Strong-Isospin-Breaking Correction to the Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment from Lattice QCD at the Physical Point.

All lattice-QCD calculations of the hadronic-vacuum-polarization contribution to the muon's anomalous magnetic moment to date have been performed with degenerate up- and down-quark masses. Here we calculate directly the strong-isospin-breaking correction to a_{µ}^{HVP} for the first time with physical values of m_{u} and m_{d} and dynamical u, d, s, and c quarks, thereby removing this important source of systematic uncertainty. We obtain a relative shift to be applied to lattice-QCD results obtained with degenerate light-quark masses of δa_{µ}^{HVP,m_{u}≠m_{d}}=+1.5(7)%, in agreement with estimates from phenomenology.

B→πll Form Factors for New Physics Searches from Lattice QCD.

The rare decay B→πℓ^{+}ℓ^{-} arises from b→d flavor-changing neutral currents and could be sensitive to physics beyond the standard model. Here, we present the first ab initio QCD calculation of the B→π tensor form factor f_{T}. Together with the vector and scalar form factors f_{+} and f_{0} from our companion work [J. A. Bailey et al., Phys. Rev. D 92, 014024 (2015)], these parametrize the hadronic contribution to B→π semileptonic decays in any extension of the standard model. We obtain the total branching ratio BR(B^{+}→π^{+}µ^{+}µ^{-})=20.4(2.1)×10^{-9} in the standard model, which is the most precise theoretical determination to date, and agrees with the recent measurement from the LHCb experiment [R. Aaij et al., J. High Energy Phys. 12 (2012) 125].

Quark-gluon plasma in an external magnetic field.

Using numerical simulations of lattice QCD we calculate the effect of an external magnetic field on the equation of state of the quark-gluon plasma. The results are obtained using a Taylor expansion of the pressure with respect to the magnetic field for the first time. The coefficients of the expansion are computed to second order in the magnetic field. Our setup for the external magnetic field avoids complications arising from toroidal boundary conditions, making a Taylor series expansion straightforward. This study is exploratory and is meant to serve as a proof of principle.

Determination of |V(us)|| from a lattice QCD calculation of the K → πℓν semileptonic form factor with physical quark masses.

We calculate the kaon semileptonic form factor f+(0) from lattice QCD, working, for the first time, at the physical light-quark masses. We use gauge configurations generated by the MILC Collaboration with Nf = 2 + 1 + 1 flavors of sea quarks, which incorporate the effects of dynamical charm quarks as well as those of up, down, and strange. We employ data at three lattice spacings to extrapolate to the continuum limit. Our result, f+(0) = 0.9704(32), where the error is the total statistical plus systematic uncertainty added in quadrature, is the most precise determination to date. Combining our result with the latest experimental measurements of K semileptonic decays, one obtains the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |V(us)| = 0.22290(74)(52), where the first error is from f+(0) and the second one is from experiment. In the first-row test of Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa unitarity, the error stemming from |V(us)| is now comparable to that from |V(ud)|.

Leptonic-decay-constant ratio f(K+)/f(π+) from lattice QCD with physical light quarks.

A calculation of the ratio of leptonic decay constants f(K+)/f(π+) makes possible a precise determination of the ratio of Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix elements |V(us)|/|V(ud)| in the standard model, and places a stringent constraint on the scale of new physics that would lead to deviations from unitarity in the first row of the CKM matrix. We compute f(K+)/f(π+) numerically in unquenched lattice QCD using gauge-field ensembles recently generated that include four flavors of dynamical quarks: up, down, strange, and charm. We analyze data at four lattice spacings a ≈ 0.06, 0.09, 0.12, and 0.15 fm with simulated pion masses down to the physical value 135 MeV. We obtain f(K+)/f(π+) = 1.1947(26)(37), where the errors are statistical and total systematic, respectively. This is our first physics result from our N(f) = 2+1+1 ensembles, and the first calculation of f(K+)/f(π+) from lattice-QCD simulations at the physical point. Our result is the most precise lattice-QCD determination of f(K+)/f(π+), with an error comparable to the current world average. When combined with experimental measurements of the leptonic branching fractions, it leads to a precise determination of |V(us)|/|V(ud)| = 0.2309(9)(4) where the errors are theoretical and experimental, respectively.

Refining new-physics searches in B→Dτν with lattice QCD.

The semileptonic decay channel B→Dτν is sensitive to the presence of a scalar current, such as that mediated by a charged-Higgs boson. Recently, the BABAR experiment reported the first observation of the exclusive semileptonic decay B→Dτ(-)ν, finding an approximately 2σ disagreement with the standard-model prediction for the ratio R(D)=BR(B→Dτν)/BR(B→Dℓν), where ℓ = e,µ. We compute this ratio of branching fractions using hadronic form factors computed in unquenched lattice QCD and obtain R(D)=0.316(12)(7), where the errors are statistical and total systematic, respectively. This result is the first standard-model calculation of R(D) from ab initio full QCD. Its error is smaller than that of previous estimates, primarily due to the reduced uncertainty in the scalar form factor f(0)(q(2)). Our determination of R(D) is approximately 1σ higher than previous estimates and, thus, reduces the tension with experiment. We also compute R(D) in models with electrically charged scalar exchange, such as the type-II two-Higgs-doublet model. Once again, our result is consistent with, but approximately 1σ higher than, previous estimates for phenomenologically relevant values of the scalar coupling in the type-II model. As a by-product of our calculation, we also present the standard-model prediction for the longitudinal-polarization ratio P(L)(D)=0.325(4)(3).

