Lattice QCD data versus Chiral Perturbation Theory: the case of $M_{\pi }$

Abstract

I present a selection of recent lattice data by major collaborations for the pseudo-Goldstone boson masses in full ($N_f=2$) QCD, where the valence quarks are chosen exactly degenerate with the sea quarks. At least the more chiral points should be consistent with Chiral Perturbation Theory for the latter to be useful in extrapolating to physical masses. Perspectives to reliably determine NLO Gasser-Leutwyler coefficients are discussed.

Comments: 3 pages, 4 figures, ICHEP 2002, v2: one statement clarified, one ref. added