pi 0-->e+e- and eta --> micro+ micro- decays reexamined

Improved Standard-Model Prediction for π^{0}→e^{+}e^{-}

We present an improved standard-model (SM) prediction for the dilepton decay of the neutral pion. The loop amplitude is determined by the pion transition form factor for π^{0}→γ^{*}γ^{*}, for which we employ a dispersive representation that incorporates both spacelike and timelike data as well as short-distance constraints. The resulting SM branching fraction, Br[π^{0}→e^{+}e^{-}]=6.25(3)×10^{-8}, sharpens constraints on physics beyond the SM, including pseudoscalar and axial-vector mediators.

Hadronic light-by-light scattering contribution to the muon g - 2: an effective field theory approach

The hadronic light-by-light contribution to a(mu), the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, is discussed from the point of view of an effective low-energy theory. As an application, the coefficient of the leading logarithm arising from the two-loop graphs involving two anomalous vertices is computed, and found to be positive. This corresponds to a positive sign for the pion-pole contribution to the hadronic light-by-light correction to a(mu), and to a sizable reduction of the discrepancy between the present experimental value of a(mu) and its theoretical counterpart in the standard model.