Final State Interactions in $K\to\pi\pi$ Decays: $\Delta I=1/2$ Rule vs. $\varepsilon^\prime/\varepsilon$

TL;DR

This paper investigates the role of final state interactions in $K o\pi\pi$ decays, finding they are crucial for the $\Delta I=1/2$ rule but less so for $\varepsilon^\prime/\varepsilon$, impacting the search for new physics.

Contribution

It demonstrates that a dual QCD approach allows disentangling the effects of FSI on the $\Delta I=1/2$ rule and $\varepsilon^\prime/\varepsilon$, unlike chiral perturbation theory.

Findings

FSI are important for the $\Delta I=1/2$ rule.

FSI are less relevant for $\varepsilon^\prime/\varepsilon$.

Implication that improved SM calculations may not fully explain $\varepsilon^\prime/\varepsilon$.

Abstract

Dispersive effects from strong $\pi\pi$ rescattering in the final state (FSI) of weak $K\to\pi\pi$ decays are revisited with the goal to have a global view on their {\it relative} importance for the $\Delta I=1/2$ rule and the ratio $\varepsilon^\prime/\varepsilon$ in the Standard Model (SM). We point out that this goal cannot be reached within a pure effective (meson) field approach like chiral perturbation theory in which the dominant current-current operators governing the $\Delta I=1/2$ rule and the dominant density-density (four-quark) operators governing $\varepsilon^\prime/\varepsilon$ cannot be disentangled from each other. But in the context of a dual QCD approach, which includes both long distance dynamics and the UV completion, that is QCD at short distance scales, such a distinction is possible. We find then that beyond the strict large $N$ limit, $N$ being the number of colours, FSI are likely to be important for the $\Delta I=1/2$ rule but much less relevant for $\varepsilon^\prime/\varepsilon$. The latter finding diminishes significantly hopes that improved calculations of $\varepsilon^\prime/\varepsilon$ would bring its SM prediction to agree with the experimental data, opening thereby an arena for important new physics contributions to this ratio.