413 research outputs found
From arbitrariness to ambiguities in the evaluation of perturbative physical amplitudes and their symmetry relations
A very general calculational strategy is applied to the evaluation of the
divergent physical amplitudes which are typical of perturbative calculations.
With this approach in the final results all the intrinsic arbitrariness of the
calculations due to the divergent character is still present. We show that by
using the symmetry properties as a guide to search for the (compulsory) choices
in such a way as to avoid ambiguities, a deep and clear understanding of the
role of regularization methods emerges. Requiring then an universal point of
view for the problem, as allowed by our approach, very interesting conclusions
can be stated about the possible justifications of most intriguing aspect of
the perturbative calculations in quantum field theory: the triangle anomalies.Comment: 16 pages, no figure
The Equivalence Theorem and Effective Lagrangians
We point out that the equivalence theorem, which relates the amplitude for a
process with external longitudinally polarized vector bosons to the amplitude
in which the longitudinal vector bosons are replaced by the corresponding
pseudo-Goldstone bosons, is not valid for effective Lagrangians. However, a
more general formulation of this theorem also holds for effective interactions.
The generalized theorem can be utilized to determine the high-energy behaviour
of scattering processes just by power counting and to simplify the calculation
of the corresponding amplitudes. We apply this method to the phenomenologically
most interesting terms describing effective interactions of the electroweak
vector and Higgs bosons in order to examine their effects on vector-boson
scattering and on vector-boson-pair production in annihilation. The
use of the equivalence theorem in the literature is examined.Comment: 20 pages LaTeX, BI-TP 94/1
On (non-Hermitian) Lagrangeans in (particle) physics and their dynamical generation
On the basis of a new method to derive the effective action the
nonperturbative concept of "dynamical generation" is explained. A non-trivial,
non-Hermitian and PT-symmetric solution for Wightman's scalar field theory in
four dimensions is dynamically generated, rehabilitating Symanzik's precarious
phi**4-theory with a negative quartic coupling constant as a candidate for an
asymptotically free theory of strong interactions. Finally it is shown making
use of dynamically generation that a Symanzik-like field theory with scalar
confinement for the theory of strong interactions can be even suggested by
experiment.Comment: 12 pages, no figures, accepted for publication in Czech.J.Phys.,
revised with respect to obvious typo
Physical renormalization condition for the quark-mixing matrix
We investigate the renormalization of the quark-mixing matrix in the
Electroweak Standard Model. We show that the corresponding counterterms must be
gauge independent as a consequence of extended BRS invariance. Using rigid
SU(2)_L symmetry, we proof that the ultraviolet-divergent parts of the
invariant counterterms are related to the field renormalization constants of
the quark fields. We point out that for a general class of renormalization
schemes rigid SU(2)_L symmetry cannot be preserved in its classical form, but
is renormalized by finite counterterms. Finally, we discuss a genuine physical
renormalization condition for the quark-mixing matrix that is gauge independent
and does not destroy the symmetry between quark generations.Comment: 20 pages, LaTeX, minor changes, references adde
The Nielsen Identities of the SM and the definition of mass
In a generic gauge theory the gauge parameter dependence of individual Green
functions is controlled by the Nielsen identities, which originate from an
enlarged BRST symmetry. We give a practical introduction to the Nielsen
identities of the Standard Model (SM) and to their renormalization and
illustrate the power of this elegant formalism in the case of the problem of
the definition of mass.We prove to all orders in perturbation theory the
gauge-independence of the complex pole of the propagator for all physical
fields of the SM, in the most general case with mixing and CP violation. At the
amplitude level, the formalism provides an intuitive and general understanding
of the gauge recombinations which makes it particularly useful at higher
orders. We also include in an appendix the explicit expressions for the
fermionic two-point functions in a generic R_\xi gauge.Comment: 28 pages, LaTeX2e, 4 Postscript Figures, final version to appear on
PRD, extensive revision
Width and Partial Widths of Unstable Particles in the Light of the Nielsen Identities
Fundamental properties of unstable particles, including mass, width, and
partial widths, are examined on the basis of the Nielsen identities (NI) that
describe the gauge dependence of Green functions. In particular, we prove that
the pole residues and associated definitions of branching ratios and partial
widths are gauge independent to all orders. A simpler, previously discussed
definition of branching ratios and partial widths is found to be gauge
independent through next-to-next-to-leading order. It is then explained how it
may be modified in order to extend the gauge independence to all orders. We
also show that the physical scattering amplitude is the most general
combination of self-energy, vertex, and box contributions that is gauge
independent for arbitrary s, discuss the analytical properties of the NI
functions, and exhibit explicitly their one-loop expressions in the Z-gamma
sector of the Standard Model.Comment: 20 pages (Latex); minor changes included, accepted for publication in
Phys. Rev.
