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Results for “Low-Energy QCD”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 55 records · Page 3
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DOE OSTI2024

Gauge Theory Bootstrap

We propose the gauge theory bootstrap, a method to compute the pion S matrix that describes the low-energy physics of the strong interaction and other similar gauge theories. The phase shifts of the S 0 , P 1 , and S 2 waves obtained are in good agreement with experimental results. The only numerical inputs are the quark mass m q , the QCD scale Λ QCD , the pion mass m π , and the pion decay constant f π without any other experimental data. We make use of the form-factor bootstrap recently proposed by Karateev, Kuhn, and Penedones together with a finite energy version of the Shifman-Veinshtein-Zakharov sum rules. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

He, Yifei (ORCID:0000000213666157)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Constraints on the finite volume two-nucleon spectrum at 𝑚𝜋 ≈806 MeV

The low-energy, finite-volume spectrum of the two-nucleon system at a quark mass corresponding to a pion mass of 𝑚𝜋≈806 MeV is studied with lattice quantum chromodynamics (LQCD) using variational methods. The interpolating-operator sets used in [Variational study of two-nucleon systems with lattice QCD, Phys. Rev. D 107, 094508 (2023).] are extended by including a complete basis of local hexaquark operators, as well as plane-wave dibaryon operators built from products of both positive- and negative-parity nucleon operators. Results are presented for the isosinglet and isotriplet two-nucleon channels. In both channels, noticeably weaker variational bounds on the lowest few energy eigenvalues are obtained from operator sets which contain only hexaquark operators or operators constructed from the product of two negative-parity nucleons, while other operator sets produce low-energy variational bounds which are consistent within statistical uncertainties. The consequences of these studies for the LQCD understanding of the two-nucleon spectrum are investigated.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Aspects of propagator sparsening in lattice QCD

In lattice field theory, field sparsening aims to replace quantum fields, or objects constructed from them, with approximations that preserve the appropriate symmetries and maintain many aspects of the physics that the fields determine. For example, an effective sparsening of a quark propagator provides an efficient map from a quark propagator on a fine lattice geometry to a quark propagator defined on a coarser geometry in order to reduce storage and computational costs of subsequent calculational stages while maintaining long-distance correlations and corresponding low-energy physical information. Previous studies have focused on decimating lattice sites or randomly sampling lattice sites to reduce the size of the propagator and subsequent costs of Wick contractions. Here, we extend the study of sparsening to incorporate covariant averaging of spatial sites and examine the effects on two-point and three-point correlation functions involving various hadrons. We find that sparsening is most effective in reproducing the unsparsened versions of these correlation functions when weighted covariant-averaging is sequentially applied many times.

Lattice QCD↗
DOE OSTI2022

The photon content of the proton in the CT18 global analysis

Recently, two photon PDF sets based on implementations of the LUX ansatz into the CT18 global analysis were released. In CT18lux, the photon PDF is calculated directly using the LUX master formula for all scales, \mu μ . In an alternative realization, CT18qed, the photon PDF is initialized at the starting scale, \mu_0 μ 0 , using the LUX formulation and evolved to higher scales \mu(>\mu_0) μ ( > μ 0 ) with a combined QED+QCD kernel at \mathcal{O}(\alpha),~\mathcal{O}(\alpha\alpha_s) 𝒪 ( α ) , 𝒪 ( α α s ) and \mathcal{O}(\alpha^2) 𝒪 ( α 2 ) . In the small- x x region, the photon PDF uncertainty is mainly induced by the quark and gluon PDFs, through the perturbative DIS structure functions. In comparison, the large- x x photon uncertainty comes from various low-energy, nonperturbative contributions, including variations of the inelastic structure functions in the resonance and continuum regions, higher-twist and target-mass corrections, and elastic electromagnetic form factors of the proton. We take the production of doubly-charged Higgs pairs, (H^{++}H^{--}) ( H + + H − − ) , as an example of scenarios beyond the Standard Model to illustrate the phenomenological implications of these photon PDFs at the LHC.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Nucleon axial-vector form factor and radius from future neutrino experiments

