A new start for local composite operators

We present a formalism for local composite operators. The corresponding effective potential is unique, multiplicatively renormalizable, it is the sum of 1PI diagrams and can be interpreted as an energy-density. First we apply this method to $\lambda \Phi^4$ theory where we check renormalizability up to three loops and secondly to the Coleman-Weinberg model where the gauge independence of the effective potential for the local composite operator $\phi\phi^*$ is explicitely checked up to two loops.Comment: 20 page

Contraction and decomposition matrices for vacuum diagrams

Tensor reduction of vacuum diagrams uses contraction and decomposition matrices. We present general recurrence relations for the calculation of those matrices and an explicit formula for the 3-loop decomposition matrix and its determinant.Comment: 10 page

The pionic beta decay in chiral perturbation theory

Within the framework of chiral perturbation theory with virtual photons and leptons, we present an updated analysis of the pionic beta decay including all electromagnetic contributions of order e**2 p**2. We discuss the extraction of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |Vud| from experimental data. The method employed here is consistent with the analogous treatment of the Kl3 decays and the determination of |Vus|.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, latex file, uses EPJC macro

Chiral Perturbation Theory with Virtual Photons and Leptons

We construct a low-energy effective field theory which allows the full treatment of isospin-breaking effects in semileptonic weak interactions. To this end, we enlarge the particle spectrum of chiral perturbation theory with virtual photons by including also the light leptons as dynamical degrees of freedom. Using super-heat-kernel techniques, we determine the additional one-loop divergences generated by the presence of virtual leptons and give the full list of associated local counterterms. We illustrate the use of our effective theory by applying it to the decays pi -> l nu_{l} and K -> l nu_{l}.Comment: 22 pages, no figure

Radiative corrections to K_{l3} decays

We present a complete calculation of the K_{l3} decays K^+ --> pi^0 l^+ nu_l and K^0 --> pi^- l^+ nu_l to O(p^4, (m_d-m_u) p^2, e^2 p^2) in chiral perturbation theory with virtual photons and leptons. We introduce the concept of generalized form factors and kinematical densities in the presence of electromagnetism, and propose a possible treatment of the real photon emission in K^+_{l3} decays. We illustrate our results by applying them to the extraction of the Kobayashi--Maskawa matrix element |V_{us}| from the experimental K^+_{e3} decay parameters.Comment: 13 page

Pionium lifetime and \pi\pi scattering lengths in generalized chiral perurbation theory

The relationship between the pionium lifetime and the $\pi\pi$ scattering lengths is established, including the sizable electromagnetic corrections. The bound state formalism that is used is that of constraint theory which provides a covariant three-dimensional reduction of the Bethe--Salpeter equation. The framework of generalized chiral perturbation theory allows then an analysis of the lifetime value as a function of the $\pi\pi$ scattering lengths, the latter being dependent on the quark condensate value.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure (included in the text), Latex. Uses espcrc2.sty. Talk given at the QCD99 Conference, Montpellier, 7-13 July 1999. To appear in the Proceeding

Contributions of order O(mquark2){\cal O}(m_{\rm quark}^2) to Kℓ3K_{\ell 3} form factors and unitarity of the CKM matrix

The form factors for the $K_{\ell 3}$ semileptonic decay are computed to order $O(p^4)$ in generalized chiral perturbation theory. The main difference with the standard $O(p^4)$ expressions consists in contributions quadratic in quark masses, which are described by a single divergence-free low-energy constant, $A_3$. A new simultaneous analysis is presented for the CKM matrix element $V_{us}$, the ratio $F_K/F_{\pi}$, $K_{\ell 3}$ decay rates and the scalar form factor slope $\lambda_0$. This framework easily accommodates the precise value for $V_{ud}$ deduced from superallowed nuclear $\beta$-decays

Physics Beyond the Standard Model: Focusing on the Muon Anomaly

We present a model based on the implication of an exceptional E_{6}-GUT symmetry for the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. We follow a particular chain of breakings with Higgses in the 78 and 351 representations. We analyse the radiative correction contributions to the muon mass and the effects of the breaking of the so-called Weinberg symmetry. We also estimate the range of values of the parameters of our model.Comment: 14 RevTeX pages, 5 figure