Contributions of Charm Physics to CKM Parameters

Determinations of CKM matrix elements are clouded by uncertainties in nonperturbative QCD parameters that relate measurable quantities to the underlying parton-level processes. A principal goal of the CLEO-c program is to provide precision measurements in the c-quark sector that will stimulate lattice QCD theorists to calculate relevant nonperturbative QCD parameters in this sector and to validate the calculations. This interaction between theory and experiment should build confidence in calculations of the parameters in the b-quark sector required for precision determinations of the CKM matrix elements Vcb, Vub, and Vtd.