We obtain a new value for the QCD coupling constant by combining lattice QCD simulations with experimental data for hadron masses. Our lattice analysis is the first to: 1) include vacuum polarization effects from all three light-quark flavors (using MILC configurations); 2) include third-order terms in perturbation theory; 3) systematically estimate fourth and higher-order terms; 4) use an unambiguous lattice spacing; and 5) use an $order(a^2)$-accurate QCD action. We use 28~different (but related) short-distance quantities to obtain $alpha_{bar{mathrm{MS}}}^{(5)}(M_Z) = 0.1170(12)$.
We use lattice QCD simulations, with MILC configurations (including vacuum polarization from u, d, and s quarks), to update our previous determinations of the QCD coupling constant. Our new analysis uses results from 6 different lattice spacings and 12 different combinations of sea-quark masses to significantly reduce our previous errors. We also correct for finite-lattice-spacing errors in the scale setting, and for nonperturbative chiral corrections to the 22 short-distance quantities from which we extract the coupling. Our final result is alpha_V(7.5GeV,nf=3) = 0.2120(28), which is equivalent to alpha_msbar(M_Z,n_f=5)= 0.1183(8). We compare this with our previous result, which differs by one standard deviation.
We report on an estimate of alpha_s, renormalised in the MSbar scheme at the tau and Z^0 mass scales, by means of lattice QCD. Our major improvement compared to previous lattice calculations is that, for the first time, no perturbative treatment at the charm threshold has been required since we have used statistical samples of gluon fields built by incorporating the vacuum polarisation effects of u/d, s and c sea quarks. Extracting alpha_s in the Taylor scheme from the lattice measurement of the ghost-ghost-gluon vertex, we obtain alpha_s^{MSbar}(m^2_Z)=0.1200(14) and alpha_s^{MSbar}(m^2_tau)=0.339(13).
We revisit the earlier determination of alpha_s(M_Z) via perturbative analyses of short-distance-sensitive lattice observables, incorporating new lattice data and performing a modified version of the original analysis. We focus on two high-intrinsic-scale observables, log(W_11) and log(W_12), and one lower-intrinsic scale observable, log(W_{12}/u_0^6), finding improved consistency among the values extracted using the different observables and a final result, alpha_s(M_Z)=0.1192(11), 2 sigma higher than the earlier result, in excellent agreement with recent non-lattice determinations and, in addition, in good agreement with the results of a similar, but not identical, re-analysis by the HPQCD Collaboration. A discussion of the relation between the two re-analyses is given, focussing on the complementary aspects of the two approaches.
We present an update of results from the HPQCD collaboration on charm physics using the Highly Improved Staggered Quark action. This includes a precise determination of m_c using moments of current-current correlators combined with high-order continuum QCD perturbation theory. We also include an update on the determination of alpha_s from lattice QCD, preliminary results on the determination of m_b and a summary plot of the status of the gold-plated meson spectrum. There is an appendix on tackling systematic errors in fitting using the Bayesian approach.
Lattice QCD has reached a mature status. State of the art lattice computations include $u,d,s$ (and even the $c$) sea quark effects, together with an estimate of electromagnetic and isospin breaking corrections for hadronic observables. This precise and first principles description of the standard model at low energies allows the determination of multiple quantities that are essential inputs for phenomenology and not accessible to perturbation theory. One of the fundamental parameters that are determined from simulations of lattice QCD is the strong coupling constant, which plays a central role in the quest for precision at the LHC. Lattice calculations currently provide its best determinations, and will play a central role in future phenomenological studies. For this reason we believe that it is timely to provide a pedagogical introduction to the lattice determinations of the strong coupling. Rather than analysing individual studies, the emphasis will be on the methodologies and the systematic errors that arise in these determinations. We hope that these notes will help lattice practitioners, and QCD phenomenologists at large, by providing a self-contained introduction to the methodology and the possible sources of systematic error. The limiting factors in the determination of the strong coupling turn out to be different from the ones that limit other lattice precision observables. We hope to collect enough information here to allow the reader to appreciate the challenges that arise in order to improve further our knowledge of a quantity that is crucial for LHC phenomenology.