We report the first lattice QCD calculation of the form factors for the standard model tree-level decay $B_sto K ell u$. In combination with future measurement, this calculation will provide an alternative exclusive semileptonic determination of $|V_
{ub}|$. We compare our results with previous model calculations, make predictions for differential decay rates and branching fractions, and predict the ratio of differential branching fractions between $B_sto Ktau u$ and $B_sto Kmu u$. We also present standard model predictions for differential decay rate forward-backward asymmetries, polarization fractions, and calculate potentially useful ratios of $B_sto K$ form factors with those of the fictitious $B_stoeta_s$ decay. Our lattice simulations utilize NRQCD $b$ and HISQ light quarks on a subset of the MILC Collaborations $2+1$ asqtad gauge configurations, including two lattice spacings and a range of light quark masses.
We discuss our ongoing effort to calculate form factors for several B and Bs semileptonic decays. We have recently completed the first unquenched calculation of the form factors for the rare decay B -> K ll. Extrapolated over the full kinematic range
of q^2 via model-independent z expansion, these form factor results allow us to calculate several Standard Model observables. We compare with experiment (Belle, BABAR, CDF, and LHCb) where possible and make predictions elsewhere. We discuss preliminary results for Bs -> K l nu which, when combined with anticipated experimental results, will provide an alternative exclusive determination of |Vub|. We are exploring the possibility of using ratios of form factors for this decay with those for the unphysical decay Bs -> eta_s as a means of significantly reducing form factor errors. We are also studying B -> pi l nu, form factors for which are combined with experiment in the standard exclusive determination of |Vub|. Our simulations use NRQCD heavy and HISQ light valence quarks on the MILC 2+1 dynamical asqtad configurations.
We calculate, for the first time using unquenched lattice QCD, form factors for the rare decay B -> Kll in and beyond the Standard Model. Our lattice QCD calculation utilizes a nonrelativistic QCD formulation for the b valence quarks, the highly impr
oved staggered quark formulation for the light valence quarks, and employs the MILC 2+1 asqtad ensembles. The form factor results, based on the z expansion, are valid over the full kinematic range of q^2. We construct the ratios f0/f+ and fT/f+, which are useful in constraining new physics and verifying effective theory form factor symmetry relations. We also discuss the calculation of Standard Model observables.
We calculate, for the first time using unquenched lattice QCD form factors, the Standard Model differential branching fractions $dB/dq^2(B to Kll)$ for $l=e, mu, tau$ and compare with experimental measurements by Belle, BABAR, CDF, and LHCb. We repor
t on $mathcal{B}(B to Kll)$ in $q^2$ bins used by experiment and predict $mathcal{B}(B to K tau tau) = (1.44 pm 0.15) 10^{-7}$. We also calculate the ratio of branching fractions $R^mu_e = 1.00023(63)$ and predict $R^tau_l = 1.159(40)$, for $l=e, mu$. Finally, we calculate the flat term in the angular distribution of the differential decay rate $F_H^{e, mu, tau}$ in experimentally motivated $q^2$ bins.
We discuss preliminaries of a calculation of the form factors for the semileptonic decays B -> pi lv, B_s -> K lv, and B -> K ll. We simulate with NRQCD heavy and HISQ light valence quarks on the MILC 2+1 dynamical asqtad configurations. The form fac
tors are calculated over a range of momentum transfer to allow determination of their shape and the extraction of |V_ub|. Additionally, we are calculating ratios of these form factors to those for the unphysical decay B_s -> eta_s. We are studying the possibility of combining these precisely determined ratios with future calculations of B_s ->eta_s using HISQ b-quarks to generate form factors with significantly reduced errors.
We demonstrate that the O(a) taste mixing exhibited in standard textbook presentations of staggered quarks is an artifact of the particular definition of the flavor fields in those presentations, and has nothing to do with the underlying precision of
staggered-quark actions, despite continuing comments to the contrary in the current literature. To illustrate this point we introduce a new coordinate-space definition of the flavor fields that suppresses the O(a) term by two additional powers of a. In fact there are no errors at all from this mechanism. The only source of taste mixing comes from the exchange of highly-virtual gluons and enters in O(a^2). We review the idiosyncrasies of Symanzik improvement for naive/staggerd-quark actions, and show how these results follow from that program.
We study $B_d$ and $B_s$ mixing in unquenched lattice QCD employing the MILC collaboration gauge configurations that include u, d, and s sea quarks based on the improved staggered quark (AsqTad) action and a highly improved gluon action. We implement
the valence light quarks also with the AsqTad action and use the nonrelativistic NRQCD action for the valence b quark. We calculate hadronic matrix elements necessary for extracting CKM matrix elements from experimental measurements of mass differences $Delta M_d$ and $Delta M_s$. We find $xi = f_{B_s} sqrt{hat{B}_{B_s}} / f_{B_d} sqrt{hat{B}_{B_d}} = 1.258(33)$, $f_{B_d} sqrt{hat{B}_{B_d}} = 216(15)$ MeV and $f_{B_s} sqrt{hat{B}_{B_s}} = 266(18)$ MeV. We also update previous results for decay constants and obtain $f_{B_d} = 190(13)$ MeV, $f_{B_s} = 231(15)$ MeV and $f_{B_s}/f_{B_d} = 1.226(26)$. The new lattice results lead to updated values for the ratio of CKM matrix elements $|V_{td}|/|V_{ts}|$ and for the Standard Model prediction for $Br(B_s rightarrow mu^+ mu^-)$ with reduced errors. We determine $|V_{td}|/|V_{ts}| = 0.214(1)(5)$ and $Br(B_s rightarrow mu^+ mu^-) = 3.19(19) times 10^{-9}$.