Precision measurements of antineutrino elastic scattering on hydrogen from future neutrino experiments offer a unique opportunity to access the low-energy structure of protons and neutrons. We discuss the determination of the nucleon axial-vector form factor and radius from antineutrino interactions on hydrogen that can be collected at the future Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility and study the sources of theoretical and experimental uncertainties. The projected accuracy would improve existing measurements by 1 order of magnitude and be competitive with contemporary lattice-QCD determinations, potentially helping to resolve the corresponding tension with measurements from (anti)neutrino elastic scattering on deuterium. We find that the current knowledge of the nucleon vector form factors could be one of the dominant sources of uncertainty. We also evaluate the constraints that can be simultaneously obtained on the absolute ν ¯ μ flux normalization. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Candidate phases for SU(2) adjoint QCD$_4$ with two flavors from $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory

We study four-dimensional adjoint QCD with gauge group SU(2) and two Weyl fermion flavors, which has an SU(2) R chiral symmetry. The infrared behavior of this theory is not firmly established. We explore candidate infrared phases by embedding adjoint QCD into N = 2 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory deformed by a supersymmetry-breaking scalar mass M that preserves all global symmetries and 't Hooft anomalies. This includes 't Hooft anomalies that are only visible when the theory is placed on manifolds that do not admit a spin structure. The consistency of this procedure is guaranteed by a nonabelian spin-charge relation involving the SU(2) R symmetry that is familiar from topologically twisted N = 2 theories. Since every vacuum on the Coulomb branch of the N = 2 theory necessarily matches all 't Hooft anomalies, we can generate candidate phases for adjoint QCD by deforming the theories in these vacua while preserving all symmetries and 't Hooft anomalies. One such deformation is the supersymmetry-breaking scalar mass M itself, which can be reliably analyzed when M is small. In this regime it gives rise to an exotic Coulomb phase without chiral symmetry breaking. By contrast, the theory near the monopole and dyon points can be deformed to realize a candidate phase with monopole-induced confinement and chiral symmetry breaking. The low-energy theory consists of two copies of a CP 1 sigma model, which we analyze in detail. Certain topological couplings that are likely to be present in this CP 1 model turn the confining solitonic string of the model into a topological insulator. We also examine the behavior of various candidate phases under fermion mass deformations. We speculate on the possible large-M behavior of the deformed N = 2 theory and conjecture that the CP 1 phase eventually becomes dominant.

Córdova, Clay↗
DOE OSTI2025

Lattice QCD Study of Pion Electroproduction and Weak Production from a Nucleon

Quantum fluctuations in QCD influence nucleon structure and interactions, with pion production serving as a key probe of chiral dynamics. In this Letter, we present a lattice QCD calculation of multipole amplitudes at threshold, related to both pion electroproduction and weak production from a nucleon, using two gauge ensembles near the physical pion mass. We develop a technique for spin projection and construct multiple operators for analyzing the generalized eigenvalue problem in both the nucleon-pion system in the center-of-mass frame and the nucleon system with nonzero momentum. The numerical lattice results are then compared with those extracted from experimental data and predicted by low-energy theorems incorporating one-loop corrections. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Gao, Yu-Sheng (ORCID:0009000406829247)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Dark showers from Z-dark Z′ mixing

Abstract We discuss dark shower signals at the LHC from a dark QCD sector, containing GeV-scale dark pions. The portal with the Standard Model is given by the mixing of theZboson with a darkZ′ coupled to the dark quarks. Both mass and kinetic mixings are included, but the mass mixing is the essential ingredient, as it is the one mediating visible decays of the long-lived dark pions. We focus especially on the possibility that the darkZ′ islighterthan theZ. Indirect constraints are dominated by electroweak precision tests, which we thoroughly discuss, showing that bothZ-pole and low-energy observables are important. We then recast CMS and LHCb searches for displaced dimuon resonances to dark shower signals initiated by the production of on-shellZorZ′, where the visible signature is left by a dark pion decaying toμ + μ − . We demonstrate how dark shower topologies have already tested new parameter space in Run 2, reaching better sensitivity on a light darkZ′ compared to the flavor-changing decays ofBmesons, which can produce a single dark pion at a time, and the electroweak precision tests.

