Estimated Errors in |Vcd|/|Vcs| from Semileptonic D Decays

We estimate statistical and systematic errors in the extraction of the CKM ratio |Vcd|/|Vcs| from exclusive D-meson semileptonic decays using lattice QCD and anticipated new experimental results.Comment: LATTICE98(heavyqk), LaTeX, 3 pages, 2 postscript figures, uses espcrc2.sty and hyperbasics.te

First results from the asymmetric O(a) improved Fermilab action

We present first results from calculations using O(a) improved (FNAL) space-time asymmetric action on a 12^3 x 24 quenched lattice at \beta = 5.7 and c_SW = 1.57. The asymmetry parameter is determined non-perturbatively from the energy-momentum dispersion relation. This improvement scheme is mass dependent, and the calculations have been done in the charm and bottom quark mass sectors since it is at these heavier masses that the asymmetry is expected to be relevant.Comment: 3 pp. LaTeX2e, 6PostScript figures, uses espcrc2.sty. Contribution to Lattice99 (Pisa) proceedings (Improvement and Renormalisation

Light Quark Masses with an O(a)-Improved Action

We present the recent Fermilab calculations of the masses of the light quarks, using tadpole-improved Sheikholeslami-Wohlert (SW) quarks. Various sources of systematic errors are studied. Our final result for the average light quark mass in the quenched approximation evaluated in the $\bar{MS}$ scheme is $\bar{m}_q(\mu=2 GeV;n_f=0)= (m_u+m_d)/2=3.6 \pm 0.6 MeV$.Comment: 3 pgs. 3 figures. espcrc2.sty included. Talk presented at LATTICE96(phenomenology

A precise determination of the Bc mass from dynamical lattice QCD

We perform a precise calculation of the mass of the B_c meson using unquenched configurations from the MILC collaboration including 2+1 flavours of improved staggered quarks. Lattice NRQCD and the Fermilab formalism are used to describe the b and c quarks respectively. We find the mass of the B_c meson to be 6.304(16) GeVComment: Talk presented at Lattice2004(heavy), Fermilab, June 21-26. 3 pages, 2 figure

The anti-B --> D* lepton anti-neutrino form factor at zero recoil and the determination of V(cb)

We summarize our lattice QCD study of the form factor at zero recoil in the decay anti-B --> D* lepton anti-neutrino. After careful consideration of all sources of systematic uncertainty, we find, h_A1(1) = 0.913(+0.024-0.017)(+0.017-0.030), where the first uncertainty is from statistics and fitting while the second combined uncertainty is from all other systematic effects.Comment: Lattice2001(HeavyQuark); 3 pages, 2 eps figures, espcrc2.st

B -> D l nu form factors and the determination of |Vcb|

The zero recoil limit of the B -> D l nu form factors is calculated on the lattice, which provides a model-independent determination of |Vcb|. Considering a ratio of form factors, in which the bulk of statistical and systematic errors cancel, we obtain a precise result both for h_+(1) and for h_-(1).Comment: LATTICE98(heavyqk), LaTeX, 3 pages, 3 postscript figures, uses espcrc2.st

Leptonic decay constants f_Ds and f_D in three flavor lattice QCD

We determine the leptonic decay constants in three flavor unquenched lattice QCD. We use O(a^2)-improved staggered light quarks and O(a)-improved charm quarks in the Fermilab heavy quark formalism. Our preliminary results, based upon an analysis at a single lattice spacing, are f_Ds = 263(+5-9)(+/-24) MeV and f_D = 225(+11-13)(+/-21) MeV. In each case, the first reported error is statistical while the is the combined systematic uncertainty.Comment: Talk presented at Lattice2004(heavy), Fermilab, June 21-26, 2004. 3 pages, 2 figure

Semileptonic D->pi/K and B->pi/D decays in 2+1 flavor lattice QCD

We present results for form factors of semileptonic decays of $D$ and $B$ mesons in 2+1 flavor lattice QCD using the MILC gauge configurations. With an improved staggered action for light quarks, we successfully reduce the systematic error from the chiral extrapolation. The results for $D$ decays are in agreement with experimental ones. The results for B decays are preliminary. Combining our results with experimental branching ratios, we then obtain the CKM matrix elements $|V_{cd}|$, $|V_{cs}|$, $|V_{cb}|$ and $|V_{ub}|$. We also check CKM unitarity, for the first time, using only lattice QCD as the theoretical input.Comment: Talk presented at Lattice2004(heavy); 3 pages, 3 figure

The B -> D* l nu Form Factor at Zero Recoil

We describe a model independent lattice QCD method for determining the deviation from unity for h_{A1}(1), the B -> D* l nu form factor at zero recoil. We extend the double ratio method previously used to determine the B -> D l nu form factor. The bulk of statistical and systematic errors cancel in the double ratios we consider, yielding form factors which promise to reduce present theoretical uncertainties in the determination of V_{cb}. We present results from a prototype calculation at a single lattice spacing corresponding to beta=5.7.Comment: Lattice99(heavyquarks); 3 pgs, LaTe

Semileptonic form factors - a model-independent approach

We demonstrate that the B->D(*) l nu form factors can be accurately predicted given the slope parameter rho^2 of the Isgur-Wise function. Only weak assumptions, consistent with lattice results, on the wavefunction for the light degrees of freedom are required to establish this result. We observe that the QCD and 1/m_Q corrections can be systematically represented by an effective Isgur-Wise function of shifted slope. This greatly simplifies the analysis of semileptonic B decay. We also investigate what the available semileptonic data can tell us about lattice QCD and Heavy Quark Effective Theory. A rigorous identity relating the form factor slope difference rho_D^2-rho_A1^2 to a combination of form factor intercepts is found. The identity provides a means of checking theoretically evaluated intercepts with experiment.Comment: 18 pages, Revtex, 4 postscript figures, uses epsfig.st