Factorization and Sudakov Resummation in B -> gamma l nu

We apply Soft-Collinear Effective Theory to prove at leading power in Lambda_QCD/m_b a factorization formula for the radiative leptonic decay B -> gamma l nu. Large logarithms entering the hard-scattering kernel are systematically resummed by a two-step perturbative matching procedure.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure; contribution to proceedings of "International Europhysics Conference on High Energy Physics" EPS (July 17th-23rd 2003) in Aachen; to appear in European Physical Journal C direc

CKM Overview and Determinations from B Decays

This talk gives an introduction to the Standard Model Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix and methods to extract information on the parameters of the unitarity triangle from B decays.Comment: Contributed to XXXXth Rencontres de Moriond on Electroweak Interactions and Unified Theories, La Thuile, March 5-12 200

Exclusive Radiative Decays of B Mesons

We present within the Standard Model the exclusive radiative decays B -> K*/rho gamma and B_(s/d) -> gamma gamma in QCD factorization based on the heavy-quark limit m_b >> Lambda_QCD. For the decays with a vector meson in the final state we give results complete to next-to-leading order in QCD.Comment: 4 pages, contributed to QCD 02: High-Energy Physics International Conference in Quantum Chromodynamics, Montpellier, France, 2-9 July 200

General Lower Bounds for b -> d Penguin Processes

For the exploration of flavour physics, b -> d penguin processes are an important aspect, with the prominent example of \bar B^0_d -> K^0 \bar K^0. We recently derived lower bounds for the CP-averaged branching ratio of this channel in the Standard Model; they were found to be very close to the corresponding experimental upper limits, thereby suggesting that \bar B^0_d -> K^0 \bar K^0 should soon be observed. In fact, the BaBar collaboration subsequently announced the first signals of this transition. Here we point out that it is also possible to derive lower bounds for \bar B -> \rho \gamma decays, which are again surprisingly close to the current experimental upper limits. We show that these bounds are realizations of a general bound that holds within the Standard Model for b -> d penguin processes, allowing further applications to decays of the kind B^\pm -> K^{(\ast)\pm} K^{(\ast)} and B^\pm -> \pi^\pm \ell^+ \ell^-, \rho^\pm \ell^+ \ell^-.Comment: Minor changes, to appear as rapid communication in Phys. Rev

Proposal for a Precision Measurement of |Vub|

A new method for a precision measurement of the CKM matrix element |Vub| is discussed, which combines good theoretical control with high efficiency and a powerful discrimination against charm background. The resulting combined theoretical uncertainty on |Vub| is estimated to be 10%.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, RevTe

Constraining the Unitarity Triangle with B -> V gamma

We discuss the exclusive radiative decays $B\to K^{*}\gamma$, $B \to\rho\gamma$, and $B\to\omega\gamma$ in QCD factorization within the Standard Model. The analysis is based on the heavy-quark limit of QCD. Our results for these decays are complete to next-to-leading order in QCD and to leading order in the heavy-quark limit. Special emphasis is placed on constraining the CKM-unitarity triangle from these observables. We propose a theoretically clean method to determine CKM parameters from the ratio of the $B\to\rho l\nu$ decay spectrum to the branching fraction of $B\to\rho\gamma$. The method is based on the cancellation of soft hadronic form factors in the large energy limit, which occurs in a suitable region of phase space. The ratio of the $B\to\rho\gamma$ and $B\to K^{*}\gamma$ branching fractions determines the side $R_{t}$ of the standard unitarity triangle with reduced hadronic uncertainties. The recent Babar bound on $B(B^0\to\rho^0\gamma)$ implies $R_t < 0.81 (\xi/1.3)$, with the limiting uncertainty coming only from the SU(3) breaking form factor ratio $\xi$. This constraint is already getting competitive with the constraint from $B_{s}$-$\bar B_{s}$ mixing. Phenomenological implications from isospin-breaking effects are briefly discussed.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figure

Subleading Shape Functions in Inclusive B Decays

The contributions of subleading shape functions to inclusive decay distributions of B mesons are derived from a systematic two-step matching of QCD current correlators onto soft-collinear and heavy-quark effective theory. At tree-level, the results can be expressed in terms of forward matrix elements of bi-local light-cone operators. Four-quark operators, which arise at O(g^2), are included. Their effects can be absorbed entirely into a redefinition of other shape functions. Our results are in disagreement with some previous studies of subleading shape-function effects in the literature. A numerical analysis of B->X_u+l+nu decay distributions suggests that power corrections are small, with the possible exception of the endpoint region of the charged-lepton energy spectrum.Comment: 22 pages, 2 figures; several typos corrected; version published in JHE

Quality of life and toxicity guided treatment plan optimisation for head and neck cancer

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of semi-automatic Quality of Life (QOL)-weighted normal tissue complication probability (NTCP)-guided VMAT treatment plan optimisation in head and neck cancer (HNC) and compare predicted QOL to that obtained with conventional treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 30 HNC patients who were treated with definitive radiotherapy. QOL-weighted NTCP-guided VMAT plans were optimised directly on 80 multivariable NTCP models of 20 common toxicities and symptoms on 4 different time points (6, 12, 18 and 24 months after radiotherapy) and each NTCP model was weighted relative to its impact on QOL. Planning results, NTCP and predicted QOL were compared with the clinical conventional VMAT plans. RESULTS: QOL-weighted NTCP-guided VMAT plans were clinically acceptable, had target coverage equally adequate as the clinical plans, but prioritised sparing of organs at risk (OAR) related to toxicities and symptoms that had the highest impact on QOL. NTCP was reduced for, e.g., dysphagia (-6.1% for ≥ grade 2/ -7.6% for ≥ grade 3) and moderate-to-severe fatigue / speech problems / hoarseness (-0.7%/ -1.5%/ -2.5%) at 6 months, respectively. Concurrently, the average NTCP of toxicities related to salivary function increased with +0.4% to +5.7%. QOL-weighted NTCP-guided plans were produced in less time, were less dependent on the treatment planner experience and yielded more consistent results. The average predicted QOL improved by 0.7, 0.9, 1.0, and 1.1 points on a 0-100 scale (p < 0.001) at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, respectively, compared to the clinical plans. CONCLUSION: Semi-automatic QOL-weighted NTCP-guided VMAT treatment plan optimisation is feasible. It prioritised sparing of OARs related to high-impact toxicities and symptoms and resulted in a systematic improvement of predicted QOL compared to conventional VMAT

Isotope Shift in the Dielectronic Recombination of Three-electron \u3csup\u3eA\u3c/sup\u3eNd⁵⁷⁺

Isotope shifts in dielectronic recombination spectra were studied for Li-like ANd57+ ions with A = 142 and A = 150. From the displacement of resonance positions energy shifts δE142 150(2s-2p1/2) = 40.2(3)(6) meV [(stat)(sys)] and δE142 150(2s - 2p3/2) = 42.3(12)(20)meV of 2s - 2pj transitions were deduced. An evaluation of these values within a full QED treatment yields a change in the mean-square charge radius of 142 150δ⟨ r2⟩ = -1.36(1)(3) fm2. The approach is conceptually new and combines the advantage of a simple atomic structure with high sensitivity to nuclear size