Meson Decay Constants from the Valence Approximation to Lattice QCD

TL;DR

This paper calculates meson decay constants using lattice QCD in the valence approximation, providing ratios that are close but slightly differ from experimental values, highlighting the method's accuracy and limitations.

Contribution

It presents lattice QCD calculations of meson decay constants in the quenched approximation, extrapolated to physical conditions, with quantified deviations from experimental data.

Findings

Predicted ratios differ from experiment by 12-17%.

Results are within 0.9 to 2.8 statistical uncertainties.

Provides a benchmark for lattice QCD in meson decay constants.

Abstract

We evaluate $f_{\pi}/ m_{\rho}$, $f_K/ m_{\rho}$, $1/f_{\rho}$, and $ m_{\phi}/(f_{\phi} m_{\rho})$, extrapolated to physical quark mass, zero lattice spacing and infinite volume, for lattice QCD with Wilson quarks in the valence (quenched) approximation. The predicted ratios differ from experiment by amounts ranging from 12\% to 17\% equivalent to between 0.9 and 2.8 times the corresponding statistical uncertainties.