Pseudoscalar meson decay constants f_K, f_D and f_Ds, from Nf=2 twisted mass Lattice QCD

TL;DR

This paper reports on a lattice QCD calculation of pseudoscalar meson decay constants f_K, f_D, and f_Ds using N_f=2 dynamical fermions, analyzing multiple lattice spacings and quark masses to improve accuracy and compare with experimental data.

Contribution

The study provides new lattice QCD results for meson decay constants with improved continuum extrapolation and lighter quark masses, enhancing previous calculations.

Findings

f_K = 157.5 ± 0.8 (stat) ± 3.3 (syst) MeV

f_D = 205 ± 7 (stat) ± 7 (syst) MeV

f_{Ds} = 248 ± 3 (stat) ± 8 (syst) MeV

Abstract

We present the results of a lattice QCD calculation of the pseudoscalar meson decay constants f_K, f_D and f_Ds, performed with N_f=2 dynamical fermions. The simulation is carried out with the tree-level improved Symanzik gauge action and with the twisted mass fermionic action at maximal twist. With respect to our previous study (0709.4574 [hep-lat]), here we have analysed data at three values of the lattice spacing (a=0.10 fm, 0.09 fm, 0.07 fm) and performed the continuum limit, and we have included at a=0.09 fm data with a lighter quark mass (m_pi = 260 MeV) and a larger volume (L = 2.7 fm), thus having at each lattice spacing L >= 2.4 fm and m_pi*L >= 3.6. Our result for the kaon decay constant is f_K=(157.5 +- 0.8|_{stat.} +- 3.3|_{syst.}) MeV and for the ratio f_K/f_pi=1.205 +- 0.006|_{stat.} +- 0.025|_{syst.}, in good agreement with the other N_f=2 and N_f=2+1 lattice calculations. For the D and D_s meson decay constants we obtain f_D=(205 +- 7|_{stat.} +- 7|_{syst.}) MeV, in good agreement with the CLEO-c experimental measurement and with other recent N_f=2 and N_f=2+1 lattice calculations, and f_{Ds}=(248 +- 3|_{stat.} +- 8|_{syst.}) MeV that, instead, is 2.3 sigma below the CLEO-c/BABAR experimental average, confirming the present tension between lattice calculations and experimental measurements.