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2022

Pion-Induced Radiative Corrections to Neutron β Decay

In this work, we compute the electromagnetic corrections to neutron β decay using a low-energy hadronic effective field theory. We identify new radiative corrections arising from virtual pions that were missed in previous studies. The largest correction is a percent-level shift in the axial charge of the nucleon proportional to the electromagnetic part of the pion-mass splitting. Smaller corrections, comparable to anticipated experimental precision, impact the β-ν angular correlations and the β asymmetry. We comment on implications of our results for the comparison of the experimentally measured nucleon axial charge with first-principles computations using lattice QCD and on the potential of β decay experiments to constrain beyond-the-standard-model interactions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Long-distance nuclear matrix elements for neutrinoless double-beta decay from lattice QCD

Neutrinoless double-beta ( 0 ν β β ) decay is a heretofore unobserved process which, if observed, would imply that neutrinos are Majorana particles. Interpretations of the stringent experimental constraints on 0 ν β β -decay half-lives require calculations of nuclear matrix elements. This work presents the first lattice quantum chromodynamics (LQCD) calculation of the matrix element for 0 ν β β decay in a multinucleon system, specifically the n n → p p e e transition, mediated by a light left-handed Majorana neutrino propagating over nuclear-scale distances. This calculation is performed with quark masses corresponding to a pion mass of m π = 806 MeV at a single lattice spacing and volume. The statistically cleaner Σ − → Σ + e e transition is also computed in order to investigate various systematic uncertainties. The prospects for matching the results of LQCD calculations onto a nuclear effective field theory to determine a leading-order low-energy constant relevant for 0 ν β β decay with a light Majorana neutrino are investigated. This work, therefore, sets the stage for future calculations at physical values of the quark masses that, combined with effective field theory and nuclear many-body studies, will provide controlled theoretical inputs to experimental searches of 0 ν β β decay. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Topological freeze-out by semi-annihilation

We point out that a QCD-like dark sector can be coupled to the Standard Model by gauging the topological Skyrme current, which measures the dark baryon number in the infrared, to give a technically natural model for dark matter. This coupling allows for a semi-annihilation process χχ → χX μ , where X μ is the gauge boson mediator and χ a dark pion field, which plays the dominant role in setting the dark matter relic abundance. The topological interaction is purely p-wave and so free from indirect detection constraints. We show that the dark matter pion mass needs to be in the range 10 MeV ≲ m χ ≲ 1 TeV; towards the lighter end of this range, there can moreover be significant self-interactions. We discuss prospects for probing this scenario at collider experiments, ranging from the LHC to low-energy e + e − colliders, future Higgs factories, and beam-dump experiments.

Models for Dark Matter↗
DOE OSTI2023

Tomography of pions and protons via transverse momentum dependent distributions

We perform the first simultaneous extraction of parton collinear and transverse degrees of freedom from low-energy fixed-target Drell-Yan data in order to compare the transverse momentum dependent (TMD) parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the pion and proton. We demonstrate that the transverse separation of the quark field encoded in TMDs of the pion is more than 4⁢𝜎 smaller than that of the proton. Additionally, we find the transverse separation of the quark field decreases as its longitudinal momentum fraction decreases. In studying the nuclear modification of TMDs, we find clear evidence for a transverse EMC effect. We comment on possible explanations for these intriguing behaviors, which call for a deeper examination of tomography in a variety of strongly interacting quark-gluon systems.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Theoretical tools for neutrino scattering: interplay between lattice QCD, EFTs, nuclear physics, phenomenology, and neutrino event generators

Maximizing the discovery potential of increasingly precise neutrino experiments will require an improved theoretical understanding of neutrino-nucleus cross sections over a wide range of energies. Low-energy interactions are needed to reconstruct the energies of astrophysical neutrinos from supernovae bursts and search for new physics using increasingly precise measurement of coherent elastic neutrino scattering. Higher-energy interactions involve a variety of reaction mechanisms including quasi-elastic scattering, resonance production, and deep inelastic scattering that must all be included to reliably predict cross sections for energies relevant to DUNE and other accelerator neutrino experiments. Refined nuclear interaction models in these energy regimes will also be valuable for other applications, such as measurements of reactor, solar, and atmospheric neutrinos. This manuscript discusses the theoretical status, challenges, required resources, and path forward for achieving precise predictions of neutrino-nucleus scattering and emphasizes the need for a coordinated theoretical effort involved lattice QCD, nuclear effective theories, phenomenological models of the transition region, and event generators.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

