High Order Corrections to Fundamental Constants

• Author / Creator

  Dowling, Matthew E

• This thesis explores the determination of a few of the fundamental constants of the standard model by employing different methods than those historically used. Modern field theory techniques are applied to the calculation of the α2(Zα)5 corrections to the Lamb shift leading to an increase in the precision of the current value. It is then shown how these same techniques can be used to compute the α(Zα)5 corrections to the bound electron g-factor. Next, the beyond the standard model decay of a muon into an electron and a particle called a Majoron is considered. This calculation provides the theory that underlies a new method of searching for the Majoron that does not require any modification of currently planned muon to electron conversion experiments. Finally, the two related decays of a b-quark decaying to a c-quark and leptons and a muon decaying to an electron and neutrinos are considered in a new kinematic configuration. This new approach provides the O(αs2) corrections to the semileptonic b-quark decay rate and is currently the only method that gives access to the O(α3) corrections to the muon decay rate. All of these corrections are used in determining fundamental properties of the standard model as well as the ongoing search for new physics.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Atomic corrections
  • Phenomenology
  • Perturbation theory

• Graduation date

  Fall 2012

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Doctor of Philosophy

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3HK58

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.