B decays dominated by omega-phi mixing

Recently Belle has established the 90% confidence level (CL) upper limit \b < 9.4 \times 10^{-7} for the branching ratio for $B^0\to J/\psi \phi$, a process expected to be suppressed by the Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka (OZI) rule disfavoring disconnected quark diagrams. We use information on $\omega$--$\phi$ mixing to establish likely lower bounds on this and related processes. We find that the Belle result is about a factor of five above our limit, while other decays such as $B^0 \to \bar D^0 \phi$ and $B^+ \to \pi^+ \phi$, for which upper limits have been obtained by BaBar, could be observable with similar improvements in data. We argue that a significant enhancement of our predicted decay rates by rescattering is unlikely.Comment: paragraph added, submitted to Physics Letters

CP violation in B meson decays

Recent CP asymmetry measurements in tree-dominated processes, $B^0\to \pi^+\pi^-, \rho^+\rho^-, \rho^{\pm}\pi^{\mp}, B^+\to DK^+$, and in penguin-dominated decays, $B \to \pi^0 K_S, \eta' K_S, \phi K_S$, are interpreted in the framework of the Kobayashi-Maskawa (KM) mechanism of CP violation. The KM phase emerges as the dominant source of CP violation in tree-dominated decays, which are beginning to constrain the unitarity triangle beyond other constraints. Improving precision of CP asymmetry measurements in penguin-dominated decays may indicate the need for new physics.Comment: Talk presented at the Sixth International Conference on Hyperons, Charm and Beauty Hadrons, IIT, Chicago, June 27--July 3 200

The Universal Aspect Ratio of Vortices in Rotating Stratifi?ed Flows: Experiments and Observations

We validate a new law for the aspect ratio $\alpha = H/L$ of vortices in a rotating, stratified flow, where $H$ and $L$ are the vertical half-height and horizontal length scale of the vortices. The aspect ratio depends not only on the Coriolis parameter f and buoyancy (or Brunt-Vaisala) frequency $\bar{N}$ of the background flow, but also on the buoyancy frequency $N_c$ within the vortex and on the Rossby number $Ro$ of the vortex such that $\alpha = f \sqrt{[Ro (1 + Ro)/(N_c^2- \bar{N}^2)]}$. This law for $\alpha$ is obeyed precisely by the exact equilibrium solution of the inviscid Boussinesq equations that we show to be a useful model of our laboratory vortices. The law is valid for both cyclones and anticyclones. Our anticyclones are generated by injecting fluid into a rotating tank filled with linearly-stratified salt water. The vortices are far from the top and bottom boundaries of the tank, so there is no Ekman circulation. In one set of experiments, the vortices viscously decay, but as they do, they continue to obey our law for $\alpha$, which decreases over time. In a second set of experiments, the vortices are sustained by a slow continuous injection after they form, so they evolve more slowly and have larger |Ro|, but they also obey our law for $\alpha$. The law for $\alpha$ is not only validated by our experiments, but is also shown to be consistent with observations of the aspect ratios of Atlantic meddies and Jupiter's Great Red Spot and Oval BA. The relationship for $\alpha$ is derived and examined numerically in a companion paper by Hassanzadeh et al. (2012).Comment: Submitted to the Journal of Fluid Mechanics. Also see the companion paper by Hassanzadeh et al. "The Universal Aspect Ratio of Vortices in Rotating Stratifi?ed Flows: Theory and Simulation" 201

Origin and fluxes of atmospheric REE entering an ombrotrophic peat bog in Black Forest (SW Germany): Evidence from snow, lichens and mosses

The fate of the Rare Earth Elements (REE) were investigated in different types of archives of atmospheric deposition in the Black Forest, Southern Germany: (1) a 70 cm snow pack collected on the domed part of a raised bog and representing 2 months of snow accumulation, (2) a snow sample collected close to the road about 500 m from the peat bog, (3) two species of lichens and (4) a peat profile representing 400 years of peat accumulation as well as a “preanthropogenic” sample and the living moss layer from the top of the core. REE concentrations in peat are significantly correlated to Ti which is a lithogenic conservative element suggesting that REE are immobile in peat bog environments. Snow, lichens and peat samples show similar PAAS (Post Archean Australian Shale) normalized REE distributions suggesting that the complete atmospheric REE signal is preserved in the peat profile. However, the annual flux of REE accumulated by the peat is ca. 10 times greater than that of the bulk winter flux of REE. This difference probably indicates that the REE concentrations in the snowpack are not representative of the average REE flux over the whole year. Despite the pronounced geological differences between this site (granite host-rock) and a previously studied peat bog in Switzerland (limestone host-rock) similar REE distribution patterns and accumulation rates were found at both sites. Given that both sites confirm an Upper Continental Crust signature, the data suggests both sites are influenced by regional and not local, soil-derived lithogenic aerosols

