No Arabic abstract
An exhaustive number of QCD finite energy sum rules for $tau$-decay together with the latest updated ALEPH data is used to test the assumption of global duality. Typical checks are the absence of the dimension $d=2$ condensate, the equality of the gluon condensate extracted from vector or axial vector spectral functions, the Weinberg sum rules, the chiral condensates of dimensions $d=6$ and $d=8$, as well as the extraction of some low-energy parameters of chiral perturbation theory. Suitable pinched linear integration kernels are introduced in the sum rules in order to suppress potential quark-hadron duality violations and experimental errors. We find no compelling indications of duality violations in hadronic $tau$-decay in the kinematic region above $ssimeq2.2$ GeV$^{2}$ for these kernels.
Hadronic spectral functions measured by the ALEPH collaboration in the vector and axial-vector channels are used to study potential quark-hadron duality violations (DV). This is done entirely in the framework of pinched kernel finite energy sum rules (FESR), i.e. in a model independent fashion. The kinematical range of the ALEPH data is effectively extended up to $s = 10; {mbox{GeV}^2}$ by using an appropriate kernel, and assuming that in this region the spectral functions are given by perturbative QCD. Support for this assumption is obtained by using $e^+ e^-$ annihilation data in the vector channel. Results in both channels show a good saturation of the pinched FESR, without further need of explicit models of DV.
Evidence is presented for the necessity of including duality violations in a consistent description of spectral function moments employed in the precision determination of $alpha_s$ from $tau$ decay. A physically motivated ansatz for duality violations in the spectral functions enables us to perform fits to spectral moments employing both pinched and unpinched weights. We describe our analysis strategy and provide some preliminary findings. Final numerical results await completion of an ongoing re-determination of the ALEPH covariance matrices incorporating correlations due to the unfolding procedure which are absent from the currently post
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.
The branching fractions of radiative leptonic $tau$ decays $(tau to l u bar{ u} gamma$, $l=e,mu)$ were recently measured by the Babar collaboration with a relative error of about 3%. The measurement of the branching ratio $mathcal{B} (tau to e bar{ u} u gamma)$, for a minimum photon energy of 10 MeV in the $tau$ rest frame, differs from our recent SM prediction by 3.5 standard deviations, whereas our result agrees with Babars value for $mathcal{B} (tau to mu bar{ u} u gamma)$. Our predictions also agree with the measurement of $mathcal{B} (mu to e bar{ u} u gamma)$ by the MEG collaboration. We also report on a recent proposal to test the $tau$ dipole moments via precise measurements of radiative leptonic $tau$ decays at high-luminosity $B$ factories.
The Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) coupling, $alpha_s$, is not a physical observable of the theory since it depends on conventions related to the renormalization procedure. We introduce a definition of the QCD coupling, denoted by $hatalpha_s$, whose running is explicitly renormalization scheme invariant. The scheme dependence of the new coupling $hatalpha_s$ is parameterized by a single parameter $C$, related to transformations of the QCD scale $Lambda$. It is demonstrated that appropriate choices of $C$ can lead to substantial improvements in the perturbative prediction of physical observables. As phenomenological applications, we study $e^+e^-$ scattering and decays of the $tau$ lepton into hadrons, both being governed by the QCD Adler function.