The Effective Fine Structure Constant at TESLA Energies

We present a new estimate of the hadronic contribution to the shift in the fine structure constant at LEP and TESLA energies and calculate the effective fine structure constant. Substantial progress in a precise determination of this important parameter is a consequence of substantially improved total cross section measurements by the BES II collaboration and an improved theoretical understanding. In the standard approach which relies to a large extend on experimental data we find \Delta \al_{\rm hadrons}^{(5)}(\mz) = 0.027896 \pm 0.000395 which yields \alpha^{-1}(\mz) = 128.907 \pm 0.054. Another approach, using the Adler function as a tool to compare theory and experiment, allows us to to extend the applicability of perturbative QCD in a controlled manner. The result in this case reads $\Delta\alpha^{(5)}_{\rm had}(M_Z^2) = 0.027730 \pm 0.000209$ and hence \alpha^{-1}(\mz) = 128.930 \pm 0.029. At TESLA energies a new problem shows up with the definition of an effective charge. A possible solution of the problem is presented. Prospects for further progress in a precise determination of the effective fine structure constant are discussed.Comment: 21 pages 6 figures 2 table

Steps towards full two-loop calculations for 2 fermion to 2 fermion processes: running versus pole masses schemes

Recent progress in the calculation of the two-loop on-shell mass counterterms within the electroweak Standard Model (SM) for the massive particles are discussed. We are in progress of developing a package for full two-loop SM calculations of 2 -> 2 fermion processes, with emphasis on the analytical approach where feasible. The complete two-loop on-shell renormalization is implemented. Substantial progress has been made in calculating the master integrals. We are able to compute in an efficient and stable manner up to a few thousands of diagrams of very complex mass structure.Comment: 4 pages, 1 style file. To appear in the proceedings of 9th International Workshop on Advanced Computing and Analysis Techniques in Physics Research (ACAT 03), Tsukuba, Japan, 1-5 Dec 200

Pion Pair Production with Higher Order Radiative Corrections in Low Energy e+e- Collisions

The complete one-loop QED initial state, final state and initial--final state interference corrections to the process e+e- -> pi+pi- are presented. Analytic formulae are given for the virtual and for the real photon corrections. The total cross section, the pion angular distribution and the pi+pi- invariant mass distribution are investigated in the regime of experimentally realistic kinematical cuts. It is shown that in addition to the full one-loop corrections also two-loop initial state corrections and even the resummation of higher order soft photon logarithms can be necessary if at least per cent accuracy is required. For the data analysis we focus on an inclusive treatment of all photons. The theoretical error concerning our treatment of radiative corrections is then estimated to be less than 2 per mille for both the measurement of the total cross section and the pi+pi- invariant mass distribution. In addition we discuss the model uncertainty due to the pion substructure. Altogether the precision of the theoretical prediction matches the requirements of low energy e+e- experiments like the ones going on at DAFNE or VEPP-2M.Comment: 16 pages 9 figures 7 tables; 6 figs added+text; modified Eqs.(56,68), enhanced appendice

A Higgs Conundrum with Vector Fermions

Many models of Beyond the Standard Model physics involve heavy colored fermions. We study models where the new fermions have vector interactions and examine the connection between electroweak precision measurements and Higgs production. In particular, for parameters which are allowed by precision measurements, we show that the gluon fusion Higgs cross section and the Higgs decay branching ratios must be close to those predicted by the Standard Model. The models we discuss thus represent scenarios with new physics which will be extremely difficult to distinguish from the minimal Standard Model. We pay particular attention to the decoupling properties of the vector fermions.Comment: 34 pages, 15 figures. Version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Hadronic Contributions to the Photon Vacuum Polarization and their Role in Precision Physics

I review recent evaluations of the hadronic contribution to the shift in the fine structure constant and to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. Substantial progress in a precise determination of these important observables is a consequence of substantially improved total cross section measurement by the CMD-2 and BES II collaborations and an improved theoretical understanding. Prospects for further possible progress is discussed.Comment: 17 pages 7 figures 2 tables, update: incl. CMD-2 data, reference

Facts of life with gamma(5)

The increasing precision of many experiments in elementary particle physics leads to continuing interest in perturbative higher order calculations in the electroweak Standard Model or extensions of it. Such calculations are of increasing complexity because more loops and/or more legs are considered. Correspondingly efficient computational methods are mandatory for many calculations. One problem which affects the feasibility of higher order calculations is the problem with gamma(5) in dimensional regularization. Since the subject thirty years after its invention is still controversial I advocate here some ideas which seem not to be common knowledge but might shed some new light on the problem. I present arguments in favor of utilizing an anticommuting gamma(5) and a simple 4-dimensional treatment of the hard anomalies.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure, latex, axodra

What is triggering the Higgs mechanism and inflation?

We review a recent analysis presented in arXiv:1304.7813 [hep-phys] and 1305.6652 [hep-phys]. After the discovery of the Higgs the most relevant structures of the SM have been verified and for the first time we know all parameters of the SM within remarkable accuracy. Together with recent calculations of the SM renormalization group coefficients up to three loops we can safely extrapolate running couplings high up in energy. Assuming that the SM is a low energy effective theory of a cutoff theory residing at the Planck scale, we are able to calculate the effective bare parameters of the underlying cutoff system. For my specific set of MS input parameters, it turns out that the bare mass term changes sign not far below the Planck scale, which means that in the early universe the SM was in the symmetric phase. The sign-flip, which is a result of a conspiracy between the SM couplings and their screening/antiscreening behavior, triggers the Higgs mechanism. Above the Higgs phase transition the bare mass term in the Higgs potential must have had a large positive value, enhanced by the quadratic divergence of the bare Higgs mass. The Higgs mass term thus provides the large dark energy density in the early universe, which triggers Gaussian slow-roll inflation, i.e. the SM Higgs is the inflaton scalar field. Reheating is dominated by the decay of the heavy Higgses into (in the symmetric phase) massless top/anti-top quark pairs. The Higgs mechanism stops inflation and the subsequent electroweak phase transition provides the masses to the SM particles in proportion to their coupling strength. The previously most abundantly produced particles are now the heaviest and decay into the lighter ones, by cascading down the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM)-matrix from top and bottom to normal matter. Baryon-number B violating interactions are naturally provided by Weinberg’s set of close-by dimension 6 four-fermion effective interactions. Since matter is produced originating in the primordial heavy Higgs fields via C- and CP-violating decays we have actually a new scenario which could explain the baryon-asymmetry essentially in terms of SM physics