Short-distance QCD corrections to $K^0\bar{K}^0$ mixing at next-to-leading order in Left-Right models

TL;DR

This paper calculates the short-distance QCD corrections to kaon mixing in Standard Model and Left-Right models at next-to-leading order, comparing different computational methods and providing updated estimates for various quark box contributions.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed NLO calculation of QCD corrections in LR models using the method of regions and compares it with the EFT approach, extending previous analyses.

Findings

Good agreement between methods when a single scale dominates

Fair agreement in cases with large logarithms at leading order

Provides NLO estimates for charm, top, and mixed quark box contributions in LR models

Abstract

Left-Right (LR) models are extensions of the Standard Model where left-right symmetry is restored at high energies, and which are strongly constrained by kaon mixing described in the framework of the $|\Delta S|=2$ effective Hamiltonian. We consider the short-distance QCD corrections to this Hamiltonian both in the Standard Model (SM) and in LR models. The leading logarithms occurring in these short-distance corrections can be resummed within a rigourous Effective Field Theory (EFT) approach integrating out heavy degrees of freedom progressively, or using an approximate simpler method of regions identifying the ranges of loop momentum generating large logarithms in the relevant two-loop diagrams. We compare the two approaches in the SM at next-to-leading order, finding a very good agreement when one scale dominates the problem, but only a fair agreement in the presence of a large logarithm at leading order. We compute the short-distance QCD corrections for LR models at next-to-leading order using the method of regions, and we compare the results with the EFT approach for the $WW'$ box with two charm quarks (together with additional diagrams forming a gauge-invariant combination), where a large logarithm occurs already at leading order. We conclude by providing next-to-leading-order estimates for $cc$, $ct$ and $tt$ boxes in LR models.