PSILOGO

Laboratory for Particle Physics (LTP)


LTP Colloquium

Neutron, pion and nuclear beta decays: phenomenology and radiative corrections

Friday, December 13, 2002, 16:00
WHGA Auditorium

Prof. F. Glück, Mainz/Budapest

Abstract:
Low energy hadronic beta decays are theoretically simpler and more reliable than high energy decays. They allow to test the V-A structure of the Standard Model to high accuracy. In addition, the precise determination of V_{ud} provides (together with V_{us}) the most precise test of the CKM unitarity. Present neutron and 0^+ -> 0^+ Fermi decays show 2-3 sigma deviations from unitarity.
Deviations from the V-A model are parametrized by the right-handed vector and axialvector, and the left-handed and right-handed scalar and tensor weak coupling constants. A phenomenological review of these couplings is presented.
Radiative corrections are important in the analyses of precision beta decay measurements. For example: the internal bremsstrahlung photons change the kinematics of the beta decay process. We present a review (with simple explanations of the bremsstrahlung, virtual, model independent and model dependent corrections, etc.) which is hopefully useful also for experimentalists interested in beta decays.