FLAG review 2024

We review lattice results related to pion, kaon, 𝐷-meson, 𝐵-meson, and nucleon physics with the aim of making them easily accessible to the nuclear and particle physics communities. More specifically, we report on the determination of the light-quark masses, the form factor 𝑓+⁡(0) arising in the semileptonic 𝐾 → 𝜋 transition at zero momentum transfer, as well as the decay-constant ratio 𝑓 𝐾 ⁡/𝑓 𝜋 and its consequences for the Cabibbo–Kobayashi–Maskawa (CKM) matrix elements 𝑉 𝑢⁢𝑠 and 𝑉 𝑢⁢𝑑 . We review the determination of the 𝐵 𝐾 parameter of neutral kaon mixing as well as the additional four 𝐵 parameters that arise in theories of physics beyond the Standard Model. For the heavy-quark sector, we provide results for 𝑚 𝑐 and 𝑚 𝑏 as well as those for the decay constants, form factors, and mixing parameters of charmed and bottom mesons and baryons. These are the heavy-quark quantities most relevant for the determination of CKM matrix elements and the global CKM unitarity-triangle fit. We review the status of lattice determinations of the strong coupling constant 𝛼 𝑠 . We review the determinations of nucleon charges from the matrix elements of both isovector and flavor-diagonal axial, scalar and tensor local quark bilinears, and momentum fraction, helicity moment and the transversity moment from one-link quark bilinears. We also review determinations of scale-setting quantities. Finally, in this review we have added a new section on the general definition of the low-energy limit of the Standard Model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Preparation for quantum simulation of the ( 1 + 1 ) -dimensional O(3) nonlinear σ model using cold atoms

The 1+1D O(3) non-linear σ-model is a model system for future quantum lattice simulations of other asymptotically-free theories, such as non-Abelian gauge theories. We find that utilizing dimensional reduction can make efficient use of two-dimensional layouts presently available on cold atom quantum simulators. A new definition of the renormalized coupling is introduced, which is applicable to systems with open boundary conditions and can be measured using analog quantum simulators. Monte Carlo and tensor network calculations are performed to determine the quantum resources required to reproduce perturbative short-distance observables. In particular, we show that a rectangular array of 48 Rydberg atoms with existing quantum hardware capabilities should be able to adiabatically prepare low-energy states of the perturbatively-matched theory. Furthermore, these states can then be used to simulate non-perturbative observables in the continuum limit that lie beyond the reach of classical computers.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Symmetry-energy expansion with strange dense matter

The quantum chromodynamics (QCD) phase diagram at large densities and low temperatures can be probed using both neutron stars and low-energy heavy-ion collisions. Heavy-ion collisions are nearly isospin-symmetric systems, whereas neutron stars are highly isospin asymmetric since they are neutron rich. The symmetry-energy expansion is used to connect these regimes across isospin asymmetry. However, the current symmetry-energy expansion does not account for strange particles. In this work, we include finite strangeness by redefining the isospin-asymmetry parameter and the symmetry-energy expansion in a way that is consistent with QCD SU(3) flavor symmetry. Furthermore, our new symmetry energy works well beyond typical neutron star central densities and admits a skewness term in the presence of strangeness for the case of weak equilibrium.

Equations of state of nuclear matter↗
DOE OSTI2022

Nucleon and pion PDFs: large-x asymptotics meets functional mimicry

We review strategies to unveil the primordial large- x x structure of the nucleons as well as the pion from hard-scattering experiments. Ideas are presented for learning about the x\to 1 x → 1 limit of nonperturbative QCD dynamics at energy scales of order 1 GeV from collider experiments at much higher scales. The behavior of parton distributions at x\to 1 x → 1 predicted by the quark counting rules and other low-energy theoretical approaches is contrasted with phenomenological PDFs. Polynomial mimicry of PDF parametrizations is one of many factors that influence the apparent power of the (1-x) ( 1 − x ) falloff. We discuss implications of the mimicry for the large- x x falloff of the pion PDFs.

Courtoy, Aurore↗
DOE OSTI2022

Theoretical tools for neutrino scattering: interplay between lattice QCD, EFTs, nuclear physics, phenomenology, and neutrino event generators

Maximizing the discovery potential of increasingly precise neutrino experiments will require an improved theoretical understanding of neutrino-nucleus cross sections over a wide range of energies. Low-energy interactions are needed to reconstruct the energies of astrophysical neutrinos from supernovae bursts and search for new physics using increasingly precise measurement of coherent elastic neutrino scattering. Higher-energy interactions involve a variety of reaction mechanisms including quasi-elastic scattering, resonance production, and deep inelastic scattering that must all be included to reliably predict cross sections for energies relevant to DUNE and other accelerator neutrino experiments. This white paper discusses the theoretical status, challenges, required resources, and path forward for achieving precise predictions of neutrino-nucleus scattering and emphasizes the need for a coordinated theoretical effort involved lattice QCD, nuclear effective theories, phenomenological models of the transition region, and event generators.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