Current status of the first-row CKM unitarity

by Dr Chien Yeah Seng (University of Bonn)

Wednesday 30 Jan 2019, 10:00 → 12:00 Asia/Shanghai

322 (ITP Old Building)

Precision tests of the unitarity of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix set stringent constraints on the possible Beyond Standard Model (BSM) physics. Among others, the matrix element V_ud that is most precisely extracted from superallowed nuclear beta decays plays a dominant role in the unitarity test; however,  a precise determination of its value requires an accurate understanding of all higher-order Standard Model effects that enter the decay process. I will discuss a recent progress in the determination of the radiative correction (RC) in neutron and superallowed beta decay based on dispersion relation, which results in a reduction of the size of V_ud and leads to an apparent tension with the first-row CKM unitarity. I will also discuss possible future steps to resolve such controversy.

Seng_2019 ITP talk.pdf