Two-loop matching coefficients for the strong coupling in the MSSM

When relating the strong coupling $\alpha_s$, measured at the scale of the $Z$ boson mass, to its numerical value at some higher energy, for example the scale of Grand Unification, it is important to include higher order corrections both in the running of $\alpha_s$ and the decoupling of the heavy particles. We compute the two-loop matching coefficients for $\alpha_s$ within the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) which are necessary for a consistent three-loop evolution of the strong coupling constant. Different scenarios for the hierarchy of the supersymmetric scales are considered and the numerical effects are discussed. We find that the three-loop effects can be as large as and sometimes even larger than the uncertainty induced by the current experimental accuracy of $\alpha_s(M_Z)$.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figures (13 ps/eps-files

π\pi and σ\sigma mesons at finite temperature and density in the NJL model with dimensional regularization

Dynamical Symmetry breaking and meson masses are studied in the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model at finite temperature and chemical potential using the dimensional regularization. Since the model is not renormalizable in four space-time dimensions, physical results and parameters depend on the regularization method. Following the imaginary time formalism, we introduce the temperature, $T$ and the chemical potential, $\mu$. The parameters in the model are fixed by calculating the pion mass and decay constant in the dimensional regularization at $T=\mu=0$.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures, v2: a few points corrected and references adde

Cancellation of soft and collinear divergences in noncommutative QED

In this paper, we investigate the behavior of non-commutative IR divergences and will also discuss their cancellation in the physical cross sections. The commutative IR (soft) divergences existing in the non-planar diagrams will be examined in order to prove an all order cancellation of these divergences using the Weinberg's method. In non-commutative QED, collinear divergences due to triple photon splitting vertex, were encountered, which are shown to be canceled out by the non-commutative version of KLN theorem. This guarantees that there is no mixing between the Collinear, soft and non-commutative IR divergences

Covariant boost and structure functions of baryons in Gross-Neveu models

Baryons in the large N limit of two-dimensional Gross-Neveu models are reconsidered. The time-dependent Dirac-Hartree-Fock approach is used to boost a baryon to any inertial frame and shown to yield the covariant energy-momentum relation. Momentum distributions are computed exactly in arbitrary frames and used to interpolate between the rest frame and the infinite momentum frame, where they are related to structure functions. Effects from the Dirac sea depend sensitively on the occupation fraction of the valence level and the bare fermion mass and do not vanish at infinite momentum. In the case of the kink baryon, they even lead to divergent quark and antiquark structure functions at x=0.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures; v2: minor correction

The electromagnetic dipole operator effect on B -> Xs gamma at O(alpha_s^2)

The flavor-changing electromagnetic dipole operator O_7 gives the dominant contribution to the B -> Xs gamma decay rate. We calculate two-loop QCD corrections to its matrix element together with the corresponding bremsstrahlung contributions. The optical theorem is applied, and the relevant imaginary parts of three-loop diagrams are computed following the lines of our recent t -> Xb W calculation. The complete result allows us to test the validity of the naive non-abelianization (NNA) approximation that has been previously applied to estimate the NNLO QCD correction to Gamma(B -> Xs gamma)/Gamma(B -> Xu e nu). When both decay widths are normalized to m^5_{b,R} in the same renormalization scheme R, the calculated O(alpha_s^2) correction is sizeable (~ 6%), and the NNA estimate is about 1/3 too large. On the other hand, when the ratio of the decay widths is written as S*(m_b(m_b)/m_{b,pole})^2, the calculated O(alpha_s^2) correction to S is at the level of 1% for both the complete and the NNA results.Comment: Corrected pi^2 terms in the description of intermediate steps in Section II. Final results unchange

Conceptual aspects of QCD factorization in hadronic B decays

I review the meaning of ``QCD factorization'' in hadronic two-body B decays and then discuss recent results of theoretical (rather than phenomenological) nature: the proof of factorization at two loops; the identification of ``chirally enhanced'' power corrections; and the role of annihilation contributions.Comment: 10 pages, LaTeX. Based on talks presented at the UK Phenomenology Workshop on Heavy Flavour and CP Violation, 17 - 22 September 2000, Durham, proceedings to appear in J. Phys. G; the 5th International Symposium on Radiative Corrections (RADCOR2000), Carmel, California, September 11 - 15, 2000; the 4th Workshop on Continuous Advances in QCD, Minneapolis, 12-14 May 2000; the Vth International Workshop on Heavy Quark Physics, Dubna, 6-8 April 200

Higher-spin current multiplets in operator-product expansions

Various formulas for currents with arbitrary spin are worked out in general space-time dimension, in the free field limit and, at the bare level, in presence of interactions. As the n-dimensional generalization of the (conformal) vector field, the (n/2-1)-form is used. The two-point functions and the higher-spin central charges are evaluated at one loop. As an application, the higher-spin hierarchies generated by the stress-tensor operator-product expansion are computed in supersymmetric theories. The results exhibit an interesting universality.Comment: 19 pages. Introductory paragraph, misprint corrected and updated references. CQG in pres