Renormalization-group analysis of the validity of staggered-fermion QCD with the fourth-root recipe

I develop a renormalization-group blocking framework for lattice QCD with staggered fermions. Under plausible, and testable, assumptions, I then argue that the fourth-root recipe used in numerical simulations is valid in the continuum limit. The taste-symmetry violating terms, which give rise to non-local effects in the fourth-root theory when the lattice spacing is non-zero, vanish in the continuum limit. A key role is played by reweighted theories that are local and renormalizable on the one hand, and that approximate the fourth-root theory better and better as the continuum limit is approached on the other hand.Comment: Minor corrections. Revtex, 58 page

Renormalization of Bilinear Quark Operators for Overlap Fermions

We present non-perturbative renormalization constants of fermionic bilinears on the lattice in the quenched approximation at beta=6.1 using an overlap fermion action with hypercubic(HYP)-blocked links. We consider the effects of the exact zero modes of the Dirac operator and find they are important in calculating the renormalization constants of the scalar and pseudoscalar density. The results are given in the RI' and MS bar schemes and compared to the perturbative calculations.Comment: 14 pages, 13 figure

Finite-volume two-pion energies and scattering in the quenched approximation

We investigate how L\"uscher's relation between the finite-volume energy of two pions at rest and pion scattering lengths has to be modified in quenched QCD. We find that this relation changes drastically, and in particular, that ``enhanced finite-volume corrections" of order $L^0=1$ and $L^{-2}$ occur at one loop ($L$ is the linear size of the box), due to the special properties of the $\eta'$ in the quenched approximation. We define quenched pion scattering lengths, and show that they are linearly divergent in the chiral limit. We estimate the size of these various effects in some numerical examples, and find that they can be substantial.Comment: 22 pages, uuencoded, compressed postscript fil

Lattice QCD at the end of 2003

I review recent developments in lattice QCD. I first give an overview of its formalism, and then discuss lattice discretizations of fermions. We then turn to a description of the quenched approximation and why it is disappearing as a vehicle for QCD phenomenology. I describe recent claims for progress in simulations which include dynamical fermions and the interesting theoretical problems they raise. I conclude with brief descriptions of the calculations of matrix elements in heavy flavor systems and for kaons.Comment: Review for Int J Mod Phys A. 58 pages, latex, WSPC macros,, 22 postscript figure

Applications of Partially Quenched Chiral Perturbation Theory

Partially quenched theories are theories in which the valence- and sea-quark masses are different. In this paper we calculate the nonanalytic one-loop corrections of some physical quantities: the chiral condensate, weak decay constants, Goldstone boson masses, B_K and the K+ to pi+ pi0 decay amplitude, using partially quenched chiral perturbation theory. Our results for weak decay constants and masses agree with, and generalize, results of previous work by Sharpe. We compare B_K and the K+ decay amplitude with their real-world values in some examples. For the latter quantity, two other systematic effects that plague lattice computations, namely, finite-volume effects and unphysical values of the quark masses and pion external momenta are also considered. We find that typical one-loop corrections can be substantial.Comment: 22 pages, TeX, refs. added, minor other changes, version to appear in Phys. Rev.

On the fourth root prescription for dynamical staggered fermions

With the aim of resolving theoretical issues associated with the fourth root prescription for dynamical staggered fermions in Lattice QCD simulations, we consider the problem of finding a viable lattice Dirac operator D such that (det D_{staggered})^{1/4} = det D. Working in the flavour field representation we show that in the free field case there is a simple and natural candidate D satisfying this relation, and we show that it has acceptable locality behavior: exponentially local with localisation range vanishing ~ (a/m)^{1/2} for lattice spacing a -> 0. Prospects for the interacting case are also discussed, although we do not solve this case here.Comment: 29 pages, 2 figures; some revision and streamlining of the discussions; results unchanged; to appear in PR

Chiral perturbation theory for K+ to pi+ pi0 decay in the continuum and on the lattice

In this paper we use one-loop chiral perturbation theory in order to compare lattice computations of the K+ to pi+ pi0 decay amplitude with the experimental value. This makes it possible to investigate three systematic effects that plague lattice computations: quenching, finite-volume effects, and the fact that lattice computations have been done at unphysical values of the quark masses and pion external momenta (only this latter effect shows up at tree level). We apply our results to the most recent lattice computation, and find that all three effects are substantial. We conclude that one-loop corrections in chiral perturbation theory help in explaining the discrepancy between lattice results and the real-world value. We also revisit B_K, which is closely related to the K+ to pi+ pi0 decay amplitude by chiral symmetry.Comment: 50 pages, TeX, two eps figures included, minor changes, no changes in results or conclusions, version to appear in Phys.Rev.

Chiral properties of two-flavor QCD in small volume and at large lattice spacing

We present results from simulations of two flavors of dynamical overlap fermions on 8^4 lattices at three values of the sea quark mass and a lattice spacing of about 0.16 fm. We measure the topological susceptibility and the chiral condensate. A comparison of the low-lying spectrum of the overlap operator with predictions from random matrix theory is made. To demonstrate the effect of the dynamical fermions, we compare meson two-point functions with quenched results. Algorithmic improvements over a previous publication and the performance of the algorithm are discussed.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figure

Enhanced chiral logarithms in partially quenched QCD

I discuss the properties of pions in ``partially quenched'' theories, i.e. those in which the valence and sea quark masses, $m_V$ and $m_S$, are different. I point out that for lattice fermions which retain some chiral symmetry on the lattice, e.g. staggered fermions, the leading order prediction of the chiral expansion is that the mass of the pion depends only on $m_V$, and is independent of $m_S$. This surprising result is shown to receive corrections from loop effects which are of relative size $m_S \ln m_V$, and which thus diverge when the valence quark mass vanishes. Using partially quenched chiral perturbation theory, I calculate the full one-loop correction to the mass and decay constant of pions composed of two non-degenerate quarks, and suggest various combinations for which the prediction is independent of the unknown coefficients of the analytic terms in the chiral Lagrangian. These results can also be tested with Wilson fermions if one uses a non-perturbative definition of the quark mass.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, uses psfig. Typos in eqs (18)-(20) corrected (alpha_4 is replaced by alpha_4/2