Scaling of Non-Perturbatively O(a) Improved Wilson Fermions: Hadron Spectrum, Quark Masses and Decay Constants

TL;DR

This paper investigates the effects of non-perturbative $O(a)$ improvement on Wilson fermions in lattice QCD, demonstrating reduced lattice artifacts in calculations of hadron spectra, quark masses, and decay constants.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive comparison of non-perturbatively improved Wilson fermions with standard Wilson fermions at two couplings, showing reduced lattice artifacts.

Findings

Improved action reduces lattice artifacts.

Results consistent with theoretical expectations.

Enhanced accuracy in hadron spectrum calculations.

Abstract

We compute the hadron mass spectrum, the quark masses and the meson decay constants in quenched lattice QCD with non-perturbatively $O(a)$ improved Wilson fermions. The calculations are done for two values of the coupling constant, $\beta = 6.0$ and 6.2, and the results are compared with the predictions of ordinary Wilson fermions. We find that the improved action reduces lattice artifacts as expected.