On the branching ratio of the "second class" tau --> eta' pi nu_tau decay

We present an assessment of the standard model expectations for the branching ratio of the isotopic spin and G-parity violating decay tau --> eta' pi nu_tau. The estimate is based on a vector and scalar meson dominance parametrization of the relevant form factors, that explicitly accounts for pi^0-eta-eta' mixing. The numerical results obtained in this framework indicate a branching ratio one order of magnitude (or more) below the current experimental limit, and suggest the possibility of evidencing some novel interaction in high statistics studies of this decay.Comment: 8 page

Positron Polarization at the International Linear Collider

We review some recent arguments supporting the upgrade of the International Linear Collider by a polarized positron beam, in addition to the polarized electron beam. The examples presented here mainly focus on the impact of positron polarization on items relevant to new physics searches, such as the identification of novel interactions in fermion-pair production and the formulation of new CP-sensitive observables. In particular, in addition to the benefits from positron and electron longitudinal polarizations, the advantages in this field of having transverse polarization of both beams are emphasized.Comment: Invited talk at 2005 International Linear Collider Workshop, Stanford Ca (LCWS05) 6 pages, LaTeX, 2 eps figure

Bhabha vs. Moller scattering as a contact-interaction analyzer at a polarized Linear Collider

We discuss electron-electron contact-interaction searches in the Bhabha and Moller processes at planned Linear Colliders run in the electron-positron and electron-electron modes, with longitudinally polarized beams. Our analysis is based on the measurement, for the two processes, of polarized differential cross sections that allow to disentangle the different, independent, four-fermion couplings. We evaluate by a model-independent analysis the sensitivities to the contact coupling constants, emphasizing the role of the available beam polarization and the complementarity of the two processes in giving the best limits. We also make a comparison with the potential of $e^+e^-\to\mu^+\mu^-$ at the same energy and beams polarization.Comment: 18 latex pages, 15 eps figs., some misprints corrected and added ref

On meson dominance in the `second class' tau \to eta pi nu_tau decay

Motivated by recent estimates of the isospin-violating process tau \to eta pi nu_tau, mostly relying on the rho and a_0 dominance of the relevant form factors near threshold, we present an assessment for the branching ratio that accounts for additional, potential, effects from the lowest radial excitations rho(1450) and a_0(1450), respectively, also lying in the decay phase space.Comment: 8 page

Flavour symmetry breaking in quark vacuum condensates

Abstract We study SU(3) and SU(2) flavour symmetry violations in the vacuum from the viewpoint of nonperturbative quark mass generation and independently from charge symmetry-breaking considerations. The results for the ratios of quark condensates of different flavours are compatible with those of QCD sum rules. However, we find that very large SU(3) violating effects, suggested by some sum rule analyses, are barely accommodated in the present nonperturbative approach