BSM master formula for ε′/ε in the WET basis at NLO in QCD

As an important step towards a complete next-to-leading (NLO) QCD analysis of the ratio ε′/ε within the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT), we present for the first time the NLO master formula for the BSM part of this ratio expressed in terms of the Wilson coefficients of all contributing operators evaluated at the electroweak scale. To this end we use the common Weak Effective Theory (WET) basis (the so-called JMS basis) for which tree-level and one-loop matching to the SMEFT are already known. The relevant hadronic matrix elements of BSM operators at the electroweak scale are taken from Dual QCD approach and the SM ones from lattice QCD. It includes the renormalization group evolution and quark-flavour threshold effects at NLO in QCD from hadronic scales, at which these matrix elements have been calculated, to the electroweak scale.

Particle identification at FCC-ee

Equipping an experiment at FCC-ee with particle identification (PID) capabilities, in particular the ability to distinguish between hadron species, would bring great benefits to the physics programme. Good PID is essential for precise studies in quark flavour physics and is also a great asset for many measurements in tau, top, and Higgs physics. The requirements placed by flavour physics and these other applications are surveyed, with an emphasis on the momentum range over which PID is necessary. Possible solutions are discussed, including classical RICH counters, time-of-flight systems, and dE/dx and cluster counting. Attention is paid to the impact on the global detector design that including PID capabilities would imply.

Contribution of the Darwin operator to non-leptonic decays of heavy quarks

We compute the Darwin operator contribution ($$ 1/{m}_b^3 $$ 1 / m b 3 correction) to the width of the inclusive non-leptonic decay of a B meson (B+, Bd or Bs), stemming from the quark flavour-changing transition b → $$ {q}_1{\overline{q}}_2{q}_3 $$ q 1 q ¯ 2 q 3 , where q1, q2 = u, c and q3 = d, s. The key ideas of the computation are the local expansion of the quark propagator in the external gluon field including terms with a covariant derivative of the gluon field strength tensor and the standard technique of the Heavy Quark Expansion (HQE). We confirm the previously known expressions of the $$ 1/{m}_b^3 $$ 1 / m b 3 contributions to the semi-leptonic decay b → $$ {q}_1\mathrm{\ell}{\overline{\nu}}_{\mathrm{\ell}} $$ q 1 ℓ ν ¯ ℓ , with ℓ = e, μ, τ and of the $$ 1/{m}_b^2 $$ 1 / m b 2 contributions to the non-leptonic modes. We find that this new term can give a sizeable correction of about −4 % to the non-leptonic decay width of a B meson. For Bd and Bs mesons this turns out to be the dominant correction to the free b-quark decay, while for the B+ meson the Darwin term gives the second most important correction — roughly 1/2 to 1/3 of the phase space enhanced Pauli interference contribution. Due to the tiny experimental uncertainties in lifetime measurements the incorporation of the Darwin term contribution is crucial for precision tests of the Standard Model.

Spectrum of fully-heavy tetraquarks from a diquark+antidiquark perspective

Using a relativized diquark model Hamiltonian, we calculate the masses of $$J^{PC}=0^{++}$$ J PC = 0 + + ground-state tetraquarks in the following systems: $$b s {\bar{b}} {\bar{s}}$$ b s b ¯ s ¯ , $$bb {\bar{n}} {\bar{n}}$$ b b n ¯ n ¯ ($$n=u, d$$ n = u , d ), $$bb {\bar{s}} {\bar{s}}$$ b b s ¯ s ¯ , $$cc{\bar{c}} {\bar{c}}$$ c c c ¯ c ¯ , $$b b {\bar{b}} {\bar{b}}$$ b b b ¯ b ¯ , $$b c{\bar{b}} {\bar{c}}$$ b c b ¯ c ¯ and $$b b {\bar{c}} {\bar{c}}$$ b b c ¯ c ¯ . We also compute extensive spectra for the fully-heavy quark flavour combinations. Finally, as a test of the diquark model approach, we compute the masses of fully-heavy baryons in the diquark model. Our results may be compared soon to the forthcoming experimental data for fully-heavy three-quark systems.

Search for pairs of scalar leptoquarks decaying into quarks and electrons or muons in $$ \sqrt{s} $$ = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for new-physics resonances decaying into a lepton and a jet performed by the ATLAS experiment is presented. Scalar leptoquarks pair-produced in pp collisions at $$ \sqrt{s} $$ s = 13 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider are considered using an integrated luminosity of 139 fb−1, corresponding to the full Run 2 dataset. They are searched for in events with two electrons or two muons and two or more jets, including jets identified as arising from the fragmentation of c- or b-quarks. The observed yield in each channel is consistent with the Standard Model background expectation. Leptoquarks with masses below 1.8 TeV and 1.7 TeV are excluded in the electron and muon channels, respectively, assuming a branching ratio into a charged lepton and a quark of 100%, with minimal dependence on the quark flavour. Upper limits on the aforementioned branching ratio are also given as a function of the leptoquark mass.

Phenomenology of inclusive $$ \overline{B}\to {X}_s{\mathrm{\ell}}^{+}{\mathrm{\ell}}^{-} $$ for the Belle II era

With the first data being recorded at Belle II, we are at the brink of a new era in quark flavour physics. The many exciting new opportunities for Belle II include a full angular analysis of inclusive $$ \overline{B}\to {X}_s{\mathrm{\ell}}^{+}{\mathrm{\ell}}^{-} $$ B ¯ → X s ℓ + ℓ − which has the potential to reveal new physics, in particular by its interplay with the exclusive b → sℓ+ℓ− counterparts studied extensively at LHCb. In this paper, we present fully updated Standard Model predictions for all angular observables necessary for this endeavour. These predictions are tailored to Belle II and include an elaborate study of the treatment of collinear photons which become crucial when aiming for the highest precision. In addition, we present a phenomenological study of the potential for Belle II to reveal possible new physics in the inclusive decay channel, both in an independent manner and in combination with exclusive modes.

Effective Theories for Quark Flavour Physics

The purpose of the lectures that appear within this chapter is to provide the reader with an idea of how we can probe new physics with quark flavour observables using effective theory techniques. It begins by providing a concise review of the quark flavour structure of the standard model. Then it introduces the effective Hamiltonian for quark weak decays. Following on, it then considers the effective Hamiltonian for ?F=2 transitions in the standard model and beyond. It discusses how meson–anti–meson mixing and CP violation can be described in terms of the ?F=1 and ?F=2 effective Hamiltonians. Finally, it presents the Unitarity Triangle Analysis and discusses how very stringent constraints on new physics can be obtained from ?F=2 processes.

Symmetry Violations and Quark Flavour Physics

One of the surprising facts in our present understanding of the development of the Universe is the complete absence of “primordial” antimatter from the Big Bang about 13.7 billion years ago. The detection of charged cosmic-ray particles by magnetic spectrometers borne by balloons, satellites, and the space shuttle has shown no evidence for such primordial (high-energy) antibaryons; nor has the search for gamma rays from antimatter–matter annihilation yielded any such observation. In the early phases of the expanding Universe, a hot (1032 K) and dense plasma of quarks, antiquarks, leptons, antileptons and photons coexisted in equilibrium. This plasma expanded and cooled down, and matter and antimatter could recombine and annihilate into photons. If all interactions were symmetric with respect to matter and antimatter, and if baryon and lepton numbers were conserved, then all particles would finally convert to photons, and the expansion of the Universe would shift the wavelength of these photons to the far infrared region.