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

A new simulation algorithm for lattice QCD with dynamical quarks

A previously introduced multi-boson technique for the simulation of QCD with dynamical quarks is described and some results of first test runs on a $6^3\times12$ lattice with Wilson quarks and gauge group SU(2) are reported.Comment: 7 pages, postscript file (166 KB

Beautiful Baryons from Lattice QCD

We perform a lattice study of heavy baryons, containing one ($\Lambda_b$) or two $b$-quarks ($\Xi_b$). Using the quenched approximation we obtain for the mass of $\Lambda_b$ $$M_{\Lambda_b}= 5.728 \pm 0.144 \pm 0.018 {\rm GeV}.$$ The mass splitting between the $\Lambda_b$ and the B-meson is found to increase by about 20\% if the light quark mass is varied from the chiral limit to the strange quark mass.Comment: 11 pages, Figures obtained upon request from [email protected]

Adaptive Step Size for Hybrid Monte Carlo Algorithm

We implement an adaptive step size method for the Hybrid Monte Carlo a lgorithm. The adaptive step size is given by solving a symmetric error equation. An integr ator with such an adaptive step size is reversible. Although we observe appreciable variations of the step size, the overhead of the method exceeds its benefits. We propose an explanation for this phenomenon.Comment: 13 pages, 5 Postscript figures, late

Four-pion production in tau decays and e+e- annihilation: an update

An improved description of four-pion production in electron-positron annihilation and in tau lepton decays is presented. The model amplitude is fitted to recent data from BaBar which cover a wide energy range and which were obtained exploiting the radiative return. Predicting tau decay distributions from e+e- data and comparing these predictions with ALEPH and CLEO results, the validity of isospin symmetry is confirmed within the present experimental errors. A good description of two- and three-pion sub-distributions is obtained. Special emphasis is put on the predictions for omega pi (-> pi+pi-pi0) in e+e- annihilation and in tau decay. The model amplitude is implemented in the Monte Carlo generator PHOKHARA.Comment: a few typos correcte

Heavy-light baryonic mass splittings from the lattice

We present lattice estimates of the mass of the heavy-light baryons $\Lambda_b$ and $\Xi_b$ obtained using propagating heavy quarks. For $\Lambda_b$ our result is $M_{\Lambda_b}=5.728 \pm 0.144 \pm 0.018$ GeV, after extrapolation to the continuum limit and in the quenched approximation.Comment: 3 pages postscript, Contribution to Lattice'9

Scaling Study of the Leptonic Decay Constants of Heavy-Light Mesons: A Consumers Report on Improvement Factors

A high statistics calculation, performed at $\beta =5.74,\;6.00$ and $6.26$, enables us to study the variation of the leptonic decay constants $f_P$ of heavy pseudoscalar mesons with the lattice spacing $a$. We observe only a weak $a$ dependence when the standard $\sqrt{2\kappa}$ normalization is used for the quark fields, whereas application of the Kronfeld-Mackenzie normalization induces a stronger variation with $a$. Increasing the meson mass from $1.1GeV$ to $2.3GeV$ this situation becomes even more pronounced.Comment: Lattice 93, 3 pages Latex, 2 postscript figures (epsf style

Numerical study of SU(2) Yang-Mills theory with gluinos

We report on a numerical investigation of the SU(2) gauge theory with gluinos. The low-lying spectrum in bosonic and fermionic channels is determined. Improvements of the multi-bosonic algorithm are discussed.Comment: latex, 3 pages, 4 figures; Poster presented by K. Spanderen at LATTICE9

Recent Developments in Fermion Simulation Algorithms

A summary of recent developments in the field of simulation algorithms for dynamical fermions is given.Comment: Plenary talk given at the International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory, 4-8 June 1996, St. Louis, Mo, USA, Latex, 3 Figures, 7 page

Vector Correlators in Lattice QCD: methods and applications

We discuss the calculation of the leading hadronic vacuum polarization in lattice QCD. Exploiting the excellent quality of the compiled experimental data for the e^+e^- --> hadrons cross-section, we predict the outcome of large-volume lattice calculations at the physical pion mass, and design computational strategies for the lattice to have an impact on important phenomenological quantities such as the leading hadronic contribution to (g-2)mu and the running of the electromagnetic coupling constant. First, the R(s) ratio can be calculated directly on the lattice in the threshold region, and we provide the formulae to do so with twisted boundary conditions. Second, the current correlator projected onto zero spatial momentum, in a Euclidean time interval where it can be calculated accurately, provides a potentially critical test of the experimental R(s) ratio in the region that is most relevant for (g-2)mu. This observation can also be turned around: the vector correlator at intermediate distances can be used to determine the lattice spacing in fm, and we make a concrete proposal in this direction. Finally, we quantify the finite-size effects on the current correlator coming from low-energy two-pion states and provide a general parametrization of the vacuum polarization on the torus.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figure files; corrected a factor 2 in Eq. (7) over the published versio