Related papers: Precision Measurements and CKM Unitarity

Nuclear beta decays between (J^pi,T) = (0^+,1) analog states yield the best value for the Vud element of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix. Current world data establish the corrected Ft values of 14 separate superallowed transitions to a…

Although well studied, the neutron still offers a unique laboratory for precise tests of Standard Model (SM) predictions. Neutron decay is free of nuclear structure corrections present in nuclear beta decays, and, with a $10^8$ times larger…

After the recent high precision determinations of $V_{us}$ and $V_{ud}$, the first row of the CKM matrix shows more than $4\sigma$ deviation from unitarity. Two possible scenarios beyond the Standard Model can be investigated in order to…

With more intense sources of cold and ultracold neutrons becoming available and with improved experimental techniques being developed, determination of |Vud| from neutron beta decay with a similar precision to that from from superallowed…

Measurements of neutron beta decay observables required to determine $|V_{ud}|$ are reaching the 0.1% accuracy. In this paper we review the calculation of the decay rate of this process, discuss its relevant uncertainties, and obtain an…

Using an effective field theory approach, we study the new physics (NP) corrections to muon and beta decays and their effects on the extractions of V_ud and V_us. Assuming nearly flavor blind NP interactions we find that the CKM-unitarity…

A new critical survey is presented of all half-life, decay-energy and branching-ratio measurements related to 20 0+ to 0+ beta decays. Compared with our last review, there are numerous improvements: First, we have added 27 recently…

The actual limit of the unitarity condition of the first row of the CKM matrix |V_ud|^2+|V_us|^2+|V_ub|^2=1+\Delta_CKM is \Delta_CKM=-0.0001(6). In 2010 the same was \Delta_CKM=+0.0001(6). Despite the only difference of a sign, and with an…

We review the current status of precision measurements in allowed nuclear beta decay, including neutron decay, with emphasis on their potential to look for new physics beyond the standard electroweak model. The experimental results are…

The decay of the free neutron into a proton, electron, and antineutrino is the prototype semileptonic weak decay and the simplest example of nuclear beta decay. The nucleon vector and axial vector weak coupling constants G_V and G_A…

A neutron decays into a proton, an electron, and an anti-neutrino through the beta-decay process. The decay lifetime ($\sim$880 s) is an important parameter in the weak interaction. For example, the neutron lifetime is a parameter used to…

The existing experimental evidence on the vector and axial-vector coupling constants, $G_V$ and $G_A$, for neutron $\beta$-decay exhibits two prominent problems: (i) the unitarity for the first row of the CKM matrix seems violated; (ii) one…

All relevant inputs for the extraction of the CKM matrix element \vus from \kl, \ks and \kpm decays have been measured at KLOE. From a global fit using only KLOE results, but \ks lifetime, a value of $|\vus|\fzero = 0.2157 \pm 0.0006$ is…

Experimental studies of neutron decay, $n\to pe\bar\nu$, exhibit two anomalies. The first is a 8.6(2.1)s, roughly $4\sigma$ difference between the average beam measured neutron lifetime, $\tau_n^\text{beam}=888.0(2.0)$s, and the more…

Using a technique that is not subject to first-order SU(3) symmetry breaking effects, we determine the $V_{us}$ element of the CKM matrix from data on semileptonic hyperon decays. We obtain $V_{us}$ =0.2250(27). This value is of similar…

The ``neutron lifetime puzzle'' arises from the discrepancy between neutron lifetime measurements obtained using the beam method, which measures decay products, and the bottle method, which measures the disappearance of neutrons. To resolve…

The experimental prospects for precise measurements of the leptonic decays B_u -> tau nu / mu nu, B_s -> mu+ mu-, D -> mu nu and D_s -> mu nu / tau nu are very promising. Double ratios involving four of these decays can be defined in which…

High precision measurements of isospin $T=1/2$ decays in the neutron and nuclei provide strong model-independent constraints on extensions to the standard model of particle physics. A measurement of the $\beta$-asymmetry in $^{19}$Ne decay…

Recent experimental and theoretical results on kaon semileptonic decays have significantly improved the determination of the CKM matrix element V_us. After briefly summarizing the impact of the new experimental determinations, I will…

The neutron lifetime, $\tau$ = 880.2 $\pm$ 1.0 sec , is an important parameter for particle physics and cosmology. There is, however, an 8.4 sec (4.0$\,\sigma$) deviation between the measured value of the neutron lifetime using two methods…