Semileptonic decays of d mesons in three-flavor lattice QCD.

We present the first three-flavor lattice QCD calculations for D-->pilnu and D-->Klnu semileptonic decays. Simulations are carried out using ensembles of unquenched gauge fields generated by the MILC Collaboration. With an improved staggered action for light quarks, we are able to simulate at light quark masses down to 1/8 of the strange mass. Consequently, the systematic error from the chiral extrapolation is much smaller than in previous calculations with Wilson-type light quarks. Our results for the form factors at q(2)=0 are f(D-->pi)(+)(0)=0.64(3)(6) and f(D-->K)(+)(0)=0.73(3)(7), where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic, added in quadrature. Combining our results with experimental branching ratios, we obtain the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix elements |V(cd)|=0.239(10)(24)(20) and |V(cs)|=0.969(39)(94)(24), where the last errors are from experimental uncertainties.

Charmed-meson decay constants in three-flavor lattice QCD.

We present the first lattice QCD calculation with realistic sea quark content of the D+-meson decay constant f(D+). We use the MILC Collaboration's publicly available ensembles of lattice gauge fields, which have a quark sea with two flavors (up and down) much lighter than a third (strange). We obtain f(D+)=201+/-3+/-17 MeV, where the errors are statistical and a combination of systematic errors. We also obtain f(Ds)=249+/-3+/-16 MeV for the Ds meson.

Enzymatic detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

In a study using a non-serological enzymatic approach for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in cervical and urethral swabs, the technique was shown to be technically feasible. The enzyme, 1, 2-propanediol oxidoreductase, was used as a presumptive diagnostic marker for N gonorrhoeae. Enzymatic activity was measured with a fluorometer. Two assay procedures were performed: (a) enzyme detection (two-tube and three-tube assays) requiring 60 minutes; and (b) enzyme inhibition (EI) (90-minute and modified 20-minute assays). Sensitivities of the two-tube, three-tube, and the 90-minute EI assays with male urethral specimens from a high-prevalence population were 80%, 84%, and 91% respectively. The specificities of these assays in a low-prevalence male population were not determined. Sensitivity of the 90-minute EI assay in a high-prevalence female group was 77% and specificity in a low-prevalence female group was 75%. The modified EI assay was tested only in a low-prevalence female group and had 87% specificity. Although the specificity of the assays needs improvement, several advantages--including early case detection, rapid availability of results, detection of current active infections, and the possibility of automation--are intrinsic in this enzymatic approach.

The isolation and characterization of a 1,2-propanediol oxidoreductase from Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

An enzyme which oxidizes 1,2-propanediol in the presence of NAD+ has been purified from lysates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The enzyme was activated by monovalent cations, had a pH optimum between 9 and 10, and showed a substrate specificity unlike any known alcohol or glycerol dehydrogenase. The enzyme had an apparent Km of 17 mM for 1,2-propanediol and 0 . 37 mM for NAD+. When chromatographed on a Sephadex G-150 column, the enzyme eluted as a single peak in the molecular weight region of a bovine serum albumin marker. An antibody to the purified enzyme was prepared in goats. When antiserum was reacted with the enzyme in immunodiffusion experiments, a single precipitin band was detected. When the enzyme was mixed with an excess of antibody and then reacted with substrate, enzyme activity was completely inhibited.

The occurrence of 1,2-propanediol oxidoreductase in micro-organisms and its use as a possible diagnostic marker for Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The cervical microbial flora of 25 females and stock cultures of various micro-organisms which may be present in the human female cervix were examined using a fluorimetric assay for 1,2-propanediol oxidoreductase. Results indicated that only members of the genera Neisseria and Acinetobacter possess appreciable activities of the enzyme, whose physiological function is not yet known. The activity of this enzyme in N. gonorrhoeae appeared to be significantly higher than the activities observed in mot of the other Neisseria species and in the Acinetobacter species. These results indicated that it may be possible to utilize this enzyme as a presumptive diagnostic marker for N. gonorrhoeae in cervical secretions. 1,2-Propanediol oxidoreductase may also be of taxonomic significance for the classification of various bacterial species.

High-precision lattice QCD confronts experiment.

The recently developed Symanzik-improved staggered-quark discretization allows unquenched lattice-QCD simulations with much smaller (and more realistic) quark masses than previously possible. To test this formalism, we compare experiment with a variety of nonperturbative calculations in QCD drawn from a restricted set of "gold-plated" quantities. We find agreement to within statistical and systematic errors of 3% or less. We discuss the implications for phenomenology and, in particular, for heavy-quark physics.