Isospin-0 ππ\pi\pi s-wave scattering length from twisted mass lattice QCD

We present results for the isospin-0 $\pi\pi$ s-wave scattering length calculated with Osterwalder-Seiler valence quarks on Wilson twisted mass gauge configurations. We use three $N_f = 2$ ensembles with unitary (valence) pion mass at its physical value (250$\sim$MeV), at 240$\sim$MeV (320$\sim$MeV) and at 330$\sim$MeV (400$\sim$MeV), respectively. By using the stochastic Laplacian Heaviside quark smearing method, all quark propagation diagrams contributing to the isospin-0 $\pi\pi$ correlation function are computed with sufficient precision. The chiral extrapolation is performed to obtain the scattering length at the physical pion mass. Our result $M_\pi a^\mathrm{I=0}_0 = 0.198(9)(6)$ agrees reasonably well with various experimental measurements and theoretical predictions. Since we only use one lattice spacing, certain systematics uncertainties, especially those arising from unitary breaking, are not controlled in our result.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures, 6 table

Ratio of kaon and pion leptonic decay constants with Nf=2+1+1N_f = 2 + 1 + 1 Wilson-clover twisted-mass fermions

We present a determination of the ratio of kaon and pion leptonic decay constants in isosymmetric QCD (isoQCD), $f_K / f_\pi$, making use of the gauge ensembles produced by the Extended Twisted Mass Collaboration (ETMC) with $N_f = 2 + 1 + 1$ flavors of Wilson-clover twisted-mass quarks, including configurations close to the physical point for all dynamical flavors. The simulations are carried out at three values of the lattice spacing ranging from $\sim 0.068$ to $\sim 0.092$ fm with linear lattice size up to $L \sim 5.5$~fm. The scale is set by the PDG value of the pion decay constant, $f_\pi^{isoQCD} = 130.4~(2)$ MeV, at the isoQCD pion point, $M_\pi^{isoQCD} = 135.0~(2)$ MeV, obtaining for the gradient-flow (GF) scales the values $w_0 = 0.17383~(63)$ fm, $\sqrt{t_0} = 0.14436~(61)$ fm and $t_0 / w_0 = 0.11969~(62)$ fm. The data are analyzed within the framework of SU(2) Chiral Perturbation Theory (ChPT) without resorting to the use of renormalized quark masses. At the isoQCD kaon point $M_K^{isoQCD} = 494.2~(4)$ MeV we get $(f_K / f_\pi)^{isoQCD} = 1.1995~(44)$, where the error includes both statistical and systematic uncertainties. Implications for the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix element $|V_{us}|$ and for the first-row CKM unitarity are discussed.Comment: 68 pages, 14 figures, 12 tables. Version to appear in PR

Time windows of the muon HVP from twisted-mass lattice QCD

We present a lattice determination of the leading-order hadronic vacuum polarization (HVP) contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment, aHVPμ , in the so-called short and intermediate time-distance windows, aSDμ and aWμ . We employ gauge ensembles produced by the Extended Twisted Mass Collaboration (ETMC) with Nf=2+1+1 flavours of Wilson-clover twisted-mass quarks with masses of all the dynamical quark flavours tuned close to their physical values. The simulations are carried out at three values of the lattice spacing equal to ≃0.057,0.068 and 0.080 fm with spatial lattice sizes up to L≃7.6 ~fm. For the short distance window we obtain aSDμ=69.27(34)⋅10−10 , in agreement with the dispersive determination based on experimental e+e− data. For the intermediate window we get instead aWμ=236.3(1.3)⋅10−10 , which is consistent with recent determinations by other lattice collaborations, but disagrees with the dispersive determination at the level of 3.6σ

Optical Absorption of an Interacting Many-Polaron Gas

The optical absorption of a many (continuum) polaron gas is derived in the framework of a variational approach at zero temperature and weak or intermediate electron-phonon coupling strength. We derive a compact formula for the optical conductivity of the many-polaron system taking into account many-body effects in the electron or hole system. Within the method presented here, these effects are contained completely in the dynamical structure factor of the electron or hole system. This allows to build on well-established studies of the interacting electron gas. Based on this approach a novel feature in the absorption spectrum of the many-polaron gas, related to the emission of a plasmon together with a phonon, is identified. As an application and illustration of the technique, we compare the theoretical many-polaron optical absorption spectrum as derived in the present work with the `d-band' absorption feature in Nd$_{2}$CuO$_{2}$. Similarities are shown between the theoretically and the experimentally derived first frequency moment of the optical absorption of a family of differently doped Nd$_{2-x}$Ce$_{x}$CuO$_{4-y}$ materials.Comment: 24 pages, 5 figures; revised and expanded versio

Pion vector form factor from lattice QCD at the physical point

We present an investigation of the electromagnetic pion form factor, FπðQ2Þ, at small values of the four- momentum transfer Q2 (≲0.25 GeV2), based on the gauge configurations generated by the European Twisted Mass Collaboration with Nf = 2 twisted-mass quarks at maximal twist including a clover term. Momentum is injected using nonperiodic boundary conditions and the calculations are carried out at a fixed lattice spacing (a ≃ 0.09 fm) and with pion masses equal to its physical value, 240 MeV and 340 MeV. Our data are successfully analyzed using chiral perturbation theory at next-to-leading order in the light-quark mass. For each pion mass two different lattice volumes are used to take care of finite size effects. Our final result for the squared charge radius is hr2iπ = 0.443ð29Þ fm2, where the error includes several sources of systematic errors except the uncertainty related to discretization effects. The corresponding value of the SU(2) chiral low-energy constant l ̄6 is equal to l ̄6 = 16.2ð1.0Þ

