Working Groups at FLAVIAnet

The network is organized in 6 Working Groups fostering multidisciplinary exchanges

• WG1 - Kaon Physics: In the next few years we can expect a renaissance of the mature but still very interesting subject of kaon physics. Interesting developments are expected, both on the theoretical and the experimental sides. The Kaon physics Working Group includes essentially all the theoretical experts in this field within Europe, representative members of both the NA48/2 and KLOE experiments –whose data analysis will continue and reach the ultimate level of precision in the next 3-4 years– and representative members of the CERN-P326 proposal, a new rare-K-decay experiment which aims to start at the end of this decade.

• WG2 - B Physics: A prime goal of FLAVIAnet is the exhaustive analysis of b-quark data to reveal all possible evidence for new physics at or below the ­TeV scale. Once the LHC discovers new particles, an immediate goal will be the study of their couplings and mixing patterns. To this end, precision data from B physics will be invaluable and will provide unique information, which cannot be obtained from the high-pT data of the LHC alone. Further, FLAVIAnet aims at the best possible determination of the CKM elements. To achieve these goals the expertise of different fields, ranging from lattice gauge theory to supersymmetric model building, must be brought together through FLAVIAnet, which comprises more than 70 B physicists, among them all European leaders of the field and representative members of ­BaBar, BELLE and LHCb.

• WG3 - Tau-Charm and Quarkonium Physics: The tau lepton is an ideal laboratory for probing both the electroweak and strong interaction sectors of the Standard Model (SM). Theoretically pristine searches for evidence beyond the SM can be conducted, either through precision measurements or direct searches of non-SM processes. In the rich field of D decays ample information is available on leptonic, semi-leptonic as well as non-leptonic weak decays, coming from the CLEO-c collaboration. We begin to see the impact of the two high luminosity e+e− B-factories ­BaBar and BELLE in this field, and in the near future also the BEPCII tau/charm facility and the LHC will contribute significantly. Heavy quarkonia are multi-scale systems probing all the energy regimes of QCD. The diversity, quantity and accuracy of the data now being collected at several experiments (BES, KEDR, CLEO-c, CDF, D0, B-factories, Zeus, H1, RHIC) makes quarkonium an extremely relevant and timely system to study. Even larger data samples are expected from the CLEO-c and BESIII upgraded experiments, and in perspective at the LHC. FLAVIAnet includes leading world experts on all these subjects, and comprises prominent European members of the international Quarkonium Working Group (a mixed American-European-Asian research group).

• WG4 - Analytic Approaches to non-Perturbative QCD: Analytic theoretical methods to deal with non-perturbative aspects of the strong interaction are essential for a quantitative understanding of flavour physics at low energies. The aim of this working group is the development of several methods which will be of use to the other WGs: effective field theories, large-Nc limit of QCD, dispersion relations, Schwinger-Dyson and Bethe-Salpeter equations. These methods are complementary to large scale numerical simulations and in some cases even represent at present the only approach allowing for a reliable quantitative determination of non-perturbative QCD contributions.. Theoretical predictions of quantities such as rare and non-leptonic kaon decays, (g − 2)μ or B decays must reach a level of precision that matches the continuous increase of quality of the experimental measurements.

• WG5 - Lattice Methods: In recent years first results of lattice calculations performed in full QCD and with small quark masses have appeared. This exciting progress has been made possible by various improvements in lattice discretisations, the development of new algorithms and the steady increase in computer power available to lattice groups. Moreover, conceptual progress in the treatment of non-leptonic weak decays, lattice chiral symmetry, non-perturbative HQET, etc. has significantly broadened the range of problems that can be addressed with lattice QCD. A quantitative, precise technique for evaluating non-perturbative dynamics of strong interactions will make a truly major impact on flavour physics, as well as being essential for our understanding of the strong nuclear force and hadronic structure.

• WG6 - Radiative Return and Monte Carlo Tools: A measurement of any physical quantity in particle physics is a complicated process involving a Monte Carlo simulation of the detector response to a physical signal. A link between a theory and a measurement can be established at high precision only by providing the experimental groups with Monte Carlo event generators simulating the measured processes. In this game, feedback between experiment and theory is necessary, providing verification of the theoretical ideas and refinements of the existing models. The WG will concentrate on developing state-of-the-art Monte Carlo (MC) tools relevant for hadronic physics, to allow us to profit maximally from upcoming, highly accurate experimental data.

-- FlaviaNet - 15 May 2006