Enhanced effects on extracting \gamma from untagged B^0 and B_s decays

The weak phase \gamma can be determined using untagged B^0\to DK_S or B_s\to D\phi, D\eta^{(')} decays. In the past, the small lifetime difference y\equiv \Delta\Gamma/(2\Gamma) has been neglected in B^0, while the CP violating parameter \epsilon\equiv 1-|q/p|^2 has been neglected in both B^0-\bar B^0 and B_s-\bar B_s mixing. We estimate the effect of neglecting y and \epsilon. We find that in D decays to flavor states this introduces a systematic error, which is enhanced by a large ratio of Cabibbo-allowed to doubly Cabibbo-suppressed D decay amplitudes.Comment: one reference added, to be submitted for publication in Physics Letters

Improving Bounds on Penguin Pollution in B -> pi pi

In the presence of penguin contributions, the indirect CP asymmetry in B0(t) -> pi+ pi- measures sin(2\alpha + 2\theta), where 2\theta parametrizes the size of the penguin ``pollution.'' We derive a new upper bound on |2\theta|, requiring the measurement of of BR(B+ -> pi+ pi0) and an upper bound on B00 \equiv {1\over 2} [BR(B0 -> pi0 pi0) + BR(B0bar -> pi0 pi0)]. The new bound is stronger than those previously discussed in the literature. We also present a lower bound on B00. Current data may suggest that it is not very small, in which case \theta can be determined using a complete isospin analysis.Comment: 10 pages, LaTeX, 3 figures. Abstract modified slightly. Submitted to Physics Letter

Recent atmospheric Pb deposition at a rural site in southern Germany assessed using a peat core and snowpack, and comparison with other archives

In a peat bog from Black Forest, Southern Germany, the rate of atmospheric Pb accumulation was quantified using a peat core dated by 210Pb and 14C. The most recent Pb accumulation rate (2.5 mg m−2 y−1) is similar to that obtained from a snowpack on the bog surface, which was sampled during the winter 2002 (1 to 4 mg m−2 y−1). The Pb accumulation rates recorded by the peat during the last 25 yr are also in agreement with published values of direct atmospheric fluxes in Black Forest. These values are 50 to 200 times greater than the “natural” average background rate of atmospheric Pb accumulation (20 μg m−2 y−1) obtained using peat samples from the same bog dating from 3300 to 1300 cal. yr B.C. The isotopic composition of Pb was measured in both the modern and ancient peat samples as well as in the snow samples, and clearly shows that recent inputs are dominated by anthropogenic Pb. The chronology and isotopic composition of atmospheric Pb accumulation recorded by the peat from the Black Forest is similar to the chronologies reported earlier using peat cores from various peat bogs as well as herbarium samples of Sphagnum and point to a common Pb source to the region for the past 150 years. In contrast, Pb contamination occurring before 1850 in southwestern Germany, differs from the record published for Switzerland mainly due to the mining activity in Black Forest. Taken together, the results show that peat cores from ombrotrophic bogs can yield accurate records of atmospheric Pb deposition, provided that the cores are carefully collected, handled, prepared, and analysed using appropriate methods

Implications for CP asymmetries of improved data on B→K0π0B \to K^0 \pi^0

The decay $B^0 \to K^0 \pi^0$, dominated by a $b \to s$ penguin amplitude, holds the potential for exhibiting new physics in this amplitude. In the pure QCD penguin limit one expects \ckp = 0 and \skp = \sin 2 \beta for the coefficients of $\cos \Delta m t$ and $\sin \Delta m t$ in the time-dependent CP asymmetry. Small non-penguin contributions lead to corrections to these expressions which are calculated in terms of isospin-related $B\to K\pi$ rates and asymmetries, using information about strong phases from experiment. We study the prospects for incisive tests of the Standard Model through examination of these corrections. We update a prediction \ckp=0.15\pm 0.04, pointing out the sensitivity of a prediction \skp\approx 1 to the measured branching ratio for $B^0\to K^0\pi^0$ and to other observables.Comment: Note added, to be published in Physics Letters

Light dark matter in the singlet-extended MSSM

We discuss the possibility of light dark matter in a general singlet extension of the MSSM. Singlino LSPs with masses of a few GeV can explain the signals reported by the CRESST, CoGeNT and possibly also DAMA experiments. The interactions between singlinos and nuclei are mediated by a scalar whose properties coincide with those of the SM Higgs up to two crucial differences: the scalar has a mass of a few GeV and its interaction strengths are suppressed by a universal factor. We show that such a scalar can be consistent with current experimental constraints, and that annihilation of singlinos into such scalars in the early universe can naturally lead to a relic abundance consistent with the observed density of cold dark matter.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure

Lattice gauge theory: A retrospective

I discuss some of the historical circumstances that drove us to use the lattice as a non-perturbative regulator. This approach has had immense success, convincingly demonstrating quark confinement and obtaining crucial properties of the strong interactions from first principles. I wrap up with some challenges for the future.Comment: Lattice 2000 (Plenary), 9 pages, 7 figure