Model-independent Study of Magnetic Dipole Transitions in Quarkonium

We study magnetic dipole (M1) transitions between two quarkonia in the framework of non-relativistic effective field theories of QCD. Relativistic corrections of relative order v^2 are investigated in a systematic fashion. Non-perturbative corrections due to color-octet effects are considered for the first time and shown to vanish at leading order. Exact, all order expressions for the relevant 1/m and 1/m^2 operators are derived. The results allow us to scrutinize several potential model claims. In particular, we show that QCD excludes both contributions to the anomalous magnetic moment of the quarkonium induced by low-energy fluctuations and contributions to the magnetic dipole operators of the type induced by a scalar potential. Finally, we apply our results to the transitions J/psi -> eta_c gamma, Upsilon(1S) -> eta_b gamma, Upsilon(2S) -> eta_b(2S) gamma, Upsilon(2S) -> eta_b gamma, eta_b(2S) -> Upsilon(1S) gamma, h_b(1P) -> chi_{b0,1}(1P) gamma and chi_{b2}(1P) -> h_b(1P) gamma by assuming these quarkonium states in the weak-coupling regime. Our analysis shows that the J/psi -> eta_c gamma width is consistent with a weak-coupling treatment of the charmonium ground state, while such a treatment for the hindered transition Upsilon(2S) -> eta_b gamma appears difficult to accommodate within the CLEO III upper limit.Comment: 44 pages, 8 figures; typos corrected, one reference added; to appear in Physical Review

A Bayesian belief network for local air quality forecasting

This study is focused on the development of a Bayesian network for air quality assessment and aims at offering a pragmatic and scientifically credible approach to modelling complex systems where substantial uncertainties exist. In particular, the main object is the prediction of the occurrence of suitable conditions for the stagnation of pollutants in a given area. The analytical modeling of the network provides a set of independent nodes, represented by the outputs of a forecasting meteorological Limited Area Model, from which descend the conditions for the stagnation of pollutants in different areas of the city (through measurements of the heuristic pollutant from monitoring stations) and finally the global conditions. The urban area of Genoa (Italy) was selected in order to test the actual capability of the model prototype. Network training was performed by means of historical data resulting from significant statistical series of the past years by the air quality-monitoring network. The system used for data assimilation, construction and network learning is completely based on an open source statistical processing software

Make Bow-tie Dynamic by Rethinking it as a Hierarchical Bayesian Network. Dynamic Risk Assessment of an LNG Bunkering Operation

In the present era, the spread of cyber-physical systems in the framework of the so-called Industry 4.0, is leading towards a complete automation of industrial processes, which are increasingly decentralized, smart, and require fewer and fewer frontline personnel. The risk assessment process is certainly not excluded from the revolution, and in perspective needs to be automatic, dynamic and linked with the conditions that emerge, moment by moment, in the life of a complex system. Analytical techniques can help in converting data in information and hence system knowledge to spot trends in operational performance, thus improving risk assessment quality. Even though the bow-tie approach is widely used within the context of complex systems, it still evidences several limitations, mainly connected to the actual assessment of likelihood and interdependencies in the fault and event trees. This paper shows how a bow tie analysis can be reframed as a Hierarchical Bayesian Network, where the probability distributions of the network nodes are updated with real time predictions during the operations. The proposed model was then applied to the risk assessment of a shore-to-ship LNG bunkering operation

The infrared behaviour of the static potential in perturbative QCD

The definition of the quark-antiquark static potential is given within an effective field theory framework. The leading infrared divergences of the static singlet potential in perturbation theory are explicitly calculated.Comment: 4 pages, 2 postscript figures, uses revtex.st

Heavy Hadron Spectroscopy

I review recent theoretical advances in heavy hadron spectroscopy.Comment: Plenary talk at the XXXIII International Conference on High Energy Physics (ICHEP 06), Moscow, Russia, July 26 - August 2, 2006; 11 page

A New Tool for the Lamb Shift Calculation

We solve the Bethe-Salpeter equation for hydrogenic bound states by choosing an appropriate interaction kernel $K_c$. We want to use our solution to calculate up to a higher order the hydrogen Lamb-shift, and as a first application we present up to order \left(\aa / \pi\right)(\za)^7 the contribution of the lowest order self-energy graph, calculated {\it exactly}. The basic formalism is a natural extension to the hydrogenic bound states of the one previously presented by R. Barbieri and E. Remiddi and used in the case of positronium.Comment: 21 pages, Latex, Preprint DFUB-94-0

Effective field theories for heavy quarkonium

We review recent theoretical developments in heavy quarkonium physics from the point of view of Effective Field Theories of QCD. We discuss Non-Relativistic QCD and concentrate on potential Non-Relativistic QCD. Our main goal will be to derive QCD Schr\"odinger-like equations that govern the heavy quarkonium physics in the weak and strong coupling regime. We also discuss a selected set of applications, which include spectroscopy, inclusive decays and electromagnetic threshold production.Comment: 162 pages, 30 figures, revised version, references added. Accepted for publication in Reviews of Modern Physic

Thermal width and gluo-dissociation of quarkonium in pNRQCD

The thermal width of heavy-quarkonium bound states in a quark-gluon plasma has been recently derived in an effective field theory approach. Two phenomena contribute to the width: the Landau damping phenomenon and the break-up of a colour-singlet bound state into a colour-octet heavy quark-antiquark pair by absorption of a thermal gluon. In the paper, we investigate the relation between the singlet-to-octet thermal break-up and the so-called gluo-dissociation, a mechanism for quarkonium dissociation widely used in phenomenological approaches. The gluo-dissociation thermal width is obtained by convoluting the gluon thermal distribution with the cross section of a gluon and a 1S quarkonium state to a colour octet quark-antiquark state in vacuum, a cross section that at leading order, but neglecting colour-octet effects, was computed long ago by Bhanot and Peskin. We will, first, show that the effective field theory framework provides a natural derivation of the gluo-dissociation factorization formula at leading order, which is, indeed, the singlet-to-octet thermal break-up expression. Second, the singlet-to-octet thermal break-up expression will allow us to improve the Bhanot--Peskin cross section by including the contribution of the octet potential, which amounts to include final-state interactions between the heavy quark and antiquark. Finally, we will quantify the effects due to final-state interactions on the gluo-dissociation cross section and on the quarkonium thermal width.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figure

Heavy Quarkonium in a weakly-coupled quark-gluon plasma below the melting temperature

We calculate the heavy quarkonium energy levels and decay widths in a quark-gluon plasma, whose temperature T and screening mass m_D satisfy the hierarchy m alpha_s >> T >> m alpha_s^2 >> m_D (m being the heavy-quark mass), at order m alpha_s^5. We first sequentially integrate out the scales m, m alpha_s and T, and, next, we carry out the calculations in the resulting effective theory using techniques of integration by regions. A collinear region is identified, which contributes at this order. We also discuss the implications of our results concerning heavy quarkonium suppression in heavy ion collisions.Comment: 25 pages, 2 figure