Determination of |V_us| from hadronic tau decays

The recent update of the strange spectral function and the moments of the invariant mass distribution by the OPAL collaboration from hadronic tau decay data are employed to determine |V_us| as well as m_s. Our result, |V_us|=0.2208\pm0.0034, is competitive to the standard extraction of |V_us| from K_e3 decays and to the new proposals to determine it. Furthermore, the error associated to our determination of |V_us| can be reduced in the future since it is dominated by the experimental uncertainty that will be eventually much improved by the B-factories hadronic tau data. Another improvement that can be performed is the simultaneous fit of both |V_us| and m_s to a set of moments of the hadronic tau decays invariant mass distribution, which will provide even a more accurate determination of both parameters.Comment: 6 pages. Invited talk given by E.G. at the XXXXth Rencontres de Moriond on Electroweak Interactions and Unified Theories, La Thuile, Italy, 5-12 Mar 200

Optimal renormalization and the extraction of strange quark mass from semi-leptonic τ\tau-decay

We employ optimal renormalization group analysis to semi-leptonic $\tau$-decay polarization functions and extract the strange quark mass from their moments measured by the ALEPH and OPAL collaborations. The optimal renormalization group makes use of the renormalization group equation of a given perturbation series which then leads to closed form sum of all the renormalization group-accessible logarithms which have reduced scale dependence. Using the latest theoretical inputs we find $m_s(2{\rm GeV}) = 106.70 \pm 9.36~{\rm MeV}$ and $m_s(2{\rm GeV}) = 74.47 \pm 7.77~{\rm MeV}$ for ALEPH and OPAL data respectively.Comment: 3 pages, Contribution to the proceedings of the XXII DAE-BRNS High Energy Physics Symposium, University of Delhi, Dec. 12-16, 201

Semileptonic D decay into scalar mesons: a QCD sum rule approach

Semileptonic decays of D-mesons into scalar hadronic states are investigated. Two extreme cases are considered: a) the meson decays directly into an uncorrelated scalar state of two two mesons and b) the decay proceeds via resonance formation. QCD sum rules including instanton contributions are used to calculate total and differential decay rates under the two assumptions.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, e-mail: [email protected]

Final State Interactions in Hadronic D decays

We show that the large corrections due to final state interactions (FSI) in the D^+\to \pi^-\pi^+\pi^+, D^+_s\to \pi^-\pi^+\pi^+, and D^+\to K^-\pi^+\pi^+ decays can be accounted for by invoking scattering amplitudes in agreement with those derived from phase shifts studies. In this way, broad/overlapping resonances in S-waves are properly treated and the phase motions of the transition amplitudes are driven by the corresponding scattering matrix elements determined in many other experiments. This is an important step forward in resolving the puzzle of the FSI in these decays. We also discuss why the \sigma and \kappa resonances, hardly visible in scattering experiments, are much more prominent and clearly visible in these decays without destroying the agreement with the experimental \pi\pi and K\pi low energy S-wave phase shifts.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures, 5 tables. Minor changes. We extend the discusion when quoting a reference and we include a new one. Some typos are fixe

K^L_{mu3} decay: A first evidence of Right-Handed Quark Currents ?

The experimental results published by KTeV and the preliminary results from NA48 concerning the slope of the Kpi scalar form factor suggest a significant discrepancy with the prediction of the Callan-Treiman low energy theorem once interpreted within the Standard Model. In this talk, we will show how this discrepancy could be explained as a first evidence of the direct coupling of right-handed quarks to W as suggested by certain type of effective electroweak theories.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Talk given at the 7th International Conference on Hyperons, Charm And Beauty Hadrons (BEACH 2006), 2-8 July 2006, Lancaster, U

Dispersive representation of the scalar and vector Kpi form factors for tau --> K pi nu_tau and K_{l3} decays

Recently, the tau --> K pi nu_tau decay spectrum has been measured by the Belle and BaBar collaborations. In this work, we present an analysis of such decays introducing a dispersive parametrization for the vector and scalar Kpi form factors. This allows for precise tests of the Standard Model. For instance, the determination of f_+(0)|V_{us}| from these decays is discussed. A comparison and a combination of these results with the analyses of the K_{l3} decays is also considered.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure. Talk given at 11th International Workshop on Tau Lepton Physics, Manchester, UK, 13-17 September 201

Theoretical progress on the V_us determination from tau decays

A very precise determination of V_us can be obtained from the semi-inclusive hadronic decay width of the tau lepton into final states with strangeness. The ratio of the Cabibbo-suppressed and Cabibbo-allowed tau decay widths directly measures (V_us/V_ud)^2, up to very small SU(3)-breaking corrections which can be theoretically estimated with the needed accuracy. Together with previous LEP and CLEO data, the recent measurements by Babar and Belle of some Cabibbo-suppressed tau decays imply V_us= 0.2165 +- 0.0026_exp +- 0.0005_th, which is already competitive with the standard extraction from K_l3 decays. The uncertainty is largely dominated by experimental errors and should be easily reduced with the high statistics of the B factories, providing the most accurate determination of this parameter. A 1% experimental precision on the Cabibbo-suppressed tau decay width would translate into a 0.6% uncertainty on V_us

Order p^6 chiral couplings from the scalar K Pi form factor

Employing results from a recent determination of the scalar KPi form factor F_0^KPi within a coupled channel dispersion relation analysis \cite{JOP01}, in this work we calculate the slope and curvature of F_0^KPi(t) at zero momentum transfer. Knowledge of the slope and curvature of the scalar KPi form factor, together with a recently calculated expression for F_0^KPi(t) in chiral perturbation theory at order p^6, enable to estimate the O(p^6) chiral constants C_12^r=(0.3 +- 5.4)10^-7 and (C_12^r+C_34^r)=(3.2 +- 1.5)10^-6. Our findings also allow to estimate the contribution coming from the C_i to the vector form factor F_+^KPi(0) which is crucial for a precise determination of |V_us| from K_l3 decays. Our result F_+^KPi(0)|_C_i^r=-0.018 +- 0.009, though inflicted with large uncertainties, is in perfect agreement with a previous estimate by Leutwyler and Roos already made twenty years ago.Comment: 19 pages, discussion of scale dependence of the chiral couplings added; version to appear in JHE

Contour-improved versus fixed-order perturbation theory in hadronic tau decays

The hadronic decay rate of the tau lepton serves as one of the most precise determinations of the QCD coupling alpha_s. The dominant theoretical source of uncertainty at present resides in the seeming disparity of two approaches to improving the perturbative expansion with the help of the renormalisation group, namely fixed-order and contour-improved perturbation theory. In this work it is demonstrated that in fact both approaches yield compatible results. However, the fixed-order series is found to oscillate around the contour-improved result with an oscillation frequency of approximately six perturbative orders, approaching it until about the 30th order, after which the expansion reveals its asymptotic nature. Additionally, the renormalisation scale and scheme dependencies of the perturbative series for the tau hadronic width are investigated in detail.Comment: 20 pages, 5 eps-figures; discussion on scale and scheme dependence added as compared to published journal version JHEP 09 (2005) 05