Signal at subleading order in lattice HQET

We discuss the correlators in lattice HQET that are needed to go beyond the static theory. Based on our implementation in the Schr\"odinger functional we focus on their signal-to-noise ratios and check that a reasonable statistical precision can be reached in quantities like $f_{B_s}$ and $M_{B^\star}-M_B$.Comment: 3 pages, Lattice2004(heavy), v2: corrected definition of X^{kin/spin

Static quarks with improved statistical precision

We present a numerical study for different discretisations of the static action, concerning cut-off effects and the growth of statistical errors with Euclidean time. An error reduction by an order of magnitude can be obtained with respect to the Eichten-Hill action, for time separations beyond 1.3 fm, keeping discretization errors small. The best actions lead to a big improvement on the precision of the quark mass Mb and F_Bs in the static approximation.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures, Lattice2003(heavy

A precise determination of BKB_K in quenched QCD

The $B_K$ parameter is computed in quenched lattice QCD with Wilson twisted mass fermions. Two variants of tmQCD are used; in both of them the relevant $\Delta S = 2$ four-fermion operator is renormalised multiplicatively. The renormalisation adopted is non-perturbative, with a Schroedinger functional renormalisation condition. Renormalisation group running is also non-perturbative, up to very high energy scales. In one of the two tmQCD frameworks the computations have been performed at the physical $K$-meson mass, thus eliminating the need of mass extrapolations. Simulations have been performed at several lattice spacings and the continuum limit was reached by combining results from both tmQCD regularisations. Finite volume effects have been partially checked and turned out to be small. Exploratory studies have also been performed with non-degenerate valence flavours. The final result for the RGI bag parameter, with all sources of uncertainty (except quenching) under control, is $\hat B_K =0.789 \pm 0.046$.Comment: 54 pages, 11 figure

Towards a precision computation of f_Bs in quenched QCD

We present a computation of the decay constant f_Bs in quenched QCD. Our strategy is to combine new precise data from the static approximation with an interpolation of the decay constant around the charm quark mass region. This computation is the first step in demonstrating the feasability of a strategy for f_B in full QCD. The continuum limits in the static theory and at finite mass are taken separately and will be further improved.Comment: Lattice2003(heavy), 3 pages, 2 figure

Flavour symmetry restoration and kaon weak matrix elements in quenched twisted mass QCD

We simulate two variants of quenched twisted mass QCD (tmQCD), with degenerate Wilson quarks of masses equal to or heavier than half the strange quark mass. We use Ward identities in order to measure the twist angles of the theory and thus check the quality of the tuning of mass parameters to a physics condition which stays constant as the lattice spacing is varied. Flavour symmetry breaking in tmQCD is studied in a framework of two fully twisted and two standard Wilson quark flavours, tuned to be degenerate in the continuum. Comparing pseudoscalar masses, obtained from connected quark diagrams made of tmQCD and/or standard Wilson quark propagators, we confirm that flavour symmetry breaking effects, which are at most 5%, decrease as we approach the continuum limit. We also compute the pseudoscalar decay constant in the continuum limit, with reduced systematics. As a consequence of improved tuning of the mass parameters at $\beta = 6.1$, we reanalyse our previous $B_K$ results. Our main phenomenological findings are $r_0 f_K = 0.421(7)$ and $\hat B_K = 0.735(71)$.Comment: 41 pages, figures included, one reference added. Final version as accepted for publication on Nucl.Phys.

Non-perturbative Heavy Quark Effective Theory

We explain how to perform non-perturbative computations in HQET on the lattice. In particular the problem of the subtraction of power-law divergences is solved by a non-perturbative matching of HQET and QCD. As examples, we present a full calculation of the mass of the b-quark in the combined static and quenched approximation and outline an alternative way to obtain the B-meson decay constant at lowest order. Since no excessively large lattices are required, our strategy can also be applied including dynamical fermions.Comment: 27 pages including figures and tables, latex2e; version published in JHEP, typos corrected and 1 reference adde