1+1$ dynamical quarks performed by the Extended Twisted Mass Collaboration (ETMC), where the light, strange and charm quark masses are all tuned at their physical values. We also present preliminary unitarity checks for the first and second rows of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix.
We present a calculation of the leptonic decay-constant ratio $f_K/f_π$ in 2+1 flavor QCD. Our data set includes five lattice spacings and pion masses reaching down below the physical one. Special emphasis is placed on a careful study of all systematic uncertainties, especially the continuum extrapolation. Our result is perfectly compatible with the first-row unitarity constraint of the Standard Model.
CKM matrix is unitary by construction in the standard model(SM). The recent analyses on the first row of CKM matrix show $ \approx 3σ$ tension with unitarity. Nonperturbative calculations of the radiative corrections can reduce the theory uncertainty in CKM matrix elements. Here we compute the electroweak box contribution to the pion and kaon $β$ decays using seven $N_f=2+1+1$ HISQ-Clover lattice with various pion mass and lattice spacing. The continuum and chiral limit is taken using the leading dependence on $M_π$ and $a$, where $M_π$ extrapolation is taken to the physical pion mass and $SU(…
We review the physics of purely leptonic decays of $π^\pm$, $K^\pm$, $D^{\pm}$, $D_s^\pm$, and $B^\pm$ pseudoscalar mesons. The measured decay rates are related to the product of the relevant weak-interaction-based CKM matrix element of the constituent quarks and a strong interaction parameter related to the overlap of the quark and antiquark wave-functions in the meson, called the decay constant $f_P$. The leptonic decay constants for $π^\pm$, $K^\pm$, $D^{\pm}$, $D_s^\pm$, and $B^\pm$ mesons can be obtained with controlled theoretical uncertainties and high precision from {\it ab initio} lat…
We discuss the reduction of errors in the calculation of the form factor $f_+^{K π}(0)$ with HISQ fermions on the $N_f=2+1+1$ MILC configurations from increased statistics on some key ensembles, new data on ensembles with lattice spacings down to 0.042 fm and the study of finite-volume effects within staggered ChPT. We also study the implications for the unitarity of the CKM matrix in the first row and for current tensions with leptonic determinations of $\vert V_{us}\vert$.
We determine the hyperon vector couplings $f_1(0)$ for $Σ^{-}\rightarrow nl^-\bar{ν_l}$ and $Ξ^0\rightarrowΣ^{+}l^-\bar{ν_l}$ semileptonic decays in the continuum limit with (2+1)-flavors of dynamical domain-wall fermions, using the Iwasaki gauge action at two different lattice spacings of $a$=0.114(2) and 0.086(2) fm. A theoretical estimation of flavor SU(3)-breaking effect on the vector coupling is required to extract $V_{us}$ from the experimental rate of hyperon beta decays. We obtain the vector couplings $f_1(0)$ for $Σ\rightarrow N$ and $Ξ\rightarrow Σ$ beta-decays with an accuracy of le…
Using HISQ $N_f=2+1+1$ MILC ensembles with five different values of the lattice spacing, including four ensembles with physical quark masses, we have performed the most precise computation to date of the $K\toπ\ellν$ vector form factor at zero momentum transfer, $f_+^{K^0π^-}(0)=0.9696(15)_\text{stat}(12)_\text{syst}$. This is the first calculation that includes the dominant finite-volume effects, as calculated in chiral perturbation theory at next-to-leading order. Our result for the form factor provides a direct determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element $|V_{us}|=0.22333(…
We present a new calculation of the K->pi semileptonic form factor at zero momentum transfer in domain wall lattice QCD with Nf=2+1 dynamical quark flavours. By using partially twisted boundary conditions we simulate directly at the phenomenologically relevant point of zero momentum transfer. We perform a joint analysis for all available ensembles which include three different lattice spacings (a=0.09-0.14fm), large physical volumes (m_pi*L>3.9) and pion masses as low as 171 MeV. The comprehensive set of simulation points allows for a detailed study of systematic effects leading to the predict…
