Precise Determination of |V{us}| from Lattice Calculations of Pseudoscalar Decay Constants

Combining the ratio of experimental kaon and pion decay widths, Gamma(K to mu antineutrino{mu} (gamma)) / Gamma(pi to mu \antineutrino (gamma)), with a recent lattice gauge theory calculation of f{K}/f{pi} provides a precise value for the CKM quark mixing matrix element |V{us}|=0.2236(30) or if 3 generation unitarity is assumed |V{us}|=0.2238(30). Comparison with other determinations of that fundamental parameter, implications, and an outlook for future improvements are given

Electroweak Radiative Corrections To Polarized M{\o}ller Scattering Asymmetries

One loop electroweak radiative corrections to left-right parity violating M{\o}ller scattering ($e^-e^-\to e^-e^-$) asymmetries are presented. They reduce the standard model (tree level) prediction by 40$\pm 3$ \% where the main shift and uncertainty stem from hadronic vacuum polarization loops. A similar reduction also occurs for the electron-electron atomic parity violating interaction. That effect can be attributed to an increase of $\sin^2\theta_W(q^2)$ by $3\%$ in running from $q^2=m_Z^2$ to 0. The sensitivity of the asymmetry to ``new physics'' is also discussed.Comment: 14 pages, Revtex, postscript file including figures is available at ftp://ttpux2.physik.uni-karlsruhe.de/ttp95-14/ttp95-14.ps or via WWW at http://ttpux2.physik.uni-karlsruhe.de/cgi-bin/preprints/ (129.13.102.139

"Dark" Z implications for Parity Violation, Rare Meson Decays, and Higgs Physics

General consequences of mass mixing between the ordinary Z boson and a relatively light Z_d boson, the "dark" Z, arising from a U(1)_d gauge symmetry, associated with a hidden sector such as dark matter, are examined. New effects beyond kinetic mixing are emphasized. Z-Z_d mixing introduces a new source of low energy parity violation well explored by possible future atomic parity violation and planned polarized electron scattering experiments. Rare K (B) meson decays into pi (K) l^+ l^- (l = e, mu) and pi (K) nu anti-nu are found to already place tight constraints on the size of Z-Z_d mixing. Those sensitivities can be further improved with future dedicated searches at K and B factories as well as binned studies of existing data. Z-Z_d mixing can also lead to the Higgs decay H -> Z Z_d, followed by Z -> l_1^+ l_1^- and Z_d -> l_2^+ l_2^- or "missing energy", providing a potential hidden sector discovery channel at the LHC. An illustrative realization of these effects in a 2 Higgs doublet model is presented.Comment: Version to appear in PR

Polarized Moller Scattering Asymmetries

The utility of polarized electron beams for precision electroweak studies is described. Parity violating Moller scattering asymmetries in e-e- --> e-e- are discussed. Effects of electroweak radiative corrections and the running sin^2(theta_W(Q^2)) are reviewed. The sensitivity of E158 (a fixed target e-e- experiment at SLAC) and future e-e- collider studies to ``new physics'' is briefly outlined.Comment: Updated Fig.

Inelastic Channels in the Electroweak Symmetry-Breaking Sector

It has been argued that if light Higgs bosons do not exist then the self--interactions of $W$'s become strong in the TeV region and can be observed in longitudinal $WW$ scattering. We present a model with many inelastic channels in the $WW$ scattering process, corresponding to the creation of heavy fermion pairs. The presence of these heavy fermions affects the elastic scattering of $W$'s by propagating in loops, greatly reducing the amplitudes in some charge channels. Consequently, the symmetry--breaking sector cannot be fully explored by using, for example, the $W^+W^+$ mode alone; all $WW \rightarrow WW$ scattering modes must be measured.}Comment: 10 pages, phyzzx, JHU-TIPAC-92001

Fermi Constants and ``New Physics''

Various precision determinations of the Fermi constant are compared. Included are muon and (leptonic) tau decays as well as indirect prescriptions employing \alpha, m_Z, m_W, \ssthwmzms, \Gamma(Z\to\ell^+\ell^-), and $\Gamma(Z \to \nu\bar \nu)$ as input. Their good agreement tests the standard model at the $\pm 0.1$ level and provides stringent constraints on new physics. That utility is illustrated for: heavy neutrino mixing, 2 Higgs doublet models, S, T, and U parameters and excited $W^{\ast^\pm}$ bosons (Kaluza-Klein excitations). For the last of those examples, m_{W^\ast}\gsims 2.9 TeV is found.Comment: 14 page

Evidence for Bosonic Electroweak Corrections in the Standard Model

We present strong indirect evidence for the contribution of bosonic electroweak corrections in the Standard Model. Although important conceptually, these corrections give subleading contributions in current high energy experiments, and it was previously thought that they are difficult to detect. We also discuss the separate contribution of the Higgs boson.Comment: 9 pages (LaTeX + 3 PS figures, needs psfig