K -> pion Semileptonic Form Factors from Two-Flavor Lattice QCD

We present new lattice results of the K -> pion semileptonic form factors obtained from simulations with two flavors of dynamical twisted-mass fermions, using pion masses as light as 260 MeV. Our main result is f+(0) = 0.9560 (84), which, combined with the latest experimental data for Kl3 decays, leads to |V_{us}| = 0.2267 (5)_exp (20)_f+(0). Using the PDG(2008) determinations of |Vud| and |Vub| our result implies for the unitarity relation |Vud|**2 + |Vus|**2 + |Vub|**2 = 1.0004 (15). For the O(p**6) term of the chiral expansion of f+(0) we get Df = f+(0) - 1 - f2 = -0.0214 (84).Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, revte

Vector and scalar form factors for K- and D-meson semileptonic decays from twisted mass fermions with Nf = 2

We present lattice results for the form factors relevant in the K -> pion and D -> pion semileptonic decays, obtained from simulations with two flavors of dynamical twisted-mass fermions and pion masses as light as 260 MeV. For K -> pion decays we discuss the estimates of the main sources of systematic uncertainties, including the quenching of the strange quark, leading to our final result f+(0) = 0.9560 (57) (62). Combined with the latest experimental data, our value of f+(0) implies for the CKM matrix element |Vus| the value 0.2267 (5) (20) consistent with the first-row CKM unitarity. For D -> pion decays the application of Heavy Meson Chiral Perturbation Theory allows to extrapolate our results for both the scalar and the vector form factors at the physical point with quite good accuracy, obtaining a nice agreement with the experimental data. In particular at zero-momentum transfer we obtain f+(0) = 0.64 (5).Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, proceedings of the XXVII Int'l Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (LAT2009), July 26-31 2009, Peking University, Beijing (China

K→πK \to \pi semileptonic form factors with Nf=2+1+1N_f=2+1+1 Twisted Mass fermions

We present a lattice QCD determination of the vector and scalar form factors of the semileptonic $K \to \pi \ell \nu$ decay which are relevant for the extraction of the CKM matrix element $|V_{us}|$ from experimental data. Our results are based on the gauge configurations produced by the European Twisted Mass Collaboration with $N_f = 2+1+1$ dynamical fermions, which include in the sea, besides two light mass degenerate quarks, also the strange and the charm quarks. We use data simulated at three different values of the lattice spacing and with pion masses as small as $210$ MeV. Our final result for the vector form factor at zero momentum transfer is $f_+(0) = 0.9709 (46)$, where the uncertainty is both statistical and systematic combined in quadrature. Using the latest experimental value of $f_+(0) |V_{us}|$ from $K_{\ell 3}$ decays, we obtain $|V_{us}| = 0.2230 (11)$, which allows to test the unitarity constraint of the Standard Model below the permille level once the determination of $|V_{ud}|$ from superallowed nuclear $\beta$ decays is adopted. A slight tension with unitarity at the level of $\sim 2$ standard deviations is observed. Moreover we present our results for the semileptonic scalar $f_0(q^2)$ and vector $f_+(q^2)$ form factors in the whole range of values of the squared four-momentum transfer $q^2$ measured in $K_{\ell 3}$ decays, obtaining a very good agreement with the momentum dependence of the experimental data. We provide a set of synthetic data points representing our results for the vector and scalar form factors at the physical point for several selected values of $q^2$.Comment: 37 pages, 5 tables, 9 figures; version to appear in PR

Leading isospin-breaking corrections to pion, kaon and charmed-meson masses with Twisted-Mass fermions

We present a lattice computation of the isospin-breaking corrections to pseudoscalar meson masses using the gauge configurations produced by the European Twisted Mass collaboration with $N_f = 2 + 1 + 1$ dynamical quarks at three values of the lattice spacing ($a \simeq 0.062, 0.082$ and $0.089$ fm) with pion masses in the range $M_\pi \simeq 210 - 450$ MeV. The strange and charm quark masses are tuned at their physical values. We adopt the RM123 method based on the combined expansion of the path integral in powers of the $d$- and $u$-quark mass difference ($\widehat{m}_d - \widehat{m}_u$) and of the electromagnetic coupling $\alpha_{em}$. Within the quenched QED approximation, which neglects the effects of the sea-quark charges, and after the extrapolations to the physical pion mass and to the continuum and infinite volume limits, we provide results for the pion, kaon and (for the first time) charmed-meson mass splittings, for the prescription-dependent parameters $\epsilon_{\pi^0}$, \epsilon_\gamma(\overline{MS}, 2~\mbox{GeV}), \epsilon_{K^0}(\overline{MS}, 2~\mbox{GeV}), related to the violations of the Dashen's theorem, and for the light quark mass difference (\widehat{m}_d - \widehat{m}_u)(\overline{MS}, 2~\mbox{GeV}).Comment: 47 pages, 20 figures, 4 tables; comments on QED and QCD splitting prescriptions added; version to appear in PR

\Delta S=2 and \Delta C=2 bag parameters in the SM and beyond from Nf=2+1+1 twisted-mass LQCD

We present unquenched lattice QCD results for the matrix elements of four-fermion operators relevant to the description of the neutral K and D mixing in the Standard Model and its extensions. We have employed simulations with Nf = 2 + 1 + 1 dynamical sea quarks at three values of the lattice spacings in the interval 0.06 - 0.09 fm and pseudoscalar meson masses in the range 210 - 450 MeV. Our results are extrapolated to the continuum limit and to the physical pion mass. Renormalization constants have been determined non-perturbatively in the RI-MOM scheme. In particular, for the Kaon bag-parameter, which is relevant for the \overline{K}^0-K^0 mixing in the Standard Model, we obtain B_K^{RGI} = 0.717(24).Comment: Added comments to error budget discussion; fig.19 corrected. Version to appear in PR

First lattice calculation of the QED corrections to leptonic decay rates

The leading-order electromagnetic and strong isospin-breaking corrections to the ratio of $K_{\mu 2}$ and $\pi_{\mu 2}$ decay rates are evaluated for the first time on the lattice, following a method recently proposed. The lattice results are obtained using the gauge ensembles produced by the European Twisted Mass Collaboration with $N_f = 2 + 1 + 1$ dynamical quarks. Systematics effects are evaluated and the impact of the quenched QED approximation is estimated. Our result for the correction to the tree-level $K_{\mu 2} / \pi_{\mu 2}$ decay ratio is $-1.22\,(16) \%$ to be compared to the estimate $-1.12\,(21) \%$ based on Chiral Perturbation Theory and adopted by the Particle Data Group.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures; extended supplemental material with 1 table and 1 figure, results unchange