Electromagnetic Splittings and Light Quark Masses

Abstract

A method for computing electromagnetic properties of hadrons in lattice QCD is described. The electromagnetic field is introduced dynamically, using a noncompact formulation. Employing enhanced electric charges, the dependence of the pseudoscalar meson mass on the (anti)quark charges and masses can be accurately calculated. At $β=5.7$ with Wilson action, the $π^+-π^0$ splitting is found to be $4.9(3)$ MeV. Using the measured $K^0-K^+$ splitting, we also find $m_u/m_d = .512(6)$. Systematic errors are discussed. Preliminary results for vector meson splittings are also presented.}