No Arabic abstract
It is well known that one can use B -> pi pi decays to probe the CP-violating phase alpha. In this paper we show that these same decays can be used to search for new physics. This is done by comparing two weak phases which are equal in the standard model: the phase of the t-quark contribution to the b -> d penguin amplitude, and the phase of Bd-Bd(bar) mixing. In order to make such a comparison, we require one piece of theoretical input, which we take to be a prediction for |P/T|, the relative size of the penguin and tree contributions to Bd -> pi^+ pi^-. If independent knowledge of alpha is available, the decay Bd(t) -> pi^+ pi^- alone can be used to search for new physics. If a full isospin analysis can be done, then new physics can be found solely through measurements of B -> pi pi decays. The most promising scenario occurs when the isospin analysis can be combined with independent knowledge of alpha. In all cases, the prospects for detecting new physics in B -> pi pi decays can be greatly improved with the help of additional measurements which will remove discrete ambiguities.
We propose a method to quantify the Standard Model uncertainty in B to K pi decays using the experimental data, assuming that power counting provides a reasonable estimate of the subleading terms in the 1/mb expansion. Using this method, we show that present B to K pi data are compatible with the Standard Model. We analyze the pattern of subleading terms required to reproduce the B to K pi data and argue that anomalously large subleading terms are not needed. Finally, we find that S(KS pi0) is fairly insensitive to hadronic uncertainties and obtain the Standard Model estimate S(KS pi0)=0.74 +- 0.04.
If new physics (NP) is present in B -> pi pi decays, it can affect the isospin I=2 or I=0 channels. In this paper, we discuss various methods for detecting and measuring this NP. The techniques have increasing amounts of theoretical hadronic input. If NP is eventually detected in B -> pi pi -- there is no evidence for it at present -- one will be able to distinguish I=2 and I=0, and measure its parameters, using these methods.
We summarize a recent strategy for a global analysis of the B -> pi pi, pi K systems and rare decays. We find that the present B -> pi pi and B -> pi K data cannot be simultaneously described in the Standard Model. In a simple extension in which new physics enters dominantly through Z^0 penguins with a CP-violating phase, only certain B -> pi K modes are affected by new physics. The B -> pi pi data can then be described entirely within the Standard Model but with values of hadronic parameters that reflect large non-factorizable contributions. Using the SU(3) flavour symmetry and plausible dynamical assumptions, we can then use the B -> pi pi decays to fix the hadronic part of the B -> pi K system and make predictions for various observables in the B_d -> pi^-+ K^+- and B^+- -> pi^+- K decays that are practically unaffected by electroweak penguins. The data on the B^+- -> pi^0 K^+- and B_d -> pi^0 K modes allow us then to determine the electroweak penguin component which differs from the Standard Model one, in particular through a large additional CP-violating phase. The implications for rare K and B decays are spectacular. In particular, the rate for K_L -> pi^0 nu bar nu is enhanced by one order of magnitude, the branching ratios for B_{d,s} -> mu^+ mu^- by a factor of five, and BR(K_L -> pi^0 e^+ e^-, pi^0 mu^+ mu^-) by factors of three.
We study the determination of gamma from CP-violating observables in B -> pi+ pi- and B -> psi K_S. This determination requires theoretical input to one combination of hadronic parameters. We show that a mild assumption about this quantity may allow bounds to be placed on gamma, but we stress the pernicious effects that an eightfold discrete ambiguity has on such an analysis. The bounds are discussed as a function of the direct (C) and interference (S) CP-violating observables obtained from time-dependent B -> pi+ pi- decays, and their behavior in the presence of new physics effects in B-Bbar mixing is studied. (V2: Misprints corrected. Slightly improved discussion.)
We apply QCD factorization to the quasi two-body B ->(K pi) pi decays where the (K pi)-pair effective mass is limited to 1.8 GeV. Our strong interaction phases constrained by theory and pi-K experimental data yield useful information for studies of CP violation