Anne Mareike Galda, Matthias Neubert, Xing Wang
The $B$-meson light-cone distribution amplitude is an important non-perturbative quantity arising in the factorization of the amplitudes for many exclusive decays of $B$ mesons, such as $B^-\toγ\,\ell^-\barν$. We reconsider the renormalization-group (RG) equation satisfied by this function and present its solution at next-to-leading order (NLO) in RG-improved perturbation theory in Laplace space and, for the first time, in momentum space and the so-called diagonal (or dual) space. Since the information needed to describe the $B$ decay processes at leading order in $Λ_{\rm QCD}/m_b$ is most directly contained in the distribution amplitude in Laplace space evaluated near the origin, we propose an unbiased parameterization of this object in terms of a small set of uncorrelated hadronic parameters. Using recent results on the three-loop anomalous dimension for heavy-light current operators, we derive an expression for the convolution integral appearing in the $B^-\toγ\,\ell^-\barν$ factorization formula that is explicitly scale independent, and we evaluate this formula at (approximate) NNLO.
Martin Beneke, Matthias Neubert
Exclusive hadronic B-meson decays into two-body final states consisting of a light pseudoscalar or vector meson along with an eta or eta' meson are of great phenomenological interest. Their theoretical analysis involves decay mechanisms that are unique to flavor-singlet states, such as their coupling to gluons or their ``intrinsic charm'' content. These issues are studied systematically in the context of QCD factorization and the heavy-quark expansion. Theory can account for the experimental data on the B->K^{(*)} eta^{(')} branching fractions, albeit within large uncertainties.
Matthias Neubert
I summarize highlights of the theory talks presented at the 37th Rencontres de Moriond on QCD and High Energy Hadronic Interactions.
Bjorn O. Lange, Matthias Neubert
An integro-differential equation governing the evolution of the leading-order B-meson light-cone distribution amplitude is derived. The anomalous dimension in this equation contains a logarithm of the renormalization scale, whose coefficient is identified with the cusp anomalous dimension of Wilson loops. The exact analytic solution of the evolution equation is obtained, from which the asymptotic behavior of the distribution amplitude is derived. These results can be used to resum Sudakov logarithms entering the hard-scattering kernels in QCD factorization theorems for exclusive B decays.
Yuval Grossman, Matthias Neubert
We study bulk fermion fields in the localized gravity model with non-factorizable metric recently proposed by Randall and Sundrum, and Gogberashvili. In addition to a tower of weak-scale Kaluza-Klein states we find a zero mode for any value of the fundamental fermion mass. If the fermion mass is larger than half the curvature of the compact dimension, the zero mode can be localized on the ``hidden'' 3-brane in the Randall-Sundrum model. Identifying this mode with a right-handed neutrino provides a new way for obtaining small Dirac neutrino masses without invoking a see-saw mechanism. Cancellation of the parity anomaly requires introducing an even number of bulk fermions. This naturally leads to a strong hierarchy of neutrino masses and generically large mixing angles.
Seung J. Lee, Matthias Neubert
The operator product expansion is used to obtain model-independent predictions for the first two moments of the renormalized B-meson light-cone distribution amplitude phi_+(omega,mu), defined with a cutoff omega<Lambda_UV. The leading hadronic power corrections are given in terms of the parameter Lambda(bar)=m_B-m_b. From the cutoff dependence of the zeroth moment an analytical expression for the asymptotic behavior of the distribution amplitude is derived, which exhibits a negative radiation tail for omega>>mu. By solving the evolution equation for the distribution amplitude, an integral representation for phi_+(omega,mu) is obtained in terms an initial function phi_+(omega,mu_0) defined at a lower renormalization scale. A realistic model of the B-meson light-cone distribution amplitude is proposed, which satisfies the moment relations and has the correct asymptotic behavior. This model provides an estimate for the first inverse moment and the associated parameter lambda_B.
Matthias Neubert
Based on a new, exact QCD factorization formula for the partial B->X_s+gamma decay rate with a restriction on large photon energy, improved predictions are presented for the partial moments <E_gamma> and <E_gamma^2>-<E_gamma>^2 of the photon spectrum defined with a cut E_gamma>E_0. In the region where Delta=m_b-2E_0 is large compared with Lambda_{QCD}, a theoretical description without recourse to shape functions can be obtained. However, for Delta<<m_b it is important to separate short-distance contributions arising from different scales. The leading terms in the heavy-quark expansion of the moments receive contributions from the scales Delta and \sqrt{m_b Delta} only, but not from the hard scale m_b. For these terms, a complete scale separation is achieved at next-to-next-to-leading order in renormalization-group improved perturbation theory, including two-loop matching contributions and three-loop running. The results presented here can be used to extract the b-quark mass and the quantity mu_pi^2 with excellent theoretical precision. A fit to experimental data reported by the Belle Collaboration yields m_b^{SF}=(4.62+-0.10_{exp}+-0.03_{th})GeV and mu_pi^{2,SF}=(0.11+-0.19_{exp}+-0.08_{th})GeV^2 in the shape-function scheme at a scale mu_f=1.5GeV, while m_b^{kin}=(4.54+-0.11_{exp}+-0.04_{th})GeV and mu_pi^{2,kin}=(0.49+-0.18_{exp}+-0.09_{th})GeV^2 in the kinetic scheme at a scale mu_f=1GeV.
