K* vector and tensor couplings from Nf = 2 tmQCD

The mass m_K* and vector coupling f_K* of the K*-meson, as well as the ratio of the tensor to vector couplings fT/fV|_K*, are computed in lattice QCD. Our simulations are performed in a partially quenched setup, with two dynamical (sea) Wilson quark flavours, having a maximally twisted mass term. Valence quarks are either of the standard or the Osterwalder-Seiler maximally twisted variety. Results obtained at three values of the lattice spacing are extrapolated to the continuum, giving m_K* = 981(33) MeV, f_K* = 240(18) MeV and fT(2 GeV)/fV|_K* = 0.704(41).Comment: 1+11 page

Layered Higgs Phase as a Possible Field Localisation on a Brane

So far it has been found by using lattice techniques that in the anisotropic five--dimensional Abelian Higgs model, a layered Higgs phase exists in addition to the expected five--dimensional one. The exploration of the phase diagram has shown that the two Higgs phases are separated by a phase transition from the confining phase. This transition is known to be first order. In this paper we explore the possibility of finding a second order transition point in the critical line which separates the first order phase transition from the crossover region. This is shown to be the case only for the four--dimensional Higgs layered phase whilst the phase transition to the five--dimensional broken phase remains first order. The layered phase serves as the possible realisation of four--dimensional spacetime dynamics which is embedded in a five--dimensional spacetime. These results are due to gauge and scalar field localisation by confining interactions along the extra fifth direction.Comment: 1+15 pages, 12 figure

O(a^2) cutoff effects in lattice Wilson fermion simulations

In this paper we propose to interpret the large discretization artifacts affecting the neutral pion mass in maximally twisted lattice QCD simulations as O(a^2) effects whose magnitude is roughly proportional to the modulus square of the (continuum) matrix element of the pseudoscalar density operator between vacuum and one-pion state. The numerical size of this quantity is determined by the dynamical mechanism of spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking and turns out to be substantially larger than its natural magnitude set by the value of Lambda_QCD.Comment: 38 pages, 1 figure, 2 table

Comment on ``Neutrino masses and mixing angles in a predictive theory of fermion masses''

In the extension of the Dimopoulos--Hall--Raby model of the fermion mass matrices to the neutrino sector, there is an entry in the up-quark and neutrino Dirac mass matrices which can be assumed to arise from the Yukawa coupling of a {\bf 120}, instead of a {\bf 10} or a {\bf 126}, of SO(10). Although this assumption leads to an extra undetermined complex parameter in the model, the resulting lepton mixing matrix exhibits the remarkable feature that the $\nu_{\tau}$ does not mix with the other two neutrinos. Making a reasonable assumption about the extra parameter, we are able to fit the large-mixing-angle MSW solution of the solar-neutrino problem, and we obtain $m_{\nu_{\tau}} \sim 10$ eV, the right mass range to close the Universe. Other possibilities for explaining the solar-neutrino deficit are also discussed.Comment: standard LATEX, 6 pages, 2 figures available from the authors, report No. CMU-HEP93-20 and DOE-ER/40682-4

Flavour symmetry restoration and kaon weak matrix elements in quenched twisted mass QCD

We simulate two variants of quenched twisted mass QCD (tmQCD), with degenerate Wilson quarks of masses equal to or heavier than half the strange quark mass. We use Ward identities in order to measure the twist angles of the theory and thus check the quality of the tuning of mass parameters to a physics condition which stays constant as the lattice spacing is varied. Flavour symmetry breaking in tmQCD is studied in a framework of two fully twisted and two standard Wilson quark flavours, tuned to be degenerate in the continuum. Comparing pseudoscalar masses, obtained from connected quark diagrams made of tmQCD and/or standard Wilson quark propagators, we confirm that flavour symmetry breaking effects, which are at most 5%, decrease as we approach the continuum limit. We also compute the pseudoscalar decay constant in the continuum limit, with reduced systematics. As a consequence of improved tuning of the mass parameters at $\beta = 6.1$, we reanalyse our previous $B_K$ results. Our main phenomenological findings are $r_0 f_K = 0.421(7)$ and $\hat B_K = 0.735(71)$.Comment: 41 pages, figures included, one reference added. Final version as accepted for publication on Nucl.Phys.

A precise determination of BKB_K in quenched QCD

The $B_K$ parameter is computed in quenched lattice QCD with Wilson twisted mass fermions. Two variants of tmQCD are used; in both of them the relevant $\Delta S = 2$ four-fermion operator is renormalised multiplicatively. The renormalisation adopted is non-perturbative, with a Schroedinger functional renormalisation condition. Renormalisation group running is also non-perturbative, up to very high energy scales. In one of the two tmQCD frameworks the computations have been performed at the physical $K$-meson mass, thus eliminating the need of mass extrapolations. Simulations have been performed at several lattice spacings and the continuum limit was reached by combining results from both tmQCD regularisations. Finite volume effects have been partially checked and turned out to be small. Exploratory studies have also been performed with non-degenerate valence flavours. The final result for the RGI bag parameter, with all sources of uncertainty (except quenching) under control, is $\hat B_K =0.789 \pm 0.046$.Comment: 54 pages, 11 figure

Is There a Peccei-Quinn Phase Transition?

The nature of axion cosmology is usually said to depend on whether the Peccei-Quinn (PQ) symmetry breaks before or after inflation. The PQ symmetry itself is believed to be an accident, so there is not necessarily a symmetry during inflation at all. We explore these issues in some simple models, which provide examples of symmetry breaking before and after inflation, or in which there is no symmetry during inflation and no phase transition at all. One effect of these observations is to relax the constraints from isocurvature fluctuations due to the axion during inflation. We also observe new possibilities for evading the constraints due to cosmic strings and domain walls, but they seem less generic.Comment: 14 pages. Several references adde