Work

Factorization and resummation of QED radiative corrections for neutron beta decay

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Details of the two-loop analysis of long-distance QED radiative corrections to neutron beta decay are presented. Explicit expressions are given for hard, jet, and soft functions appearing in the factorization formula that describes the limit of small electron mass and large electron energy. Numerical enhancements from the infrared region are resummed using renormalization group methods. Power corrections, cancellation of singularities in the small-mass expansion, renormalization scheme dependence, and bound-state effects are also discussed. These results provide the most precise determination of long-distance radiative corrections to neutron beta decay and impact the determination of | V u d | from the measured neutron lifetime and thus set a target for uncertainty reductions in the experimental and short-distance inputs.

Source: Physical review. D/Physical review. D.

DOI: 10.1103/639y-63wk

Authors: Zehua Cao, Richard J. Hill, Ryan Plestid, Peter Vander Griend

Institutions: University of Kentucky, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, California Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid