Finite-Size Scaling of Vector and Axial Current Correlators

Using quenched chiral perturbation theory, we compute the long-distance behaviour of two-point functions of flavour non-singlet axial and vector currents in a finite volume, for small quark masses, and at a fixed gauge-field topology. We also present the corresponding predictions for the unquenched theory at fixed topology. These results can in principle be used to measure the low-energy constants of the chiral Lagrangian, from lattice simulations in volumes much smaller than one pion Compton wavelength. We show that quenching has a dramatic effect on the vector correlator, which is argued to vanish to all orders, while the axial correlator appears to be a robust observable only moderately sensitive to quenching.Comment: version to appear in NP

Determination of the ΔS=1\Delta S = 1 weak Hamiltonian in the SU(4) chiral limit through topological zero-mode wave functions

A new method to determine the low-energy couplings of the $\Delta S=1$ weak Hamiltonian is presented. It relies on a matching of the topological poles in $1/m^2$ of three-point correlators of two pseudoscalar densities and a four-fermion operator, measured in lattice QCD, to the same observables computed in the $\epsilon$-regime of chiral perturbation theory. We test this method in a theory with a light charm quark, i.e. with an SU(4) flavour symmetry. Quenched numerical measurements are performed in a 2 fm box, and chiral perturbation theory predictions are worked out up to next-to-leading order. The matching of the two sides allows to determine the weak low-energy couplings in the SU(4) limit. We compare the results with a previous determination, based on three-point correlators containing two left-handed currents, and discuss the merits and drawbacks of the two procedures.Comment: 38 pages, 9 figure

Weak low-energy couplings from topological zero-mode wavefunctions

We discuss a new method to determine the low-energy couplings of the $\Delta S=1$ weak Hamiltonian in the $\epsilon$-regime. It relies on a matching of the topological poles in $1/m^2$ of three-point functions of two pseudoscalar densities and a four-fermion operator computed in lattice QCD, to the same observables in the Chiral Effective Theory. We present the results of a NLO computation in chiral perturbation theory of these correlation functions together with some preliminary numerical results.Comment: 7 pages. Contribution to Lattice 200

On the determination of low-energy constants for ΔS=1\Delta S=1 transitions

We present our preliminary results for three-point correlation functions involving the operators entering the $\Delta{S}=1$ effective Hamiltonian with an active charm quark, obtained using overlap fermions in the quenched approximation. This is the first computation carried out for valence quark masses small enough so as to permit a matching to Quenched Chiral Perturbation Theory in the $\epsilon$-regime. The commonly observed large statistical fluctuations are tamed by means of low-mode averaging techniques, combined with restrictions to individual topological sectors. We also discuss the matching of the resulting hadronic matrix elements to the effective low-energy constants for $\Delta{S}=1$ transitions. This involves (a) finite-volume corrections which can be evaluated at NLO in Quenched Chiral Perturbation Theory, and (b) the short-distance renormalization of the relevant four-quark operators in discretizations based on the overlap operator. We discuss perturbative estimates for the renormalization factors and possible strategies for their non-perturbative evaluation. Our results can be used to isolate the long-distance contributions to the $\Delta I=1/2$ rule, coming from physics effects around the intrinsic QCD scale.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures, talks presented at Lattice 2005 (Weak matrix elements

Charm mass dependence of the weak Hamiltonian in chiral perturbation theory

Suppose that the weak interaction Hamiltonian of four-flavour SU(4) chiral effective theory is known, for a small charm quark mass m_c. We study how the weak Hamiltonian changes as the charm quark mass increases, by integrating it out within chiral perturbation theory to obtain a three-flavour SU(3) chiral theory. We find that the ratio of the SU(3) low-energy constants which mediate Delta I=1/2 and Delta I=3/2 transitions, increases rather rapidly with m_c, as \sim m_c ln (1/m_c). The logarithmic effect originates from "penguin-type" charm loops, and could represent one of the reasons for the Delta I=1/2 rule.Comment: 20 pages. v2: references and clarifications added, published versio