Dressing the nucleon in a dispersion approach
We present a model for dressing the nucleon propagator and vertices. In the
model the use of a K-matrix approach (unitarity) and dispersion relations
(analyticity) are combined. The principal application of the model lies in
pion-nucleon scattering where we discuss effects of the dressing on the phase
shifts.Comment: 17 pages, using REVTeX, 6 figure
Chemotaxis: a feedback-based computational model robustly predicts multiple aspects of real cell behaviour
The mechanism of eukaryotic chemotaxis remains unclear despite intensive study. The most frequently described mechanism acts through attractants causing actin polymerization, in turn leading to pseudopod formation and cell movement. We recently proposed an alternative mechanism, supported by several lines of data, in which pseudopods are made by a self-generated cycle. If chemoattractants are present, they modulate the cycle rather than directly causing actin polymerization. The aim of this work is to test the explanatory and predictive powers of such pseudopod-based models to predict the complex behaviour of cells in chemotaxis. We have now tested the effectiveness of this mechanism using a computational model of cell movement and chemotaxis based on pseudopod autocatalysis. The model reproduces a surprisingly wide range of existing data about cell movement and chemotaxis. It simulates cell polarization and persistence without stimuli and selection of accurate pseudopods when chemoattractant gradients are present. It predicts both bias of pseudopod position in low chemoattractant gradients and-unexpectedly-lateral pseudopod initiation in high gradients. To test the predictive ability of the model, we looked for untested and novel predictions. One prediction from the model is that the angle between successive pseudopods at the front of the cell will increase in proportion to the difference between the cell's direction and the direction of the gradient. We measured the angles between pseudopods in chemotaxing Dictyostelium cells under different conditions and found the results agreed with the model extremely well. Our model and data together suggest that in rapidly moving cells like Dictyostelium and neutrophils an intrinsic pseudopod cycle lies at the heart of cell motility. This implies that the mechanism behind chemotaxis relies on modification of intrinsic pseudopod behaviour, more than generation of new pseudopods or actin polymerization by chemoattractant
Particle decays and stability on the de Sitter universe
We study particle decay in de Sitter space-time as given by first order
perturbation theory in a Lagrangian interacting quantum field theory. We study
in detail the adiabatic limit of the perturbative amplitude and compute the
"phase space" coefficient exactly in the case of two equal particles produced
in the disintegration. We show that for fields with masses above a critical
mass there is no such thing as particle stability, so that decays
forbidden in flat space-time do occur here. The lifetime of such a particle
also turns out to be independent of its velocity when that lifetime is
comparable with de Sitter radius. Particles with mass lower than critical have
a completely different behavior: the masses of their decay products must obey
quantification rules, and their lifetime is zero.Comment: Latex, 38 pages, 1 PostScript figure; added references, minor
corrections and remark
Theoretical Aspects of Standard-Model Higgs-Boson Physics at a Future e^+ e^- Linear Collider
The Higgs boson is the missing link of the Standard Model of elementary
particle physics. We review its decay properties and production mechanisms at a
future e^+ e^- linear collider and its e^- e^-, e^+- gamma, and gamma gamma
modes, with special emphasis on the influence of quantum corrections. We also
discuss how its quantum numbers and couplings can be extracted from the study
of appropriate final states.Comment: 23 pages (Latex), 15 figures (Postscript), to appear in Int. J. Mod.
Phys.
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