Reordering of Baryon Chiral Perturbation Theory

Reordering of the chiral perturbation series, proposed recently by Becher and Leutwyler in the framework of SU(2) baryonic ChPT, is applied to the SU(3) case. This results in improved convergence of the chiral expansion of static properties of the lowest lying baryon octet, which in most cases is quite impressive. Finite renormalization of coupling constants and the role it plays in the interpretation of effective field theories is discussed. Some future tests of the viability of the scheme are proposed too.Comment: 9 pages, one reference adde

Field Redefinitions and Wave Function Renormalization to O(p4)O(p^4) in Heavy Baryon Chiral Perturbation Theory

Mass- and wave-function renormalization is calculated to order $p^4$ in heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory. Two different schemes used in the literature are considered. Several technical issues like field redefinitions, non-transformation of sources as well as subtleties related to the definition of the baryon propagator are discussed. The nucleon axial-vector coupling constant $g_A$ is calculated to order $p^4$ as an illustrative example.Comment: 14 pages, Standard Latex. Improved discussion in introduction and conclusions, phenomenological consequences of corrections to $g_A$ emphasized. Version published in JHE

Extracting m_s From Flavor Breaking in Hadronic Tau Decays

New finite energy sum rules (FESR's) for extracting m_s from hadronic tau decay data are constructed which (1) significantly reduce potential theoretical uncertainties present in existing sum rule analyses and (2) remove problems associated with both the poor convergence of the OPE representation of the longitudinal part of the $us$ vector and axial vector correlators and the large statistical errors in the $us$ spectral data above the K^* region.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure. Report of presentations to International Conference on Quark Nuclear Physics, Adelaide, Feb. 21-25, 2000, 16th International Conference on Problems in Few-Body Physics, Taipei, March 6-10, 2000, and 7th Conference on the Intersections of Particle and Nuclear Physics, Quebec City, May 22-28, 200

Strong Isospin-Breaking Effects in K-->pi pi at Next-to-Leading Order in the Chiral Expansion

Strong isospin-breaking (IB) contributions to both the octet and 27-plet weak K-->2 pi transitions are evaluated at next-to-leading order (NLO) in the chiral expansion. NLO contributions are shown to significantly reduce the leading order result for the potentially large contribution to the $\Delta I=3/2$ amplitude resulting from strong isospin-breaking modifications to the weak Delta I=1/2 amplitude. The ratio of strong IB 27-plet to strong IB octet contributions is found to be small for all decay amplitudes. Combined with recent results on the corresponding electromagnetic contributions, we find that the ratio of the intrinsic strengths of octet and 27-plet effective weak operators can be taken to be that obtained from experimental data, analyzed ignoring isospin breaking, to an accuracy better than of order 10 percent.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure. NLO determination of strong IB modification of weak 27-plet transitions now also included; modified phase discussio

The CP-violating asymmetry in K_L -> pi+ pi- e+ e-

We update the theoretical analysis of the CP-violating asymmetry in the decay K_L -> pi+ pi- e+ e-, relying on chiral perturbation theory and on the most recent phenomenological information. With the experimentally determined magnetic amplitude and branching ratio as input, the asymmetry can be calculated with good accuracy. The theoretical interpretation of the sign of the asymmetry is discussed.Comment: 11 page

epsilon'/epsilon in the Standard Model

In order to provide an estimate of eps'/eps several effective theories and physical effects have to be disentangled. In this talk I discuss how it is possible to predict eps '/eps taking into account all sources of large logs. The numerical result one obtains, \eps '/\eps \sim (1.7\pm 0.6) \cdot 10^{-4}, is in good agreement with present measurements.Comment: Talk presented at QCD2000, Montpellier july 200

The chiral logs of the K -> pi pi amplitude

I calculate the leading logarithmic contributions up to two-loop order of the octet part of the K -> pi pi amplitude. This sector of the weak chiral Lagrangian is believed to be the main source of the enhancement of the I=0 relative to the I=2 K -> pi pi amplitude, the so-called Delta I = 1/2 rule. I discuss the procedure of chiral extrapolations of lattice data specific to K -> pi pi decays and study the implication of the present calculation on these numerically. The latter reinforces the fact that one has to expect a large enhancement of the I=0 part of the amplitude due to re-scattering effects between the three mesons.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures, uses axodra

mu+md from isovector pseudoscalar sum rules

AbstractWe revisit the isovector pseudoscalar sum rule determination of mu+md, using families of finite energy sum rules known to be very accurately satisfied in the isovector vector channel. The sum rule constraints are sufficiently strong to allow a determination of both mu+md and the excited resonance decay constants. The corresponding Borel transformed sum rules are also very well satisfied, providing a non-trivial consistency check on the treatment of direct instanton contributions. We obtain [mu+md](2 GeV)=7.8±1.1 MeV (in the MS scheme), only marginally compatible with the most recent sum rule determinations, but in good agreement with recent unquenched lattice extractions

The DMO Sum Rule Revisited

We reconsider the DMO sum rule in light of our recent two-loop calculations of isospin and hypercharge vector and axialvector current propagators in chiral perturbation theory. A modified derivation valid to second order in the light quark masses is presented, and a phenomenological analysis yields determination of a combination of finite counterterms occurring in the p^4 and p^6 chiral lagrangians. Suggestions are given for further study.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX, 1 tabl