Calculating the QED correction to the hadronic vacuum polarisation on the lattice

Isospin-breaking corrections to the hadron vacuum polarization component of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon are needed to ensure the theoretical precision of gμ - 2 is below the experimental precision. We describe the status of our work calculating, using lattice QCD, the QED correction to the light and strange connected hadronic vacuum polarization in a Dashen scheme. We report results using physical N f = 2 + 1 + 1 HISQ ensembles at three lattice spacings and three heavier-than-light valence quark masses

Windows on the hadronic vacuum polarization contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment

An accurate determination of the leading-order hadronic vacuum polarisation (HVP) contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon is critical to understanding the size and significance of any discrepancy between the Standard Model prediction and experimental results being obtained by the Muon g-2 experiment at Fermilab. The Standard Model prediction is currently based on a data-driven approach to the HVP using experimental results for σ ( e + e − → h a d r o n s ) . Lattice QCD aims to provide a result with similar uncertainty from calculated vector-vector correlation functions, but the growth of statistical and systematic errors in the u / d quark correlation functions at large Euclidean time has made this difficult to achieve. We show that restricting the lattice contributions to a one-sided window 0 l e s s t h a n t l e s s t h a n t 1 can greatly improve lattice results while still capturing a large fraction of the total HVP. We illustrate this by comparing windowed lattice results based on the 2019 Fermilab Lattice/HPQCD/MILC HVP analysis with corresponding results obtained from the KNT19 analysis of R e + e − data. For t 1 = 1.5 ,fm, 70% of the total HVP is contained within the window and our lattice result has an error of 0.7%, only about twice as big as the error from the e + e − ~analysis. We see a tension of 2.7 σ between the two results. With increased statistics in the lattice data the one-sided windows will allow stringent tests of lattice and R e + e − results that include a large fraction of the total HVP contribution

COVID-19: Rapid antigen detection for SARS-CoV-2 by lateral flow assay: A national systematic evaluation of sensitivity and specificity for mass-testing

Background Lateral flow device (LFD) viral antigen immunoassays have been developed around the world as diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 infection. They have been proposed to deliver an infrastructure-light, cost-economical solution giving results within half an hour. Methods LFDs were initially reviewed by a Department of Health and Social Care team, part of the UK government, from which 64 were selected for further evaluation from 1st August to 15th December 2020. Standardised laboratory evaluations, and for those that met the published criteria, field testing in the Falcon-C19 research study and UK pilots were performed (UK COVID-19 testing centres, hospital, schools, armed forces). Findings 4/64 LFDs so far have desirable performance characteristics (orient Gene, Deepblue, Abbott and Innova SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Qualitative Test). All these LFDs have a viral antigen detection of >90% at 100,000 RNA copies/ml. 8951 Innova LFD tests were performed with a kit failure rate of 5.6% (502/8951, 95% CI: 5.1–6.1), false positive rate of 0.32% (22/6954, 95% CI: 0.20–0.48). Viral antigen detection/sensitivity across the sampling cohort when performed by laboratory scientists was 78.8% (156/198, 95% CI 72.4–84.3). Interpretation Our results suggest LFDs have promising performance characteristics for mass population testing and can be used to identify infectious positive individuals. The Innova LFD shows good viral antigen detection/sensitivity with excellent specificity, although kit failure rates and the impact of training are potential issues. These results support the expanded evaluation of LFDs, and assessment of greater access to testing on COVID-19 transmission. Funding Department of Health and Social Care. University of Oxford. Public Health England Porton Down, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, National Institute of Health Research

Prospects for precise predictions of aμa_\mu in the Standard Model

International audienceWe discuss the prospects for improving the precision on the hadronic corrections to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, and the plans of the Muon $g-2$ Theory Initiative to update the Standard Model prediction

Prospects for precise predictions of aμa_\mu in the Standard Model

We discuss the prospects for improving the precision on the hadronic corrections to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, and the plans of the Muon $g-2$ Theory Initiative to update the Standard Model prediction

Prospects for precise predictions of aμa_\mu in the Standard Model

We discuss the prospects for improving the precision on the hadronic corrections to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, and the plans of the Muon $g-2$ Theory Initiative to update the Standard Model prediction