Isospin-0 ππ scattering from twisted mass lattice QCD

We present results for the isospin-0 $pipi$ s-wave scattering length calculated in twisted mass lattice QCD. We use three $N_f = 2$ ensembles with unitary pion mass at its physical value, 240~MeV and 330~MeV respectively. We also use a large set of $N_f = 2 + 1 +1$ ensembles with unitary pion masses varying in the range of 230~MeV - 510~MeV at three different values of the lattice spacing. A mixed action approach with the Osterwalder-Seiler action in the valence sector is adopted to circumvent the complications arising from isospin symmetry breaking of the twisted mass quark action. Due to the relatively large lattice artefacts in the $N_f = 2 + 1 +1$ ensembles, we do not present the scattering lengths for these ensembles. Instead, taking the advantage of the many different pion masses of these ensembles, we qualitatively discuss the pion mass dependence of the scattering properties of this channel based on the results from the $N_f = 2 + 1 +1$ ensembles. The scattering length is computed for the $N_f = 2$ ensembles and the chiral extrapolation is performed. At the physical pion mass, our result $M_pi a^mathrm{I=0}_0 = 0.198(9)(6)$ agrees reasonably well with various experimental measurements and theoretical predictions

The Role of CO2-EOR for the Development of a CCTS Infrastructure in the North Sea Region: A Techno-Economic Model and Application

Scenarios of future energy systems attribute an important role to Carbon Capture, Transport, and Storage (CCTS) in achieving emission reductions. Using captured CO2 for enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) can improve the economics of the technology. This paper examines the potential for CO2-EOR in the North Sea region. UK oil fields are found to account for 47% of the estimated additional recovery potential of 3739 Mbbl (1234 MtCO2 of storage potential). Danish and Norwegian fields add 28% and 25%, respectively. Based on a comprehensive dataset, the paper develops a unique techno-economic market equilibrium model of CO2 supply from emission sources and CO2 demand from CO2-EOR to assess implications for a future CCTS infrastructure. A detailed representation of decreasing demand for fresh CO2 for CO2-EOR operation is accomplished via an exponential storage cost function. In all scenarios of varying CO2 and crude oil price paths the assumed CO2-EOR potential is fully exploited. CO2-EOR does add value to CCTS operations but the potential is very limited and does not automatically induce long term CCTS activity. If CO2 prices stay low, little further use of CCTS can be expected after 2035

The Nexus Bioenergy-Economy-Land-use-GHG Emissions: Experience from Colombia

In the 20th century, industrialization and population growth led to a rapid increase in world energy consumption. This trend has been followed in recent years by various emerging economies (e.g. BRICS) and it is likely that other developing countries move along that path in the future. However, the need to meet a growing energy demand to sustain economic growth has resulted in serious negative impacts including climate change, deforestation, soil and water contamination, loss of biodiversity and concerns on water supply. The depth and intensity of linkages between climate, energy, water, land and development make a multidisciplinary approach necessary, in order to thoroughly investigate their nexus and achieve a more efficient use of resources as well as cross-sectorial consistence. In this context, this lecture presents some guidelines gained by applying a modeling framework which addresses the energy, economy, emissions and land use nexus when exploiting bioenergy in developing countries. The modeling framework combines a qualitative and a quantitative element. The qualitative element integrates two components: 1) technology roadmapping to identify long-term technology targets through expert judgment and 2) scenario analysis to investigate different future storylines. The quantitative element comprises four integrated tools, namely the energy system model (ESM), the land use and trade model (LUTM), an economic model, and an external climate model. An overview of the modeling framework, scenario analysis, structure of the models, modelling techniques, mathematical formulations and assumptions is presented and discussed. The modeling framework is applied to the particular context of Colombia, as a case study of a developing country with large bioenergy potential. The impacts that an accelerated deployment of bioenergy technologies might cause on the energy demand and supply, emissions and land use until 2030 are evaluated

Methodology for improving the reliability of biomass energy potential estimation

This paper presents a novel approach to address uncertainty and improve reliability of the estimation of the biomass energy potential at a country level, particularly suitable for situations when quality and availability of data are limited. The proposed methodology improves the prediction reliability by following four steps: 1) using a simple accounting framework, 2) using a robust selection of probability density functions, 3) using a probabilistic propagation of uncertainty and 4) using sensitivity analysis to identify key variables contributing to uncertainty as well as a root cause analysis and a set of sub-models to improve estimation of key variables. The application of the methodology to the energy scenario in Colombia shows that the improved estimation of the theoretical energy potential has an almost identical mean value compared to the preliminary estimate, but the uncertainty is significantly lower (less than 50%). Moreover, the mean value of the technical energy potential obtained through the methodology is 25% lower than the preliminary potential and the uncertainty reduces by one third