These notes aim to provide a pedagogical introduction to Lattice QCD. The topics covered include ... more These notes aim to provide a pedagogical introduction to Lattice QCD. The topics covered include the scope of LQCD calculations, lattice discretization of gauge and fermion (naive, Wilson, and staggered) actions, doubling problem, improved gauge and Dirac actions, confinement and strong coupling expansions, phase transitions in the lattice theory, lattice operators, a general discussion of statistical and systematic errors in simulations of LQCD, the analyses of the hadron spectrum, glueball masses, the strong coupling constant, and the quark masses.
Significant progress has been made in the determination of the light quark masses, using both lat... more Significant progress has been made in the determination of the light quark masses, using both lattice QCD and sum rule methods, in the last year. We discuss the different methods and review the status of current results. Finally, we review the calculation of bottom and charm masses.
We present estimates of the masses of light quarks using lattice data. Our main results are based... more We present estimates of the masses of light quarks using lattice data. Our main results are based on a global analysis of all the published data for Wilson, Sheikholeslami-Wohlert (clover), and staggered fermions, both in the quenched approximation and with $n_f=2$ dynamical flavors. We find that the values of masses with the various formulations agree after extrapolation to the continuum limit for the $n_f=0$ theory. Our best estimates, in the MSbar scheme at $\mu=2 GeV$, are $\mbar=3.4 +- 0.4 +- 0.3 MeV$ and $m_s = 100 +- 21 +- 10 MeV$ in the quenched approximation. The $n_f=2$ results, $\mbar = 2.7 +- 0.3 +- 0.3 MeV$ and $m_s = 68 +- 12 +- 7 MeV$, are preliminary. (A linear extrapolation in $n_f$ would further reduce these estimates for the physical case of three dynamical flavors.) These estimates are smaller than phenomenological estimates based on sum rules, but maintain the ratios predicted by chiral perturbation theory. The new results have a significant impact on the extraction of $\epsilon'/\epsilon$ from the Standard Model. Using the same lattice data we estimate the quark condensate using the Gell-Mann-Oakes-Renner relation. Again the three formulations give consistent results after extrapolation to $a=0$, and the value turns out to be correspondingly larger, roughly preserving $m_s \vev{\bar \psi \psi}$.
A summary of the extraction of light quark masses from both QCD sumrules and lattice QCD simulati... more A summary of the extraction of light quark masses from both QCD sumrules and lattice QCD simulations is presented. The focus is on providing a careful statement of the potential weaknesses in each calculation, and on integrating the work of different collaborations to provide a coherent picture.
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Papers by Rajan Gupta