https://cds.cern.ch/record/359207/files/9807278.pdf

Particle physics models of inflation and the cosmological density perturbation

This paper is the second part of the new evaluation of atomic masses, Ame2012. From the results of a least-squares calculation, described in Part I, for all accepted experimental data, we derive here tables and graphs to replace those of Ame2003. The first table lists atomic masses. It is followed by a table of the influences of data on primary nuclides, a table of separation energies and reaction energies, and finally, a series of graphs of separation and decay energies. The last section in this paper lists all references to the input data used in Part I of this Ame2012 and also to the data included in the Nubase2012 evaluation (first paper in this issue).

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1674-1137/36/12/002/pdf

The Ame2012 atomic mass evaluation

We update the profile of the CKM matrix. The apex (rhobar,etabar) of the Unitarity Triangle is given by means of a global fit. We propose to include therein sin2alpha from the CP-violating asymmetries in B0->rho+rho-, using isospin to discriminate the penguin contribution. The constraint from epsilon'/epsilon is briefly discussed. We study the impact from the measurement of the rare decay K+->pi+nunu-bar, and from a future observation of KL->pi0nunubar. The B system is investigated in detail, beginning with 2beta+gamma and gamma from B0->D(*)+-pi-+ and B+->D(*)0K+. A significant part of this paper is dedicated to B decays into pipi, Kpi, rhopi and rhorho. Various phenomenological and theoretical approaches are studied. Within QCD Factorization we find a remarkable agreement of the pipi and Kpi data with the other UT constraints. A fit of QCD FA to all pipi and Kpi data leads to precise predictions of the related observables. We analyze separately the B->Kpi decays, and in particular the impact of electroweak penguins in response to recent phenomenological discussions. We do not observe any unambiguous sign of New Physics, whereas there is some evidence for potentially large rescattering effects. Finally we use a model-independent description of a large class of New Physics effects in both BBbar mixing and B decays, namely in the b->d and b->s gluonic penguin amplitudes, to perform a new numerical analysis. Significant non-standard corrections cannot be excluded yet, however standard solutions are favored in most cases.

/pdf/cp-violation-and-the-ckm-matrix-assessing-the-impact-of-the-4cq2oi0v9w.pdf

CP Violation and the CKM Matrix : Assessing the Impact of the Asymmetric B Factories

We review lattice results related to pion, kaon, D- and B-meson physics with the aim of making them easily accessible to the particle physics community. More specifically, we report on the determination of the light-quark masses, the form factor f+(0), arising in semileptonic K -> pi transition at zero momentum transfer, as well as the decay constant ratio fK/fpi of decay constants and its consequences for the CKM matrix elements Vus and Vud. Furthermore, we describe the results obtained on the lattice for some of the low-energy constants of SU(2)LxSU(2)R and SU(3)LxSU(3)R Chiral Perturbation Theory and review the determination of the BK parameter of neutral kaon mixing. The inclusion of heavy-quark quantities significantly expands the FLAG scope with respect to the previous review. Therefore, for this review, we focus on D- and B-meson decay constants, form factors, and mixing parameters, since these are most relevant for the determination of CKM matrix elements and the global CKM unitarity-triangle fit. In addition we review the status of lattice determinations of the strong coupling constant alpha_s.

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1140%2Fepjc%2Fs10052-014-2890-7.pdf

Review of lattice results concerning low-energy particle physics

The last decade has witnessed both quantitative and qualitative progresses in Shell Model studies, which have resulted in remarkable gains in our understanding of the structure of the nucleus. Indeed, it is now possible to diagonalize matrices in determinantal spaces of dimensionality up to 10^9 using the Lanczos tridiagonal construction, whose formal and numerical aspects we will analyze. Besides, many new approximation methods have been developed in order to overcome the dimensionality limitations. Furthermore, new effective nucleon-nucleon interactions have been constructed that contain both two and three-body contributions. The former are derived from realistic potentials (i.e., consistent with two nucleon data). The latter incorporate the pure monopole terms necessary to correct the bad saturation and shell-formation properties of the realistic two-body forces. This combination appears to solve a number of hitherto puzzling problems. In the present review we will concentrate on those results which illustrate the global features of the approach: the universality of the effective interaction and the capacity of the Shell Model to describe simultaneously all the manifestations of the nuclear dynamics either of single particle or collective nature. We will also treat in some detail the problems associated with rotational motion, the origin of quenching of the Gamow Teller transitions, the double beta-decays, the effect of isospin non conserving nuclear forces, and the specificities of the very neutron rich nuclei. Many other calculations--that appear to have ``merely'' spectroscopic interest--are touched upon briefly, although we are fully aware that much of the credibility of the Shell Model rests on them.

The shell model as a unified view of nuclear structure

A new critical survey is presented of all half-life, decay-energy, and branching-ratio measurements related to 20 superallowed ${0}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{0}^{+}\ensuremath{\beta}$ decays. Compared with our last review, there are numerous improvements: First, we have added 27 recently published measurements and eliminated 9 references, either because they have been superseded by much more precise modern results or because there are now reasons to consider them fatally flawed; of particular importance, the new data include a number of high-precision Penning-trap measurements of decay energies. Second, we have used the recently improved isospin symmetry-breaking corrections, which were motivated by these new Penning-trap results. Third, our calculation of the statistical rate function $f$ now accounts for possible excitation in the daughter atom, a small effect but one that merits inclusion at the present level of experimental precision. Finally, we have re-examined the systematic uncertainty associated with the isospin symmetry-breaking corrections by evaluating the radial-overlap correction using Hartree-Fock radial wave functions and comparing the results with our earlier calculations, which used Saxon-Woods wave functions; the provision for systematic uncertainty has been changed as a consequence. The new ``corrected'' $\mathcal{F}t$ values are impressively constant and their average, when combined with the muon lifetime, yields the up-down quark-mixing element of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix, ${V}_{\mathit{ud}}=0.97425\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.00022$. The unitarity test on the top row of the matrix becomes $|{V}_{\mathit{ud}}|{}^{2}+|{V}_{\mathit{us}}|{}^{2}+|{V}_{\mathit{ub}}|{}^{2}=0.99995\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.00061$. Both ${V}_{\mathit{ud}}$ and the unitarity sum have significantly reduced uncertainties compared with our previous survey, although the new value of ${V}_{\mathit{ud}}$ is statistically consistent with the old one. From these data we also set limits on the possible existence of scalar interactions, right-hand currents, and extra $Z$ bosons. Finally, we discuss the priorities for future theoretical and experimental work with the goal of making the CKM unitarity test even more definitive.

