An update of the ALEPH non-strange spectral functions from hadronic $tau$ decays is presented. Compared to the 2005 ALEPH publication, the main improvement is related to the use of a new method to unfold the measured mass spectra from detector effects. This procedure also corrects a previous problem in the correlations between the unfolded mass bins. Results from QCD studies and for the evaluation of the hadronic vacuum polarisation contribution to the anomalous muon magnetic moment are derived using the new spectral functions. They are found in agreement with published results based on the previous set of spectral functions.
Hadronic $tau$ decays provide a clean laboratory for the precise study of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Observables based on the spectral functions of hadronic $tau$ decays can be related to QCD quark-level calculations to determine fundamental quantities like the strong coupling constant, quark and gluon condensates. Using the ALEPH spectral functions and branching ratios, complemented by some other available measurements, and a revisited analysis of the theoretical framework, the value $asm = 0.345 pm 0.004_{rm exp} pm 0.009_{rm th}$ is obtained. Taken together with the determination of asZ from the global electroweak fit, this result leads to the most accurate test of asymptotic freedom: the value of the logarithmic slope of $alpha_s^{-1}(s)$ is found to agree with QCD at a precision of 4%. The value of asZ obtained from $tau$ decays is $asZ = 0.1215 pm 0.0004_{rm exp} pm 0.0010_{rm th} pm 0.0005_{rm evol} = 0.1215 pm 0.0012$.
The vector and axial-vector ALEPH hadronic spectral functions from $tau$-decay are used to probe potential quark-hadron duality violations (DV). This is done in the framework of finite energy QCD sum rules (FESR). A pinched integration kernel is introduced in the FESR in order to (a) quench potential duality violations on the real axis in the complex squared energy $s$-plane, and (b) effectively extend the analysis well beyond the kinematical $tau$-decay end-point where there is no longer data, i.e. in the range $s = 3 - 10 ,{mbox{GeV}}^2$. In the vector channel this procedure is supplemented with actual data from $e^+ e^-$-annihilation into hadrons, above the tau-decay kinematical end-point, with results fully supporting this extension. Very good agreement is obtained between data and two specific pinched FESR. Results from this analysis are confronted with those from a specific model of DV. As the sum rules are well satisfied in both cases within experimental errors, we conclude that possible DV must be buried under the experimental uncertainties. In other words, there seems to be no need for explicit models of DV in this case. Pinched kernels work as well, but with far less free parameters.
We present a new analysis of $alpha_s$ from hadronic $tau$ decays based on the recently revised ALEPH data. The analysis is based on a strategy which we previously applied to the OPAL data. We critically compare our strategy to the one traditionally used and comment on the main differences. Our analysis yields the values $alpha_s(m_tau^2)=0.296pm 0.010$ using fixed-order perturbation theory, and $alpha_s(m_tau^2)=0.310pm 0.014$ using contour-improved perturbation theory. Averaging these values with our previously obtained values from the OPAL data, we find $alpha_s(m_tau^2)=0.303pm 0.009$, respectively, $alpha_s(m_tau^2)=0.319pm 0.012$, as the most reliable results for $alpha_s$ from $tau$ decays currently available.
The evolution of the determination of the strong coupling constant $alpha_s$ from the leptonic branching ratios, the lifetime, and the invariant mass distributions of the hadronic final state of the $tau$ lepton over the last two decades is briefly reviewed. The improvements in the latest ALEPH update are described in some detail. Currently this is one of the most precise $alpha_s$ determinations. Together with the other determination at the $Z$ boson mass pole, they constitutes the most accurate test of the asymptotic freedom in QCD.
We extract the spectral functions in the scalar, pseudo-scalar, vector, and axial vector channels above the deconfinement phase transition temperature (Tc) using the maximum entropy method (MEM). We use anisotropic lattices, 32^3 * 32, 40, 54, 72, 80, and 96 (corresponding to T = 2.3 Tc --> 0.8 Tc), with the renormalized anisotropy xi = 4.0 to have enough temporal data points to carry out the MEM analysis. Our result suggests that the spectral functions continue to possess non-trivial structures even above Tc and in addition that there is a qualitative change in the state of the deconfined matter between 1.5 Tc and 2 Tc.