Dimensional Reduction applied to QCD at three loops

Dimensional Reduction is applied to \qcd{} in order to compute various renormalization constants in the \drbar{} scheme at higher orders in perturbation theory. In particular, the $\beta$ function and the anomalous dimension of the quark masses are derived to three-loop order. Special emphasis is put on the proper treatment of the so-called $\epsilon$-scalars and the additional couplings which have to be considered.Comment: 13 pages, minor changes, references adde

An Algorithm to Construct Groebner Bases for Solving Integration by Parts Relations

This paper is a detailed description of an algorithm based on a generalized Buchberger algorithm for constructing Groebner-type bases associated with polynomials of shift operators. The algorithm is used for calculating Feynman integrals and has proven itself efficient in several complicated cases.Comment: LaTeX, 9 page

The Casimir energy of skyrmions in the 2+1-dimensional O(3)-model

One-loop quantum corrections to the classical vortices in 2+1 dimensional O(3)-models are evaluated. Skyrme and Zeeman potential terms are used to stabilize the size of topological solitons. Contributions from zero modes, bound-states and scattering phase-shifts are calculated for vortices with winding index n=1 and n=2. For both cases the S-matrix shows a pronounced series of resonances for magnon-vortex scattering in analogy to the well-established baryon resonances in hadron physics, while vortices with n>2 are already classically unstable against decay. The quantum corrections destabilize the classically bound n=2 configuration. Approximate independence of the results with respect to changes in the renormalization scale is demonstrated.Comment: 24 pages LaTeX, 14 figure

Building a collaborative culture in cardiothoracic operating rooms: Pre and postintervention study protocol for evaluation of the implementation of teamSTEPPS training and the impact on perceived psychological safety

IntroductionThe importance of effective communication, a key component of teamwork, is well recognised in the healthcare setting. Establishing a culture that encourages and empowers team members to speak openly in the cardiothoracic (CT) operating room (OR) is necessary to improve patient safety in this high-risk environment.Methods and analysisThis study will take place at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, an academic hospital in affiliation with Washington University School of Medicine located in the USA. All team members participating in cardiac and thoracic OR cases during this 17-month study period will be identified by the primary surgical staff attending on the OR schedule.TeamSTEPPS (Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety) training course will be taught to all CT OR staff. Before TeamSTEPPS training, staff will respond to a 39-item questionnaire that includes constructs from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture, Edmondson’s ‘Measure of psychological safety’ questionnaire, and questionnaires on turnover intentions, job satisfaction and ‘burnout’. The questionnaires will be readministered at 6 and 12 months.The primary outcomes to be assessed include the perceived psychological safety of CT OR team members, the overall effect of TeamSTEPPS on burnout and job satisfaction, and observed turnover rate among the OR nurses. As secondary outcomes, we will be assessing self-reported rates of medical error and near misses in the ORs with a questionnaire at the end of each case.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval is not indicated as this project does not meet the federal definitions of research requiring the oversight of the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Patient health information (PHI) will not be generated during the implementation of this project. Results of the trial will be made accessible to the public when published in a peer-reviewed journal following the completion of the study.</jats:sec

OPE coefficient functions in terms of composite operators only. Singlet case

A method for calculating coefficient functions of the operator product expansion, which was previously derived for the non-singlet case, is generalized for the singlet coefficient functions. The resulting formula defines coefficient functions entirely in terms of corresponding singlet composite operators without applying to elementary (quark and gluon) fields. Both "diagonal" and "non-diagonal" gluon coefficient functions in the product expansion of two electromagnetic currents are calculated in QCD. Their renormalization properties are studied.Comment: 33 pages, 15 figures, minor corrections are mad

Four-dimensional integration by parts with differential renormalization as a method of evaluation of Feynman diagrams

It is shown how strictly four-dimensional integration by parts combined with differential renormalization and its infrared analogue can be applied for calculation of Feynman diagrams.Comment: 6 pages, late

Four-loop beta function and mass anomalous dimension in Dimensional Reduction

Within the framework of QCD we compute renormalization constants for the strong coupling and the quark masses to four-loop order. We apply the DR-bar scheme and put special emphasis on the additional couplings which have to be taken into account. This concerns the epsilon-scalar--quark Yukawa coupling as well as the vertex containing four epsilon-scalars. For a supersymmetric Yang Mills theory, we find, in contrast to a previous claim, that the evanescent Yukawa coupling equals the strong coupling constant through three loops as required by supersymmetry.Comment: 15 pages, fixed typo in Eq. (18

An off-shell I.R. regularization strategy in the analysis of collinear divergences

We present a method for the analysis of singularities of Feynman amplitudes based on the Speer sector decomposition of the Schwinger parametric integrals combined with the Mellin-Barnes transform. The sector decomposition method is described in some details. We suggest the idea of applying the method to the analysis of collinear singularities in inclusive QCD cross sections in the mass-less limit regularizing the forward amplitudes by an off-shell choice of the initial particle momenta. It is shown how the suggested strategy works in the well known case of the one loop corrections to Deep Inelastic Scattering.Comment: 25 pages, 3 figure

Two-Loop Bhabha Scattering in QED

In the context of pure QED, we obtain analytic expressions for the contributions to the Bhabha scattering differential cross section at order alpha^4 which originate from the interference of two-loop photonic vertices with tree-level diagrams and from the interference of one-loop photonic diagrams amongst themselves. The ultraviolet renormalization is carried out. The IR-divergent soft-photon emission corrections are evaluated and added to the virtual cross section. The cross section obtained in this manner is valid for on-shell electrons and positrons of finite mass, and for arbitrary values of the center of mass energy and momentum transfer. We provide the expansion of our results in powers of the electron mass, and we compare them with the corresponding expansion of the complete order alpha^4 photonic cross section, recently obtained in hep-ph/0501120. As a by-product, we obtain the contribution to the Bhabha scattering differential cross section of the interference of the two-loop photonic boxes with the tree-level diagrams, up to terms suppressed by positive powers of the electron mass. We evaluate numerically the various contributions to the cross section, paying particular attention to the comparison between exact and expanded results.Comment: 35 pages, 18 figure

Periods and Feynman integrals

We consider multi-loop integrals in dimensional regularisation and the corresponding Laurent series. We study the integral in the Euclidean region and where all ratios of invariants and masses have rational values. We prove that in this case all coefficients of the Laurent series are periods.Comment: 22 pages, appendix added, version to be publishe