Kpi form factors and final state interactions in D+ --> K- pi+ pi+ decays

We present a model for the decay D+ --> K- pi+ pi+. The weak interaction part of this reaction is described using the effective weak Hamiltonian in the factorisation approach. Hadronic final state interactions are taken into account through the Kpi scalar and vector form factors fulfilling analyticity, unitarity and chiral symmetry constraints. The model has only two free parameters that are fixed from experimental branching ratios. We show that the modulus and phase of the S wave thus obtained agree nicely with experiment up to 1.55 GeV. We perform Monte Carlo simulations to compare the predicted Dalitz plot with experimental analyses. Allowing for a global phase difference between the S and P waves of -65 degrees, the Dalitz plot of the D+ --> K- pi+ pi+ decay, the Kpi invariant mass spectra and the total branching ratio due to S-wave interactions are well reproduced.Comment: 24 pages, 4 figures, REVTeX style. A discussion on the isospin 2 component has been included. Two references added. Published in Phys. Rev.

Scalar resonances: scattering and production amplitudes

Scattering and production amplitudes involving scalar resonances are known, according to Watson's theorem, to share the same phase $\delta(s)$. We show that, at low energies, the production amplitude is fully determined by the combination of $\delta(s)$ with another phase $\omega(s)$, which describes intermediate two-meson propagation and is theoretically unambiguous. Our main result is a simple and almost model independent expression, which generalizes the usual $K$-matrix unitarization procedure and is suited to be used in analyses of production data involving scalar resonances.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures. Minor changes, references added, version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Resonances and weak interactions in D+→π+π−π+D^+ \to\pi^+ \pi^- \pi^+ decays

We describe the $\pi\pi$ $S$-wave in $D^+ \to\pi^+ \pi^- \pi^+$ decays using a unitary model for the $\pi\pi$ Final State Interactions (FSI). The three body decay is treated as a quasi two-body process where, at the weak vertex, the D meson decays into a resonance and a pion. The weak part of the decay amplitude is evaluated using the effective weak Hamiltonian within the factorization approximation.Comment: 4 pages. Contribution to the X Hadron Physics, Florianopolis-Brazil, March 26-31, 200

D^+ \to K^- \p^+ \p^+ : the low-energy sector

An effective $SU(3)\times SU(3)$ chiral lagrangian, which includes scalar resonances, is used to describe the process D^+ \rar K^- \p^+ \p^+ at low-energies. Our main result is a set of five $S$-wave amplitudes, suited to be used in analyses of production data.Comment: Talk given at SCADRON 70 - Workshop on Scalar Mesons and Related Topics - Lisbon - February 200

Scalar resonances in a unitary π−π\pi-\pi SS-wave model for D+→π+π−π+D^+ \to \pi^+ \pi^- \pi^+

We propose a model for $D^+ \to \pi^+ \pi^- \pi^+$ decays following experimental results which indicate that the two-pion interaction in the $S$-wave is dominated by the scalar resonances $f_0(600)/\sigma$ and $f_0(980)$. The weak decay amplitude for $D^+\to R \pi^+$, where $R$ is a resonance that subsequently decays into $\pi^+\pi^-$, is constructed in a factorization approach. In the $S$-wave, we implement the strong decay $R\to \pi^-\pi^+$ by means of a scalar form factor. This provides a unitary description of the pion-pion interaction in the entire kinematically allowed mass range $m_{\pi\pi}^2$ from threshold to about 3 GeV$^2$. In order to reproduce the experimental Dalitz plot for \Dppp, we include contributions beyond the $S$-wave. For the $P$-wave, dominated by the $\rho(770)^0$, we use a Breit-Wigner description. Higher waves are accounted for by using the usual isobar prescription for the $f_2(1270)$ and $\rho(1450)^0$. The major achievement is a good reproduction of the experimental $m_{\pi\pi}^2$ distribution, and of the partial as well as the total \Dppp branching ratios. Our values are generally smaller than the experimental ones. We discuss this shortcoming and, as a byproduct, we predict a value for the poorly known $D\to \sigma$ transition form factor at $q^2=m_\pi^2$.Comment: 23 pages, 2 figures. Two new equations. The value for the strength of the contribution of the scalar form factor now agrees with other results in the literature. Main results unchanged. Version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Duality violations in tau hadronic spectral moments

Evidence is presented for the necessity of including duality violations in a consistent description of spectral function moments employed in the precision determination of $\alpha_s$ from $\tau$ decay. A physically motivated ansatz for duality violations in the spectral functions enables us to perform fits to spectral moments employing both pinched and unpinched weights. We describe our analysis strategy and provide some preliminary findings. Final numerical results await completion of an ongoing re-determination of the ALEPH covariance matrices incorporating correlations due to the unfolding procedure which are absent from the currently posted versions. To what extent this issue affects existing analyses and our own work will require further study.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. Talk given at 11th International Workshop on Tau Lepton Physics, Manchester, UK, 13-17 September 201

RFX-1, a putative alpha Adducin interacting protein in a human kidney library

Adducin regulates tubular absorption of sodium by modulating the expression levels of the sodium-potassium-ATPase in renal tubular cells. Adducin is a candidate gene in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Yeast two hybrid screen showed a specific interaction between human alpha Adducin and the regulatory factor for X box (RFX-1), a nuclear protein that down regulates the expression of several proteins in non neuronal cells. The interaction was confirmed in cells through co-immunoprecipitation and colocalization experiments. The binding of alpha Adducin to RFX-I and their nuclear co-localization suggests that Adducin can have a role in modulating the transcriptional regulating activity of RFX-I

K pi vector form factor constrained by tau ---> K pi nu_tau and K_l3 decays

Dispersive representations of the Kpi vector and scalar form factors are used to fit the spectrum of tau ---> K pi nu_tau obtained by the Belle collaboration incorporating constraints from results for K_l3 decays. The slope and curvature of the vector form factor are obtained directly from the data through the use of a three-times-subtracted dispersion relation. We find $\lambda_+'=(25.49 \pm 0.31) \times 10^{-3}$ and $\lambda_+"= (12.22 \pm 0.14) \times 10^{-4}$. From the pole position on the second Riemann sheet the mass and width of the $K^*(892)^{\pm}$ are found to be $m_{K^*(892)^\pm}=892.0\pm 0.5$~MeV and $\Gamma_{K^*(892)^\pm}=46.5\pm 1.1$~MeV. The phase-space integrals needed for K_l3 decays are calculated as well. Furthermore, the Kpi isospin-1/2 P-wave threshold parameters are derived from the phase of the vector form factor. For the scattering length and the effective range we find respectively $a_{1}^{1/2}\,= ( 0.166\pm 0.004)\,m_\pi^{-3}$ and $b_{1}^{1/2}\,=( 0.258\pm 0.009)\,m_\pi^{-5}$.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figure