Parity-expanded variational analysis for non-zero momentum

In recent years, the use of variational analysis techniques in lattice QCD has been demonstrated to be successful in the investigation of the rest-mass spectrum of many hadrons. However, due to parity-mixing, more care must be taken for investigations of boosted states to ensure that the projected correlation functions provided by the variational analysis correspond to the same states at zero momentum. In this paper we present the Parity-Expanded Variational Analysis (PEVA) technique, a novel method for ensuring the successful and consistent isolation of boosted baryons through a parity expansion of the operator basis used to construct the correlation matrix.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl

Probing the proton and its excitations in full QCD

We present a first look at the application of variational techniques for the extraction of the electromagnetic properties of an excited nucleon system. In particular, we include preliminary results for charge radii and magnetic moments of the proton, its first even-parity excitation and the $\Delta^{+}$.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, presented at the 31st International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2013), 29 July - 3 August 2013, Mainz, German

Transition of ρ→πγ\rho \rightarrow \pi \gamma in Lattice QCD

With the ongoing experimental interest in exploring the excited hadron spectrum, evaluations of the matrix elements describing the formation and decay of such states via radiative processes provide us with an important connection between theory and experiment. In particular, determinations obtained via the lattice allow for a direct comparison of QCD-expectation with experimental observation. Here we present the first light quark determination of the $\rho \rightarrow \pi \gamma$ transition form factor from lattice QCD using dynamical quarks. Using the PACS-CS 2+1 flavour QCD ensembles we are able to obtain results across a range of masses, to the near physical value of $m_\pi = 157$ MeV. An important aspect of our approach is the use of variational methods to isolate the desired QCD eigenstate. For low-lying states, such techniques facilitate the removal of excited state contributions. In principle the method enables one to consider arbitrary eigenstates. We find our results are in accord with the non-relativistic quark model for heavy masses. In moving towards the light-quark regime we observe an interesting quark mass dependence, contrary to the quark model expectation. Comparison of our light-quark result with experimental determinations highlights a significant discrepancy suggesting that disconnected sea-quark loop contributions may play a significant role in fully describing this process.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures and 1 tabl

Observations of the Biology of \u3ci\u3ePhasgonophora Sulcata\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), a Larval Parasitoid of the Twolined Chestnut Borer, \u3ci\u3eAgrilus Bilineatus\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), in Wisconsin

Phasgorzophora sulcata Westwood was the principal larval parasitoid of Agrilus bilineatus (Weber) during a study conducted in a natural oak-hardwood forest in the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Mean percent larval parasitism was 10.5%. Mean A. bilineatus and P. sulcata densities were, respectively, 53.0 and 6.1 adults per square meter of bark. The theoretical developmental threshold temperatures for over- wintering A. bilineatus and P. sulcata larvae were 17.8 and 19.l0C, respectively. The peak flight period of P. sulcata (9 July 1980) occurred ca. 3 weeks after the A. bilineatus peak flight (18 June 1980) at about the time of peak A. bilineatus egg eclosion. The P. sulcata sex ratios (malexfemales) for laboratory-reared and field-captured adults were 1:1.35 and 1:3.22, respectively

Isolating the \Lambda(1405) in Lattice QCD

The negative-parity ground state of the \Lambda{} baryon lies surprisingly low in mass. At 1405.1 MeV, it lies lower than the negative-parity ground state nucleon, even though it has a valence strange quark. Using the PACS-CS (2+1)-flavour full-QCD ensembles available through the ILDG, we employ a variational analysis using source and sink smearing to isolate this elusive state. We find three low-lying odd-parity states, and for the first time reproduce the correct level ordering with respect to the nearby scattering thresholds.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figure

Extracting Low-Lying Lambda Resonances Using Correlation Matrix Techniques

The lowest-lying negative-parity state of the Lambda is investigated in (2+1)-flavour full-QCD on the PACS-CS configurations made available through the ILDG. We show that a variational analysis using multiple source and sink smearings can extract a state lying lower than that obtained by using a standard fixed smeared source and sink operator alone.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure, submitted to the proceedings of T(R)OPICAL QCD II, Cairns, Australia, 201

Forecasting the Yield Curve for the Euro Region

This paper compares the forecast precision of the Functional Signal plus Noise (FSN), the Dynamic Nelson-Siegel (DL), and a random walk model. The empirical results suggest that both outperform the random walk at short horizons (one-month) and that the the FSN model outperforms the DL at the one-month forecasting horizon. The conclusions provided in this paper are important for policy makers, fixed income portfolio managers, financial institutions and academics.