Nonleptonic charmless two-body B→ATB \to AT decays

In this work we have studied hadronic charmless two-body B decays involving p-wave mesons in final state. We have calculated branching ratios of $B\to AT$ decays (where $A$ and $T$ denotes a $^3P_1$ axial-vector and a tensor meson, respectively), using $B \to T$ form factors obtained in the covariant light-front (CLF) approach, and the full effective Hamiltonian. We have obtained that $\mathcal{B}(B^{0} \to a_{1}^{+}a_{2}^{-}) =42.47 \times10^{-6}$, $\mathcal{B}(B^{+} \to a_{1}^{+}a_{2}^{0}) = 22.71 \times10^{-6}$, $\mathcal{B}(B \to f_{1}K_{2}^{*}) = (2.8-4) \times 10^{-6}$ (with $f_{1}=, f_{1}(1285),f_{1}(1420)$) for $\theta_{^{3}P_{1}} = 53.2^{\circ}$, $\mathcal{B}(B \to f_{1}(1420)K_{2}^{*}) = (5.91-6.42) \times 10^{-6}$ with $\theta_{^{3}P_{1}} = 27.9^{\circ}$, $\mathcal{B}(B \to K_{1}a_{2})= (1.7 - 5.7) [1-9.3] \times10^{-6}$ for $\theta_{K_{1}} = -37^{\circ} [-58^{\circ}]$ where $K_1 = K_1(1270), K_1(1400)$. It seems that these decays can be measured in experiments at $B$ factories. Additionally, we have found that $\mathcal{B}(B \to K_{1}(1270)a_{2})/\mathcal{B}(B \to K_{1}(1400)a_{2})$ and $\mathcal{B}(B \to f_1(1420)K_{2}^{*})/\mathcal{B}(B \to f_1(1285)K_{2}^{*})$ ratios could be useful to determine numerical values of mixing angles $\theta_{K_{1}}$ and $\theta_{^{3}P_{1}}$, respectively.Comment: 12 page

Constraining the Unitarity Triangle with B -> V gamma

We discuss the exclusive radiative decays $B\to K^{*}\gamma$, $B \to\rho\gamma$, and $B\to\omega\gamma$ in QCD factorization within the Standard Model. The analysis is based on the heavy-quark limit of QCD. Our results for these decays are complete to next-to-leading order in QCD and to leading order in the heavy-quark limit. Special emphasis is placed on constraining the CKM-unitarity triangle from these observables. We propose a theoretically clean method to determine CKM parameters from the ratio of the $B\to\rho l\nu$ decay spectrum to the branching fraction of $B\to\rho\gamma$. The method is based on the cancellation of soft hadronic form factors in the large energy limit, which occurs in a suitable region of phase space. The ratio of the $B\to\rho\gamma$ and $B\to K^{*}\gamma$ branching fractions determines the side $R_{t}$ of the standard unitarity triangle with reduced hadronic uncertainties. The recent Babar bound on $B(B^0\to\rho^0\gamma)$ implies $R_t < 0.81 (\xi/1.3)$, with the limiting uncertainty coming only from the SU(3) breaking form factor ratio $\xi$. This constraint is already getting competitive with the constraint from $B_{s}$-$\bar B_{s}$ mixing. Phenomenological implications from isospin-breaking effects are briefly discussed.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figure

Measurement of Change in Lower Eyelid Position in Patients Undergoing Transcutaneous Skin-Muscle Flap Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty

Importance Transcutaneous lower eyelid blepharoplasty is a commonly performed procedure with a postoperative risk of eyelid malposition. Objective To quantify the change in lower eyelid position after transcutaneous lower eyelid blepharoplasty. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective medical record review describes patients who underwent transcutaneous blepharoplasty at a private facial plastic surgery practice. Patients with less than 3 months of follow-up, a history of periocular trauma, and concurrent midface lift were excluded. Interventions Bilateral skin-muscle flap lower eyelid blepharoplasties with possible tarsorrhaphy, canthopexy, or canthoplasty as indicated. Main Outcomes and Measures Lower eyelid position determined by measurement of preoperative and postoperative pupil to eyelid and lateral limbus to eyelid distances. Results Data from 100 consecutive patients (mean age, 56.7 years; 92 female [92.0%]) undergoing bilateral skin-muscle flap lower eyelid blepharoplasty were analyzed. The mean increase in distance was 0.33 mm (95% CI, 0.24-0.42 mm) from the pupil to the lower eyelid margin and 0.32 mm (95% CI, 0.23-0.41 mm) from the lateral limbus to the lower eyelid margin at final follow-up. For both measurements, patients undergoing concurrent canthopexy had a significantly greater change in eyelid position (P < .001). Men had a greater change in the distance of pupil to lower eyelid compared with women (0.76 mm; 95% CI, 0.44-1.08 mm, vs 0.30 mm; 95% CI, 0.20-0.39 mm, respectively; P = .008) at final follow-up. Two patients required revision procedures secondary to eyelid malposition, and 25 patients had new onset of dry eye symptoms. Conclusions and Relevance Transcutaneous skin-muscle lower eyelid blepharoplasty with selective performance of canthoplasty or canthopexy causes a small, predictable eyelid position change in this population with a low rate of revision procedures. Level of Evidence 3

