The UTfit Collaboration Average of D meson mixing data: Spring 2012

We derive constraints on the parameters $M_{12}$, $\Gamma_{12}$ and $\Phi_{12}$ that describe $D$ meson mixing using all available data, allowing for CP violation. We also provide posterior distributions and predictions for observable parameters appearing in $D$ physics.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

An Improved Standard Model Prediction Of BR(B -> tau nu) And Its Implications For New Physics

The recently measured B -> tau nu branching ratio allows to test the Standard Model by probing virtual effects of new heavy particles, such as a charged Higgs boson. The accuracy of the test is currently limited by the experimental error on BR(B -> tau nu) and by the uncertainty on the parameters fB and |Vub|. The redundancy of the Unitarity Triangle fit allows to reduce the error on these parameters and thus to perform a more precise test of the Standard Model. Using the current experimental inputs, we obtain BR(B -> tau nu)_SM = (0.84 +- 0.11)x10^{-4}, to be compared with BR(B -> tau nu)_exp = (1.73 +- 0.34)x10^{-4}. The Standard Model prediction can be modified by New Physics effects in the decay amplitude as well as in the Unitarity Triangle fit. We discuss how to disentangle the two possible contributions in the case of minimal flavour violation at large tan beta and generic loop-mediated New Physics. We also consider two specific models with minimal flavour violation: the Type-II Two Higgs Doublet Model and the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model.Comment: 7 pages, 13 figures, 1 table. v2: added references and discussion of B -> D tau nu in the 2HDM. v3: added Bs->mumu in the 2HDM. Final version to appear in PL

Measurement of branching fractions and CP-violating charge asymmetries for B-meson decays to D^(*)D^(*), and implications for the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa angle γ

We present measurements of the branching fractions and charge asymmetries of B decays to all D^(*)D^(*) modes. Using 232×10^6 BB pairs recorded on the Υ(4S) resonance by the BABAR detector at the e^+e^- asymmetric B factory PEP-II at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, we measure the branching fractions B(B^0→D^(*+)D^(*-))=(8.1±0.6±1.0)×10^(-4), B(B^0→D^(*±)D^∓)=(5.7±0.7±0.7)×10^(-4), B(B^0→D^+D^-)=(2.8±0.4±0.5)×10^(-4), B(B^+→D^(*+)D^(*0))=(8.1±1.2±1.2)×10^(-4), B(B^+→D^*+D^0)=(3.6±0.5±0.4)×10^(-4), B(B^+→D^+D^(*0))=(6.3±1.4±1.0)×10^(-4), and B(B^+→D^+D^(0))=(3.8±0.6±0.5)×10^(-4), where in each case the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. We also determine the limits B(B^0→D^(*0)D^(*0))<0.9×10^(-4), B(B^0→D^(*0)D^0)<2.9×10^(-4), and B(B^0→D^0D^0)<0.6×10^(-4), each at 90% confidence level. All decays above denote either member of a charge-conjugate pair. We also determine the CP-violating charge asymmetries A(B^0→D^(*±)D^∓)=0.03±0.10±0.02, A(B^+→D^(*+)D^(*0))=-0.15±0.11±0.02, A(B^+→D^(*+)D^0)=-0.06±0.13±0.02, A(B^+→D^+D^(*0))=0.13±0.18±0.04, and A(B^+→D^+D^0)=-0.13±0.14±0.02. Additionally, when we combine these results with information from time-dependent CP asymmetries in B^0→D^((*)+)D^((*)-) decays and world-averaged branching fractions of B decays to D_s^(*)D^(*) modes, we find the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa phase γ is favored to lie in the range (0.07–2.77) radians (with a +0 or +π radians ambiguity) at 68% confidence level

Search for the decay τ-→3π^-2π^+2π^0ν_τ

A search for the decay of the τ lepton to five charged and two neutral pions is performed using data collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e^+e^- collider. The analysis uses 232  fb^(-1) of data at center-of-mass energies on or near the Υ(4S) resonance. We observe 10 events with an expected background of 6.5_(-1.4)^(+2.0) events. In the absence of a signal, we set the limit on the branching ratio B(τ-→3π^-2π^+2π^0ν_τ)<3.4×10^(-6) at the 90% confidence level. This is a significant improvement over the previously established limit. In addition, we search for the decay mode τ-→2ωπ-ν_τ. We observe 1 event with an expected background of 0.4+1.0/-0.4 events and calculate the upper limit B(τ-→2ωπ-ν_τ)<5.4×10^(-7) at the 90% confidence level. This is the first upper limit for this mode

Search for the charmed pentaquark candidate Θ_c(3100)^0 in e^+e^- annihilations at √s=10.58 GeV

We search for the charmed pentaquark candidate reported by the H1 collaboration, the Θ_c(3100)^0, in e^+e^- interactions at a center-of-mass (c.m.) energy of 10.58 GeV, using 124  fb^(-1) of data recorded with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e^+e^- facility at SLAC. We find no evidence for such a state in the same pD^(*-) decay mode reported by H1, and we set limits on its production cross section times branching fraction into pD^(*-) as a function of c.m. momentum. The corresponding limit on its total rate per e^+e^-→qq event, times branching fraction, is about 3 orders of magnitude lower than rates measured for the charmed Λ_c and Σ_c baryons in such events

Observation of B^0 Meson Decay to a_1^±(1260)π^∓

We present a measurement of the branching fraction of the decay B^0→a_1^±(1260)π^∓ with a_1^±(1260)→π^∓π^±π^±. The data sample corresponds to 218×10^6 BB pairs produced in e^+e^- annihilation through the Υ(4S) resonance. We measure the branching fraction B(B^0→a_1^±(1260)π^∓)B(a_1^±(1260)→π^∓π^±π^±)=(16.6±1.9±1.5)×10^(-6), where the first error quoted is statistical and the second is systematic

Measurements of branching fractions, rate asymmetries, and angular distributions in the rare decays B→Kℓ^+ℓ^- and B→K^*ℓ^+ℓ^-

We present measurements of the flavor-changing neutral current decays B→Kℓ^+ℓ^- and B→K^*ℓ^+ℓ^-, where ℓ^+ℓ^- is either an e^+e^- or μ^+μ^- pair. The data sample comprises 229×10^6  Υ(4S)→BB decays collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e^+e^- storage ring. Flavor-changing neutral current decays are highly suppressed in the standard model and their predicted properties could be significantly modified by new physics at the electroweak scale. We measure the branching fractions B(B→Kℓ^+ℓ^-)=(0.34±0.07±0.02)×10^(-6), B(B→K^*ℓ^+ℓ^-)=(0.78-0.17^(+0.19)±0.11)×10^(-6), the direct CP asymmetries of these decays, and the relative abundances of decays to electrons and muons. For two regions in ℓ^+ℓ^- mass, above and below m_(J/ψ), we measure partial branching fractions and the forward-backward angular asymmetry of the lepton pair. In these same regions we also measure the K^* longitudinal polarization in B→K^*ℓ^+ℓ^- decays. Upper limits are obtained for the lepton-flavor-violating decays B→Keμ and B→K^*eμ. All measurements are consistent with standard model expectation