Matthias Neubert
Using methods of effective field theory, a systematic analysis of the fragmentation functions D_{a/H}(x,m_Q) of a hadron H containing a heavy quark Q is performed (with a=Q,Q_bar,q,q_bar,g). By integrating out pair production of virtual and real heavy quarks, the fragmentation functions are matched onto a single nonperturbative function describing the fragmentation of the heavy quark Q into the hadron H in "partially quenched" QCD. All calculable, short-distance dependence on x is extracted in this step. For x->1, the remaining fragmentation function can be matched further onto a universal function defined in heavy-quark effective theory in order to factor off its residual dependence on the heavy-quark mass. By solving the evolution equation in the effective theory analytically, large logarithms of the ratio mu/m_Q are resummed to all orders in perturbation theory. Connections with existing approaches to heavy-quark fragmentation are discussed. In particular, it is shown that previous attempts to extract log^n(1-x) terms from the fragmentation function D_{Q/H}(x,m_Q) are incompatible with a proper separation of short- and long-distance effects.
Martin Bauer, Matthias Neubert
We show that by adding a single new scalar particle to the Standard Model, a TeV-scale leptoquark with the quantum numbers of a right-handed down quark, one can explain in a natural way three of the most striking anomalies of particle physics: the violation of lepton universality in $\bar B\to\bar K\ell^+\ell^-$ decays, the enhanced $\bar B\to D^{(*)}τ\barν$ decay rates, and the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. Constraints from other precision measurements in the flavor sector can be satisfied without fine-tuning. Our model predicts enhanced $\bar B\to\bar K^{(*)}ν\barν$ decay rates and a new-physics contribution to $B_s\!-\!\bar B_s$ mixing close to the current central fit value.
Timm Krueger, Matthias Neubert, Christof Wetterich
Feb 29, 2008·astro-ph·PDF We investigate non-linear, spherically symmetric solutions to the coupled system of a quintessence field and Einstein gravity. In the presence of a scalar potential, we find regular solutions that to an outside observer very closely resemble Schwarzschild black holes. However, these cosmon lumps have neither a horizon nor a central singularity. A stability analysis reveals that our static solutions are dynamically unstable. It remains an open question whether analogous stable solutions exist.
Matthias Neubert
These lectures review the formalism of renormalization in quantum field theories with special regard to effective quantum field theories. While renormalization theory is part of every advanced course on quantum field theory, for effective theories some more advanced topics become particularly important. This includes the renormalization of composite operators, operator mixing under scale evolution, and the resummation of large logarithms of scale ratios. This course thus sets the basis for many of the more specialized lecture courses delivered at the 2017 Les Houches Summer School.
Valentin Ahrens, Thomas Becher, Matthias Neubert, Li Lin Yang
The very large K-factor for Higgs-boson production at hadron colliders is shown to result from enhanced perturbative corrections of the form (C_Aπα_s)^n, which arise in the analytic continuation of the gluon form factor to time-like momentum transfer. These terms are resummed to all orders in perturbation theory using the renormalization group. After the resummation, the K-factor for the production of a light Higgs boson at the LHC is reduced to a value close to 1.3.
Thomas Becher, Matthias Neubert
A closed formula is obtained for the infrared singularities of dimensionally regularized, massless gauge-theory scattering amplitudes with an arbitrary number of legs and loops. It follows from an all-order conjecture for the anomalous-dimension matrix of n-jet operators in soft-collinear effective theory. We show that the form of this anomalous dimension is severely constrained by soft-collinear factorization, non-abelian exponentiation, and the behavior of amplitudes in collinear limits. Using a diagrammatic analysis, we demonstrate that these constraints imply that to three-loop order the anomalous dimension involves only two-parton correlations, with the possible exception of a single color structure multiplying a function of conformal cross ratios depending on the momenta of four external partons, which would have to vanish in all two-particle collinear limits. We argue that such a function does not appear at three-loop order, and that the same is true in higher orders. Our formula predicts Casimir scaling of the cusp anomalous dimension to all orders in perturbation theory, and we explicitly check that the constraints exclude the appearance of higher Casimir invariants at four loops. Using known results for the quark and gluon form factors, we derive the three-loop coefficients of the 1/epsilon^n pole terms (with n=1,...,6) for an arbitrary n-parton scattering amplitude in massless QCD. This generalizes Catani's two-loop formula proposed in 1998.
Philipp Böer, Matthias Neubert, Michel Stillger
It has been known for many years that jet cross sections at hadron colliders exhibit double-logarithmic corrections starting at four-loop order, arising from two soft Glauber-gluon interactions between the two colliding partons. The resummation of these "super-leading logarithms" has been achieved only recently by means of a renormalization-group treatment in soft-collinear effective theory. We generalize this result and, within the same framework and for quark-initiated processes, resum the double logarithms arising in the presence of an arbitrary number of Glauber-gluon exchanges. For typical choices of parameters, the higher-order Glauber terms give rise to corrections which are expected to be numerically of the same magnitude as the super-leading logarithms. However, we find that the Glauber series for jet cross sections is dominated by the two-Glauber contribution, if the colliding partons are quarks or anti-quarks.