Supersymmetric Contributions to Bs->K+K-

Inspired by the existing calculation of B->piK decays in supersymmetry (SUSY), we evaluate the dominant SUSY contributions to Bs->K+K-. We show that the observables of this process can be significantly modified in the presence of SUSY. In particular, the branching ratio can be increased considerably compared to the prediction of the standard model (SM). The effect is even more dramatic for the CP-violating asymmetries A_dir and A_mix. These asymmetries, expected to be small in the SM (A_dir is predicted to take only positive values), change drastically with SUSY contributions. The measurement of these observables can therefore be used to detect the presence of physics beyond the SM, and put constraints on its parameters.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figures. This new version contains one added reference and some minor style change

Predictions with Lattice QCD

In recent years, we used lattice QCD to calculate some quantities that were unknown or poorly known. They are the $q^2$ dependence of the form factor in semileptonic $D\to Kl\nu$ decay, the leptonic decay constants of the $D^+$ and $D_s$ mesons, and the mass of the $B_c$ meson. In this paper, we summarize these calculations, with emphasis on their (subsequent) confirmation by measurements in $e^+e^-$, $\gamma p$ and $\bar{p}p$ collisions.Comment: 5 pages; update of hep-lat/0509169, with experimental confirmation of form factors from Belle and fDs from BaBar; presented at SciDAC 2006 for the Fermilab Lattice, MILC, and HPQCD Collaboration

Measurements of D0-D0bar Mixing and Searches for CP Violation: HFAG Combination of all Data

We present world average values for D0-D0bar mixing parameters x and y, CP violation parameters |q/p| and Arg(q/p), and strong phase differences \delta and \delta_{K\pi\pi}. These values are calculated by the Heavy Flavor Averaging Group (HFAG) by performing a global fit to relevant experimental measurements. The results for x and y differ significantly from zero and are inconsistent with no mixing at the level of 6.7 sigma. The results for |q/p| and Arg(q/p) are consistent with no CP violation. The strong phase difference \delta is less than 45 degrees at 95% C.L.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, 4 tables, presented at the BES-Belle-CLEO-Babar Joint Workshop on Charm Physics, November 26-27, 2007 in Beijing China. To appear in Chinese Physics C (HEP & NP). v2: typo correcte

Direct CP Violation, Branching Ratios and Form Factors B→πB \to \pi, B→KB \to K in BB Decays

The $B \to \pi$ and $B \to K$ transitions involved in hadronic B decays are investigated in a phenomenological way through the framework of QCD factorization. By comparing our results with experimental branching ratios from the BELLE, BABAR and CLEO Collaborations for all the B decays including either a pion or a kaon, we propose boundaries for the transition form factors $B \to \pi$ and $B \to K$ depending on the CKM matrix element parameters $\rho$ and $\eta$. From this analysis, the form factors required to reproduce the experimental data for branching ratios are $F^{B \to \pi}= 0.31 \pm 0.12$ and $F^{B \to K}= 0.37\pm 0.13$. We calculate the direct CP violating asymmetry parameter, $a_{CP}$, for $B \to \pi^{+} \pi^{-} \pi$ and $B \to \pi^{+} \pi^{-} K$ decays, in the case where $\rho-\omega$ mixing effects are taken into account. Based on these results, we find that the direct CP asymmetry for $B^{-} \to \pi^{+} \pi^{-} \pi^{-}$, $\bar{B}^{0} \to \pi^{+} \pi^{-} \pi^{0}$, $B^{-} \to \pi^{+} \pi^{-} K^{-}$, and $\bar{B}^{0} \to \pi^{+} \pi^{-} \bar{K}^{0}$, reaches its maximum when the invariant mass $\pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ is in the vicinity of the $\omega$ meson mass. The inclusion of $\rho-\omega$ mixing provides an opportunity to erase, without ambiguity, the phase uncertainty mod$(\pi)$ in the determination of the CKM angles $\alpha$ in case of $b\to u$ and $\gamma$ in case of $b \to s$.Comment: 74 pages, 15 figures, 8 tables. A few misprints corrected, two references adde

B_{s,d} -> l^+ l^- and K_L -> l^+ l^- in SUSY models with non-minimal sources of flavour mixing

We present a general analysis of B_{s,d}-> l^+ l^- and K_L -> l^+ l^- decays in supersymmetric models with non-minimal sources of flavour mixing. In spite of the existing constraints on off-diagonal squark mass terms, these modes could still receive sizeable corrections, mainly because of Higgs-mediated FCNCs arising at large tan(beta). The severe limits on scenarios with large tan(beta) and non-negligible {tilde d}^i_{R(L)}-{d-tilde}^j_{R(L)} mixing imposed by the present experimental bounds on these modes and Delta B=2 observables are discussed in detail. In particular, we show that scalar-current contributions to K_L -> l^+ l^- and B-{bar B} mixing set non-trivial constraints on the possibility that B_s -> l^+ l^- and B_d -> l^+ l^- receive large corrections.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures (v2: minor changes, published version

Role of electromagnetic dipole operator in the electroweak penguin dominated vector meson decays of BB meson

The pure annihilation type decays $B^0_d\to\phi\gamma$ and $B_s\to\rho\gamma$ receive only color suppressed penguin contributions with a very small branching ratio in the standard model. When we include the previously neglected electromagnetic dipole operator, the branching ratios can be enhanced one order magnitude larger than previous study using QCD factorization approach. That is ${\cal BR}(\bar B^0_d\to\phi\gamma)\simeq 1 \times 10^{-11}$ and ${\cal BR}(B_s\to\rho\gamma) \sim (6-16)\times 10^{-10}$. The new effect can also give a large contribution, of order $10^{-9}$, to transverse polarization of $B\to\phi\rho$ and $B\to \omega\phi$ which is comparable to the longitudinal part. These effects can be detected in the LHCb experiment and the Super-B factories.Comment: Revised extensively. 8 pages, 4 figure