Inclusive semileptonic $Lambda_b$ decays in the Standard Model and beyond

Inclusive semileptonic decays of beauty baryons are studied using the heavy quark expansion to ${cal O}(1/m_b^3)$, at leading order in $alpha_s$. The case of a polarized decaying baryon is examined, with reference to $Lambda_b$. An extension of the Standard Model effective Hamiltonian inducing $b to U ell {bar u}_ ell$ transitions ($U=u,,c$ and $ell=e,,mu,,tau$) is considered, which comprises the full set of D=6 semileptonic operators with left-handed neutrinos. The effects of the new operators in several observables are described.