Florian Goertz, Ulrich Haisch, Matthias Neubert
We point out that the discovery of a light Higgs boson in the γγ, ZZ and WW decay channels at the LHC, with cross sections not far from the predictions of the Standard Model, would have important implications for the parameters of warped extra-dimension models. Due to loop effects of Kaluza-Klein particles, these models predict a significant reduction of the Higgs production cross section via gluon-gluon fusion, combined with an enhancement of the ratio Br(h->γγ)/Br(h->ZZ). LHC measurements of these decays will probe Kaluza-Klein masses up to the 10 TeV range, exceeding by far the reach for direct production.
Alessandro Broggio, Matthias Neubert, Leonardo Vernazza
We use a recent approach to soft-gluon resummation based on effective field theory to implement soft-gluon resummation at NNNLL order for slepton-pair production in SUSY extensions of the Standard Model. This approach resums large logarithmic corrections arising from the dynamical enhancement of the partonic threshold region caused by steeply falling parton luminosities. We evaluate the resummed invariant-mass distribution and total cross section for slepton-pair production at the Tevatron and LHC, matching our results onto NLO fixed-order calculations. As a byproduct, we also study virtual SUSY effects in the context of soft-gluon resummation for the Drell-Yan process.
Thomas Becher, Matthias Neubert
Using methods of effective field theory, we derive the first all-order factorization theorem for the Higgs-boson production cross section with a jet veto, imposed by means of a standard sequential recombination jet algorithm. Like in the case of small-q_T resummation in Drell-Yan and Higgs production, the factorization is affected by a collinear anomaly. Our analysis provides the basis for a systematic resummation of large logarithms log(m_H/p_T^veto) beyond leading-logarithmic order. Specifically, we present predictions for the resummed jet-veto cross section and efficiency at next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic order. Our results have important implications for Higgs-boson searches at the LHC, where a jet veto is required to suppress background events.
Valentin Ahrens, Matthias Neubert, Leonardo Vernazza
The infrared divergences of massless n-parton scattering amplitudes can be derived from the anomalous dimension of n-jet operators in soft-collinear effective theory. Up to three-loop order, the latter has been shown to have a very simple structure: it contains pairwise color-dipole interactions among the external partons, governed by the cusp anomalous dimension and a logarithm of the kinematic invariants s_{ij}, plus a possible three-loop correlation involving four particles, which is described by a yet unknown function of conformal cross ratios of kinematic invariants. This function is constrained by two-particle collinear limits and by the known behavior of amplitudes in the high-energy limit. We construct a class of relatively simple functions satisfying these constraints. We also extend the analysis to four-loop order, finding that three additional four-particle correlations and a single five-particle correlation appear, which again are governed by functions of conformal cross ratios. Our results suggest that the dipole conjecture, which states that only two-particle color-dipole correlations appear in the anomalous dimension, may need to be generalized. We present a weaker form of the conjecture, stating that to all orders in perturbation theory corrections to the dipole formula are governed by functions of conformal cross ratios, and are O(1/N_c^2) suppressed relative to the dipole term. If true, this conjecture implies that the cusp anomalous dimension obeys Casimir scaling to all orders in perturbation theory.
Ze Long Liu, Bianka Mecaj, Matthias Neubert, Xing Wang, Sean Fleming
Soft functions defined in terms of matrix elements of soft fields dressed by Wilson lines are central components of factorization theorems for cross sections and decay rates in collider and heavy-quark physics. While in many cases the relevant soft functions are defined in terms of gluon operators, at subleading order in power counting soft functions containing quark fields appear. We present a detailed discussion of the properties of the soft-quark soft function consisting of a quark propagator dressed by two finite-length Wilson lines connecting at one point. This function enters in the factorization theorem for the Higgs-boson decay amplitude of the $h\toγγ$ process mediated by light-quark loops. We perform the renormalization of this soft function at one-loop order, derive its two-loop anomalous dimension and discuss solutions to its renormalization-group evolution equation in momentum space, in Laplace space and in the "diagonal space", where the evolution is strictly multiplicative.
Anne Mareike Galda, Matthias Neubert, Sophie Renner
The Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT) offers a powerful theoretical framework for parameterizing the low-energy effects of heavy new particles with masses far above the scale of electroweak symmetry breaking. Additional light degrees of freedom extend the effective theory. We show that light new particles that are weakly coupled to the SM via non-renormalizable interactions induce non-zero Wilson coefficients in the SMEFT Lagrangian via renormalization-group evolution. For the well-motivated example of axions and axion-like particles (ALPs) interacting with the SM via classically shift-invariant dimension-5 interactions, we calculate how these interactions contribute to the one-loop renormalization of the dimension-6 SMEFT operators, and how this running sources additional contributions to the Wilson coefficients on top of those expected from heavy new states. As an application, we study the ALP contributions to the magnetic dipole moment of the top quark and comment on implications of electroweak precision constraints on ALP couplings.