We report on the physical-point RBC/UKQCD calculation of the leading isospin-breaking corrections to light-meson leptonic decays. This is highly relevant for future precision tests in the flavour physics sector, in particular the first-row unitarity of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix containing the elements $V_{us}$ and $V_{ud}$. The simulations were performed using Domain-Wall fermions for $2+1$ flavours, and with isospin-breaking effects included perturbatively in the path integral through order $α$ and $(m_u - m_d)/Λ_{\mathrm{QCD}}$. We use QED$_{\mathrm{L}}$ for the inclusion of elect…
We determine the decay constants of the pi and K mesons on gluon field configurations from the MILC collaboration including u, d, s and c quarks. We use three values of the lattice spacing and u/d quark masses going down to the physical value. We use the w_0 parameter to fix the relative lattice spacing and f_pi to fix the overall scale. This allows us to obtain a value for f{K^+}/f{pi^+} = 1.1916(21). Comparing to the ratio of experimental leptonic decay rates gives |Vus| = 0.22564(28){Br(K^+)}(20){EM}(40){latt}(5){Vud} and the test of unitarity of the first row of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maska…
We report new shell-model calculations of the isospin-symmetry-breaking correction to superallowed nuclear beta decay. The most important improvement is the inclusion of core orbitals, which are demonstrated to have a significant impact on the mismatch in the radial wave functions of the parent and daughter states. We determine which core orbitals are important to include from an examination of measured spectroscopic factors in single-nucleon pick-up reactions. We also examine the new radiative-correction calculation by Marciano and Sirlin and, by a simple reorganization, show that it is possi…
If the CKM matrix element $V_{ud}$, that can be derived from superallowed nuclear decays, neutron decay and pion beta decay, is used for a precision test of the unitarity of the CKM matrix, the combination of the present world data seems to indicate a small violation of the unitarity condition for the first row. While an accurate calculation of the radiative corrections of $O(\a)$ (RC) is crucial in order to determine the value of $V_{ud}$ as precisely as possible, the theoretical analysis has been limited in the past by the rather crude estimate of the effect of the hadronic structure. Only t…
We analyze the prospective impact of supersymmetric radiative corrections on tests of charged current universality involving light quarks and leptons. Working within the R-parity conserving Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, we compute the corresponding one-loop corrections that enter the extraction of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element $V_{ud}$ from a comparison of the muon-decay Fermi constant with the vector coupling constant determined from nuclear and neutron $β$-decay. We also revisit earlier studies of the corrections to the ratio $R_{e/μ}$ of pion leptonic decay rates $Γ[…
We calculate the kaon semileptonic form factor $f_+(0)$ from lattice QCD, working, for the first time, at the physical light-quark masses. We use gauge configurations generated by the MILC collaboration with $N_f=2+1+1$ flavors of sea quarks, which incorporate the effects of dynamical charm quarks as well as those of up, down, and strange. We employ data at three lattice spacings to extrapolate to the continuum limit. Our result, $f_+(0) = 0.9704(32)$, where the error is the total statistical plus systematic uncertainty added in quadrature, is the most precise determination to date. Combining …
We propose a novel dispersive treatment of the so-called inner radiative correction to the neutron and nuclear $β$-decay. We show that it requires knowledge of the parity-violating structure function $F_3^{(0)}$ that arises from the interference of the axial vector charged current and the isoscalar part of the electromagnetic current. By isospin symmetry, we relate this structure function to the charged current inelastic scattering of neutrinos and antineutrinos. Applying this new data-driven analysis we obtain a new, more precise evaluation for the universal radiative correction $Δ_{R}^{V,\,n…
