Abstract: We present a precise lattice computation of pseudoscalar and vector heavy-light meson masses for heavy-quark masses ranging from the physical charm mass up to similar or equal to 4 times the physical b-quark mass. We employ the gauge configurations generated by the European Twisted Mass Collaboration (ETMC) with N-f = 2 + 1 + 1 dynamical quarks at three values of the lattice spacing (a similar or equal to 0.062; 0.082; 0.089 fm) with pion masses in the range M-pi similar or equal to 210-450 MeV. The heavy-quark mass is simulated directly on the lattice up to similar or equal to 3 times the physical charm mass. The interpolation to the physical b-quark mass is performed using the ETMC ratio method, based on ratios of the meson masses computed at nearby heavy-quark masses, and adopting the kinetic mass scheme. The extrapolation to the physical pion mass and to the continuum limit yields m(b)(kin) (1 GeV) = 4.61(20) GeV, which corresponds to (m) over bar (b) ((m) over bar (b)) 4.26(18) GeV in the (MS) over bar scheme. The lattice data are analyzed in terms of the heavy-quark expansion (HQE) and the matrix elements of dimension-four and dimension-five operators are extracted with a good precision, namely,(Lambda) over bar = 0.552(26) GeV, mu(2)(pi) = 0.321(32) GeV2, and mu(2)(G)(m(b)) = 0.253(25) GeV2. The data also allow for a rough estimate of the dimension-six operator matrix elements. As the HQE parameters play a crucial role in the inclusive determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix elements V-ub and V-cb, their precise determination on the lattice may eventually validate and improve the analyses based on fits to the semileptonic moments.

Abstract: Supersymmetric theories supplemented by an underlying flavor-symmetry G(f) provide a rich playground for model building aimed at explaining the flavor structure of the Standard Model. In the case where supersymmetry breaking is mediated by gravity, the soft-breaking Lagrangian typically exhibits large tree-level flavor violating e ff ects, even if it stems from an ultraviolet flavor-conserving origin. Building on previous work, we continue our phenomenological analysis of these models with a particular emphasis on leptonicflavor observables. We consider three representative models which aim to explain the flavor structure of the lepton sector, with symmetry groups G(f) = Delta (27), A(4); and S-3.

Abstract: We analyze the phenomenological consequences of embedding a flavor symmetry based on the groups A(5) and CP in a supersymmetric framework. We concentrate on the leptonic sector, where two different residual symmetries are assumed to be conserved at leading order for charged and neutral leptons. All possible realizations to generate neutrino masses at tree level are investigated. Sizable flavor violating effects in the charged lepton sector are unavoidable due to the non-universality of soft-breaking terms determined by the symmetry. We derive testable predictions for the neutrino spectrum, lepton mixing and flavor changing processes with non-trivial relations among observables.