Chiral Perturbation Theory and Weak Matrix Elements

I describe recent developments in quenched chiral perturbation theory (QChPT) and the status of weak matrix elements involving light quarks. I illustrate how, with improved statistical errors, and with calculations of the masses of baryons containing non-degenerate quarks, there is now a clear need for extrapolations of higher order than linear in the quark mass. I describe how QChPT makes predictions for the functional forms to use in such extrapolations, and emphasize the distinction between contributions coming from chiral loops which are similar to those present in unquenched theories, and those from η′ loops which are pure quenched artifacts. I describe a fit to the baryon masses using the predictions of QChPT. I give a status report on the numerical evidence for η′ loops, concluding that they are likely present, and are characterized by a coupling δ = 0.1 − 0.2. I use the difference between chiral loops in QCD and quenched QCD to estimate the quenching errors in a variety of quantities. I then turn to results for matrix elements, largely from quenched simulations. Results for quenched decay constants cannot yet be reliably extrapolated to the continuum limit. By contrast, new results for BK suggest a continuum, quenched value of BK(NDR, 2GeV) = 0.5977 ± 0.0064 ± 0.0166, based on a quadratic extrapolation in a. The theoretical basis for using a quadratic extrapolation has been confirmed. For the first time there is significant evidence that unquenching changes BK , and my estimate for the value in QCD is BK(NDR, 2GeV) = 0.66±0.02±0.11. Here the second error is a conservative estimate of the systematic error due to uncertainties in the effect of quenching. A less conservative viewpoint reduces 0.11 to 0.03. Non-perturbative renormalization has been successfully applied to four-fermion operators, and has been used to calculate BK with Wilson fermions. The results are consistent with those for staggered fermions. Results for other matrix elements are mentioned briefly.