Strange Quark Physics on the Lattice

TL;DR

This paper reports lattice QCD calculations of strange hadron masses and decay constants, achieving results close to experimental values and providing preliminary insights into semi-leptonic decay form factors.

Contribution

First quenched lattice QCD study of strange hadrons with improved fermion action, including decay constants and semi-leptonic decay form factors.

Findings

Hadron masses within 2-3 standard deviations of experiment

Decay constants consistent with experiment within uncertainties

Preliminary semi-leptonic decay form factor results

Abstract

We present results for hadrons containing a strange quark in quenched lattice QCD. We calculate masses and decay constants using 60 gauge configurations with an O(a)-improved fermion action at beta = 6.2. Using the rho mass to set the scale, we find hadron masses within two to three standard deviations of experiment. Direct comparison with experiment for decay constants is obscured by uncertainty in current renormalisations. Finally, we present preliminary results on the semi-leptonic decay D->K. We find f_K^+(0)/Z_V = 0.75+5-4 and f_K^0(0)/Z_V = 0.74+4-4.