There are two tensions related to the Cabibbo angle of the CKM matrix. First, the determinations of $V_{us}$ from $K_{μ2}$, $K_{\ell3}$, and $τ$ decays disagree at the $3σ$ level. Second, using the average of these results in combination with $β$ decays (including super-allowed $β$ decays and neutron decay), a deficit in first-row CKM unitarity with a significance of again about $3σ$ is found. These discrepancies, known as the Cabibbo Angle anomaly, can in principle be solved by modifications of $W$ boson couplings to quarks. However, due to $SU(2)_L$ invariance, $Z$ couplings to quarks are al…
The leading electromagnetic (e.m.) and strong isospin-breaking corrections to the $π^+ \to μ^+ ν[γ]$ and $K^+ \to μ^+ ν[γ]$ leptonic decay rates are evaluated for the first time on the lattice. The results are obtained using gauge ensembles produced by the European Twisted Mass Collaboration with $N_f = 2 + 1 + 1$ dynamical quarks. The relative leading-order e.m.~and strong isospin-breaking corrections to the decay rates are 1.53(19)\% for $π_{μ2}$ decays and 0.24(10)\% for $K_{μ2}$ decays. Using the experimental values of the $π_{μ2}$ and $K_{μ2}$ decay rates and updated lattice QCD results f…
We present a determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix elements $|V_{cd}|$ and $|V_{cs}|$ obtained by combining the momentum dependence of the semileptonic vector form factors $f_+^{D \to π}(q^2)$ and $f_+^{D \to K}(q^2)$, recently determined from lattice QCD simulations, with the differential rates measured for the semileptonic $D \to π\ell ν$ and $D \to K \ell ν$ decays. Our analysis is based on the results for the semileptonic form factors produced by the European Twisted Mass Collaboration with $N_f = 2 + 1 + 1$ flavors of dynamical quarks in the whole range of values of the sq…
We discuss preliminary results for the vector form factors $f_+^{\{π,K\}}$ at zero-momentum transfer for the decays $D\toπ\ellν$ and $D\to K \ellν$ using MILC's $N_f = 2+1+1$ HISQ ensembles at four lattice spacings, $a \approx 0.042, 0.06, 0.09$, and 0.12 fm, and various HISQ quark masses down to the (degenerate) physical light quark mass. We use the kinematic constraint $f_+(q^2)= f_0(q^2)$ at $q^2 = 0$ to determine the vector form factor from our study of the scalar current, which yields $f_0(0)$. Results are extrapolated to the continuum physical point in the framework of hard pion/kaon SU(…
The decreasing uncertainties in theoretical predictions and experimental measurements of several hadronic observables related to weak processes, which in many cases are now smaller than $\mathrm{O}(1\%)$, require theoretical calculations to include subleading corrections that were neglected so far. Precise determinations of leptonic and semi-leptonic decay rates, including QED and strong isospin-breaking effects, can play a central role in solving the current tensions in the first-row unitarity of the CKM matrix. In this work we present the first RBC/UKQCD lattice calculation of the isospin-br…
A calculation of the ratio of leptonic decay constants f_{K^+}/f_{π^+} makes possible a precise determination of the ratio of CKM matrix elements |V_{us}|/|V_{ud}| in the Standard Model, and places a stringent constraint on the scale of new physics that would lead to deviations from unitarity in the first row of the CKM matrix. We compute f_{K^+}/f_{π^+} numerically in unquenched lattice QCD using gauge-field ensembles recently generated that include four flavors of dynamical quarks: up, down, strange, and charm. We analyze data at four lattice spacings a ~ 0.06, 0.09, 0.12, and 0.15 fm with s…
We present a lattice QCD calculation of the pseudoscalar decay constants fK, fD and fDs performed using the gauge configurations produced by the European Twisted Mass Collaboration with Nf = 2 + 1 + 1 dynamical quarks, which include in the sea, besides two light mass degenerate quarks, also the strange and charm quarks with masses close to their values in the real world. The simulations are based on a unitary setup for the two light mass-degenerate quarks and on a mixed action approach for the strange and charm quarks. We use data simulated at three different values of the lattice spacing in t…
