Status of the Hadronic Tau Determination of V_us

Abstract

We update the extraction of |V_{us}| from hadronic tau decay data in light of recent BaBar and Belle results on the branching fractions of a number of important strange decay modes. A range of sum rule analyses is performed, particular attention being paid to those based on "non-spectral weights", developed previously to bring the slow convergence of the relevant integrated D=2 OPE series under improved control. Results from the various sum rules are shown to be in good agreement with one another, but ~3 sigma below expectations based on 3-family unitarity. Important avenues for future study are briefly discussed.

Comments: 9 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. Combined report on talks presented at the 4th International Conference on Flavor Physics, Beijing, China, Sept. 24-28, 2007 and QCD Downunder 2, Auckland, NZ, Jan. 17-19, 2008