QED Corrections to Hadronic Observables

Abstract

When aiming at the percent precision in hadronic quantities calculated by means of lattice simulations, isospin breaking effects become relevant. These are of two kinds: up/down mass splitting and electromagnetic corrections. In order to account properly for the latter, a consistent formulation of electrically-charged states in finite volume is needed. In fact on a periodic torus Gauss law and large gauge transformations forbid the propagation of electrically-charged states. In this talk I will review methods that have been used or proposed so far in order to circumvent this problem, while highlighting practical as well as conceptual pros and cons. I will also review and discuss various methods to calculate electromagnetic corrections to hadron masses and decay rates in numerical simulations.