Low-energy couplings of QCD from topological zero-mode wave functions

By matching 1/m^2 divergences in finite-volume two-point correlation functions of the scalar or pseudoscalar densities with those obtained in chiral perturbation theory, we derive a relation between the Dirac operator zero-mode eigenfunctions at fixed non-trivial topology and the low-energy constants of QCD. We investigate the feasibility of using this relation to extract the pion decay constant, by computing the zero-mode correlation functions on the lattice in the quenched approximation and comparing them with the corresponding expressions in quenched chiral perturbation theory.Comment: 31 pages. v2: references and a small clarification added; published versio

Low-energy couplings of QCD from current correlators near the chiral limit

We investigate a new numerical procedure to compute fermionic correlation functions at very small quark masses. Large statistical fluctuations, due to the presence of local ``bumps'' in the wave functions associated with the low-lying eigenmodes of the Dirac operator, are reduced by an exact low-mode averaging. To demonstrate the feasibility of the technique, we compute the two-point correlator of the left-handed vector current with Neuberger fermions in the quenched approximation, for lattices with a linear extent of L~1.5 fm, a lattice spacing a~0.09 fm, and quark masses down to the epsilon-regime. By matching the results with the corresponding (quenched) chiral perturbation theory expressions, an estimate of (quenched) low-energy constants can be obtained. We find agreement between the quenched values of F extrapolated from the p-regime and extracted in the epsilon-regime.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figure

Observational evidence for AGN fueling. I. The merging of NGC6104 with a companion

We investigate in details the kinematics and morphology of the Seyfert galaxy NGC6104 in order to identify the mechanism of gas transportation to the active galactic nucleus (AGN). Our observational data were obtained at the 6-m Special Astrophysical Observatory telescope with the MPFS integral-field spectrograph and the SCORPIO universal device in three modes: direct imaging, a scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer, and long-slit spectroscopy. Images from the HST archive were invoked to study the structure of the circumnuclear region. An analysis of deep images has revealed that NGC6104 is in the phase of active merging with a companion galaxy. We have been able to study the detailed picture of ionized gas motions up to galactocentric distances of 14 kpc and to construct the stellar velocity field for the inner region. The radial gas motions toward the AGN along the central bar play a significant role at galactocentric distances of 1-5 kpc. In addition, we have detected an outflow of ionized gas from the nucleus that presumably resulted from the intrusion of a radio jet into the ambient interstellar medium. Using diagnostic diagrams, we estimate the contributions from the AGN and star formation to the galactic gas ionization. We estimate the bar pattern speed by the Tremaine-Weinberg method and show that the inner ring observed in the galactic images has a resonant nature. Two possible ring formation scenarios (before and during the interaction with a companion) are discussed.Comment: 12 pages, 2 tables, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy Letter

An economic model of long-term use of celecoxib in patients with osteoarthritis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous evaluations of the cost-effectiveness of the cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor celecoxib (Celebrex, Pfizer Inc, USA) have produced conflicting results. The recent controversy over the cardiovascular (CV) risks of rofecoxib and other coxibs has renewed interest in the economic profile of celecoxib, the only coxib now available in the United States. The objective of our study was to evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of celecoxib compared with nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsNSAIDs) in a population of 60-year-old osteoarthritis (OA) patients with average risks of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) complications who require chronic daily NSAID therapy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used decision analysis based on data from the literature to evaluate cost-effectiveness from a modified societal perspective over patients' lifetimes, with outcomes expressed as incremental costs per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained. Sensitivity tests were performed to evaluate the impacts of advancing age, CV thromboembolic event risk, different analytic horizons and alternate treatment strategies after UGI adverse events.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our main findings were: 1) the base model incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for celecoxib versus nsNSAIDs was $31,097 per QALY; 2) the ICER per QALY was$19,309 for a model in which UGI ulcer and ulcer complication event risks increased with advancing age; 3) the ICER per QALY was $17,120 in sensitivity analyses combining serious CV thromboembolic event (myocardial infarction, stroke, CV death) risks with base model assumptions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our model suggests that chronic celecoxib is cost-effective versus nsNSAIDs in a population of 60-year-old OA patients with average risks of UGI events.</p