/pdf/superallowed-0-0-nuclear-b-decays-a-new-survey-with-3zjkjqnl9f.pdf

Superallowed 0 + →0 + nuclear β decays: A new survey with precision tests of the conserved vector current hypothesis and the standard model

The essential decay of pandemonium: A demonstration of errors in complex beta-decay schemes

Precise measurements of the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay between nuclear states of spin-parity ${0}^{+}$ and isospin 1 provide fundamental tests of the properties of the electroweak interaction. Collectively, these transitions sensitively probe the conservation of the vector weak current, set tight limits on the presence of scalar currents, and provide the most precise value for ${V}_{u\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}d}$. The latter result has become a linchpin in the most demanding test of the unitarity of the CKM matrix.

Superallowed 0 + → 0 + nuclear β decays: 2014 critical survey, with precise results for V u d and CKM unitarity

We report new shell-model calculations of the isospin-symmetry-breaking correction ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{C}$ to superallowed ${0}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{0}^{+}$ nuclear \ensuremath{\beta} decay. The most important improvement is the inclusion of core orbitals, which are demonstrated to have a significant impact on the mismatch in the radial wave functions of the parent and daughter states. We determine which core orbitals are important to include from an examination of measured spectroscopic factors in single-nucleon pickup reactions. In addition, where new sets of effective interactions have become available since our last calculation, we now include them; this leads to small changes in ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{\mathrm{NS}}$ as well. We also examine the new radiative-correction calculation by Marciano and Sirlin and, by a simple reorganization, show that it is possible to preserve the conventional separation into a nucleus-independent ``inner'' radiative term, ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{R}^{V}$, and a nucleus-dependent ``outer'' term, ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{R}^{'}$. We tabulate the new values for ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{C},{\ensuremath{\delta}}_{\mathrm{NS}}$, and ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{R}^{'}$ for 20 superallowed transitions, including the 13 currently well-studied cases. With these new correction terms, the corrected $\mathcal{F}t$ values for the 13 cases are statistically consistent with one another, and the anomalousness of the $^{46}\mathrm{V}$ result disappears. These new calculations lead to a lower average $\overline{\mathcal{F}t}$ value and a higher value for ${V}_{\mathrm{ud}}$. The sum of squares of the top-row elements of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix now agrees exactly with unitarity.

/pdf/improved-calculation-of-the-isospin-symmetry-breaking-51a2w19sdz.pdf

Improved calculation of the isospin-symmetry-breaking corrections to superallowed Fermi β decay

A complete and critical survey is presented of all half-life, decay-energy, and branching-ratio measurements related to 20 superallowed ${0}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{0}^{+}$ decays; no measurements are ignored, although some are rejected for cause and others updated. A new calculation of the statistical rate function f is described and experimental $ft$ values determined. The associated theoretical corrections needed to convert these results into ``corrected'' $\mathcal{F}t$ values are discussed, and careful attention is paid to the origin and magnitude of their uncertainties. As an exacting confirmation of the conserved vector current hypothesis, the corrected $\mathcal{F}t$ values are seen to be constant to three parts in ${10}^{4}$. These data are also used to set a new limit on any possible scalar interaction (assuming maximum parity violation) of ${C}_{S}/{C}_{V}=\ensuremath{-}(0.00005\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.00130)$. The average $\mathcal{F}t$ value obtained from the survey, when combined with the muon liftime, yields the up-down quark-mixing element of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix, ${V}_{ud}=0.9738\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0004$, and the unitarity test on the top row of the matrix becomes $|{V}_{ud}|{}^{2}+|{V}_{us}|{}^{2}+|{V}_{ub}|{}^{2}=0.9966\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0014$ using the Particle Data Group's currently recommended values for ${V}_{us}$ and ${V}_{ub}$. If ${V}_{us}$ comes instead from two recent results on ${K}_{e3}$ decay, the unitarity sum becomes 0.9996(11). Either result can be expressed in terms of the possible existence of right-hand currents. Finally, we discuss the priorities for future theoretical and experimental work with the goal of making the CKM unitarity test more definitive.

/pdf/superallowed-0-0-nuclear-b-decays-a-critical-survey-with-3wqoo799y0.pdf

J.C. Hardy

Papers

Superallowed 0 + →0 + nuclear β decays: A new survey with precision tests of the conserved vector current hypothesis and the standard model

The essential decay of pandemonium: A demonstration of errors in complex beta-decay schemes

Superallowed 0 + → 0 + nuclear β decays: 2014 critical survey, with precise results for V u d and CKM unitarity

Improved calculation of the isospin-symmetry-breaking corrections to superallowed Fermi β decay

Superallowed 0 + → 0 + nuclear β decays: A critical survey with tests of the conserved vector current hypothesis and the standard model