Semileptonic form factors D → \rightarrow π \pi , K and B → \rightarrow π \pi , K from a fine lattice

We extract the form factors relevant for semileptonic decays of D and B mesons from a relativistic computation on a fine lattice in the quenched approximation. The lattice spacing is a = 0.04 fm (corresponding to a -1 = 4.97 GeV), which allows us to run very close to the physical B meson mass, and to reduce the systematic errors associated with the extrapolation in terms of a heavy-quark expansion. For decays of D and Ds mesons, our results for the physical form factors at \ensuremath q^2 = 0 are as follows: \ensuremath f_+^{D\rightarrow\pi}(0) = 0.74(6)(4) , \ensuremath f_+^{D \rightarrow K}(0) = 0.78(5)(4) and \ensuremath f_+^{D_s \rightarrow K} (0) = 0.68(4)(3) . Similarly, for B and Bs we find \ensuremath f_+^{B\rightarrow\pi}(0) = 0.27(7)(5) , \ensuremath f_+^{B\rightarrow K} (0) = 0.32(6)(6) and \ensuremath f_+^{B_s\rightarrow K}(0) = 0.23(5)(4) . We compare our results with other quenched and unquenched lattice calculations, as well as with light-cone sum rule predictions, finding good agreemen

Theoretical and Phenomenological Constraints on Form Factors for Radiative and Semi-Leptonic B-Meson Decays

We study transition form factors for radiative and rare semi-leptonic B-meson decays into light pseudoscalar or vector mesons, combining theoretical constraints and phenomenological information from Lattice QCD, light-cone sum rules, and dispersive bounds. We pay particular attention to form factor parameterisations which are based on the so-called series expansion, and study the related systematic uncertainties on a quantitative level. In this context, we also provide the NLO corrections to the correlation function between two flavour-changing tensor currents, which enters the unitarity constraints for the coefficients in the series expansion.Comment: 52 pages; v2: normalization error in (29ff.) corrected, conclusion about relevance of unitarity bounds modified; form factor fits unaffected; references added; v3: discussion on truncation of series expansion added, matches version to be published in JHEP; v4: corrected typos in Tables 5 and

Wave interaction in rotary vibro-tactile displays for human communication

This project began with the aim of developing an efficient vibrotactile communication device. A review of existing devices, mainly designed for speech communication, suggested that although adding an extra stimulator can improve the performance in some situations, it can degrade the performance in another situation. To explain these varied results, the properties of the human vibrotactile system involved in the perception of mechanical stimuli were studied. This study suggested that there is a great deal of interaction within the vibrotactile perceptual system, part of which is essential for a stimulus to be perceived. It also raised the question regarding the relative importance of the interaction which takes place prior to the tactile receptor as opposed to that occurring from the receptor onwards. Methods to reduce this interaction were introduced and on this basis a novel rotary vibrator was developed. A psychophysical method specifically aimed at measuring the interaction at the level between the stimulation site and the tactile receptors was developed. This method is based on the detection of "beats" arising from stimulation of two vibrators at slightly different frequencies. A system capable of driving a pair of similar vibrators at approximately 15dB SL over the frequency range of 25-500Hz was developed. The results of the psychophysical tests show that the introduced method of measuring interaction is indeed a practical method. In addition, the data from this study suggest that there is a difference between the perceived level of interaction from the two types of vibrators. The interaction is less in the case of the rotary vibrator compared to the conventional perpendicular vibrator at frequencies lower than about 50Hz. These findings offer a new way to look at the development of future vibrotactile devices

Bayesian Fit of Exclusive b→sℓˉℓb \to s \bar\ell\ell Decays: The Standard Model Operator Basis

We perform a model-independent fit of the short-distance couplings $C_{7,9,10}$ within the Standard Model set of $b\to s\gamma$ and $b\to s\bar\ell\ell$ operators. Our analysis of $B \to K^* \gamma$, $B \to K^{(*)} \bar\ell\ell$ and $B_s \to \bar\mu\mu$ decays is the first to harness the full power of the Bayesian approach: all major sources of theory uncertainty explicitly enter as nuisance parameters. Exploiting the latest measurements, the fit reveals a flipped-sign solution in addition to a Standard-Model-like solution for the couplings $C_i$. Each solution contains about half of the posterior probability, and both have nearly equal goodness of fit. The Standard Model prediction is close to the best-fit point. No New Physics contributions are necessary to describe the current data. Benefitting from the improved posterior knowledge of the nuisance parameters, we predict ranges for currently unmeasured, optimized observables in the angular distributions of $B\to K^*(\to K\pi)\,\bar\ell\ell$.Comment: 42 pages, 8 figures; v2: Using new lattice input for f_Bs, considering Bs-mixing effects in BR[B_s->ll]. Main results and conclusion unchanged, matches journal versio

Two-loop Corrections to the B to pi Form Factor from QCD Sum Rules on the Light-Cone and |V(ub)|

We calculate the leading-twist O(alphas^2 beta0) corrections to the B to pi transition form factor f+(0) in light-cone sum rules. We find that, as expected, there is a cancellation between the O(alphas^2 beta0) corrections to fB f+(0) and the large corresponding corrections to fB, calculated in QCD sum rules. This suggests the insensitivity of the form factors calculated in the light-cone sum rules approach to this source of radiative corrections. We further obtain an improved determination of the CKM matrix element |V(ub)|, using latest results from BaBar and Belle for f+(0)|V(ub)|.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figure

catena-Poly[[diiodidomercury(II)]-μ2-2-amino­pyrazine-κ2 N 1:N 4]

In the crystal of the title polymeric compound, [HgI2(C4H5N3)]n, the HgII cation is located on a twofold rotation axis and is coordinated by two I− anions and two 2-amino­pyrazine ligands in a distorted HgI2N2 tetra­hedral geometry. In the crystal, the 2-amino­pyrazine ligand is equally disordered over two positions about an inversion center, and bridges the HgII cations with pyrazine N atoms to form a polymeric chain running along the c axis. In the polymeric chain, the amino groups link to the coordinated I− anions via inter­molecular N—H⋯I hydrogen bonds

catena-Poly[[bis­(pyridine-3-carb­oxy­lic acid-κN)mercury(II)]-di-μ-chlorido]

In the title compound, [HgCl2(C6H5NO2)2]n, the HgII cation is located on an inversion center and is six-coordinated in a distorted octa­hedral geometry by two N atoms from two pyridine-3-carb­oxy­lic acid mol­ecules and four bridging Cl− anions. The bridging function of the Cl− anions leads to polymeric chains running along the a axis. One Hg—Cl bond is much longer than the other. In the crystal, O—H⋯O and weak C—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds are observed

Dichloridobis(pyrazine-2-carboxamide-κN 4)zinc(II)

In the crystal of the title compound, [ZnCl2(C5H5N3O)2], the mol­ecule has m symmetry, with the ZnII cation and Cl− anions located on the mirror plane. The ZnII cation is coordinated by two Cl− anions and two pyrazine-2-carboxamide ligands in a distorted ZnCl2N2 tetra­hedral geometry. The two pyrazine rings are nearly perpendicular to each other [dihedral angle = 86.61 (10)°]. Inter­molecular N—H⋯O and N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds and weak C—H⋯O inter­actions stabilize the crystal packing

Dibromidobis(pyrazine-2-carboxamide-κN 4)zinc

The title complex, [ZnBr2(C5H5N3O)2], shows crystallographic mirror symmetry with the Zn atom and the two bromine ligands located on the mirror plane. The Zn atom is four-coordinated in a distorted tetra­hedral fashion by two N atoms from two pyrazine-2-carboxamide ligands and two Br atoms. Only one of the amino H atoms is involved in an N—H⋯O hydrogen bond. The crystal packing is further stabilized by weak N—H⋯N and C—H⋯O inter­actions