Testing factorization in B -> D(*)X decays

In QCD the amplitude for B0 -> D(*)+pi- factorizes in the large Nc limit or in the large energy limit Q >> Lambda_QCD where Q = {m_b, m_c, m_b-m_c}. Data also suggests factorization in exclusive processes B-> D* pi+ pi- pi- pi0 and B-> D* omega pi-, however by themselves neither large Nc nor large Q can account for this. Noting that the condition for large energy release in B0-> D+ pi- is enforced by the SV limit, m_b, m_c >> m_b-m_c >> Lambda, we propose that the combined large Nc and SV limits justify factorization in B -> D(*) X. This combined limit is tested with the inclusive decay spectrum measured by CLEO. We also give exact large Nc relations among isospin amplitudes for B -> D(*)X and B -> D(*) D-bar(*)X, which can be used to test factorization through exclusive or inclusive measurements. Predictions for the modes B-> D(*) pi pi, B-> D(*)K K-bar and B-> D(*) D-bar(*) K are discussed using available data.Comment: 15 pages, 3 included .eps figures, minor change

Can there be any new physics in b -> d penguins

We analyze the possibility of observing new physics effects in the $b \to d$ penguin amplitudes. For this purpose, we consider the decay mode $B \to K^0 \bar K^0$, which has only $b \to d$ penguin contributions. Using the QCD factorization approach, we find very tiny CP violating effects in the standard model for this process. Furthermore, we show that the minimal supersymmetric standard model with $LR$ mass insertion and R-parity violating supersymmetric model can provide substantial CP violation effects. Observation of sizable CP violation in this mode would be a clear signal of new physics.Comment: Published versio

Strong Phases and Factorization for Color Suppressed Decays

We prove a factorization theorem in QCD for the color suppressed decays B0-> D0 M0 and B0-> D*0 M0 where M is a light meson. Both the color-suppressed and W-exchange/annihilation amplitudes contribute at lowest order in LambdaQCD/Q where Q={mb, mc, Epi}, so no power suppression of annihilation contributions is found. A new mechanism is given for generating non-perturbative strong phases in the factorization framework. Model independent predictions that follow from our results include the equality of the B0 -> D0 M0 and B0 -> D*0 M0 rates, and equality of non-perturbative strong phases between isospin amplitudes, delta(DM) = delta(D*M). Relations between amplitudes and phases for M=pi,rho are also derived. These results do not follow from large Nc factorization with heavy quark symmetry.Comment: 38 pages, 6 figs, typos correcte

B-> K photon photon via intermediate eta'

We examine our previous conjecture that the eta' intermediate resonance has the dominant role in the long distance contributions to B decay into two photons and a strange final state hadron. We calculate the branching ratio of the exclusive B-> K eta'-> K photon photon decay using the nonspectator mechanism for eta' production in charmless hadronic B decays. It is shown that the obtained branching ratio B^eta'(B-> K\gamma\gamma)~ 8.7 X 10^{-7} is more than twice as large as the eta_c contribution to this decay mode.Comment: 6 pages, latex, no figure

Decay of the Sinai Well in D dimensions

We study the decay law of the Sinai Well in $D$ dimensions and relate the behavior of the decay law to internal distributions that characterize the dynamics of the system. We show that the long time tail of the decay is algebraic ($1/t$), irrespective of the dimension $D$.Comment: 14 pages, Figures available under request. Revtex. Submitted to Phys. Rev. E.,e-mail: [email protected]

Exact sampling of self-avoiding paths via discrete Schramm-Loewner evolution

We present an algorithm, based on the iteration of conformal maps, that produces independent samples of self-avoiding paths in the plane. It is a discrete process approximating radial Schramm-Loewner evolution growing to infinity. We focus on the problem of reproducing the parametrization corresponding to that of lattice models, namely self-avoiding walks on the lattice, and we propose a strategy that gives rise to discrete paths where consecutive points lie an approximately constant distance apart from each other. This new method allows us to tackle two non-trivial features of self-avoiding walks that critically depend on the parametrization: the asphericity of a portion of chain and the correction-to-scaling exponent.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures. Some sections rewritten (including title and abstract), numerical results added, references added. Accepted for publication in J. Stat. Phy

The integrated density of states of the random graph Laplacian

We analyse the density of states of the random graph Laplacian in the percolating regime. A symmetry argument and knowledge of the density of states in the nonpercolating regime allows us to isolate the density of states of the percolating cluster (DSPC) alone, thereby eliminating trivially localised states due to finite subgraphs. We derive a nonlinear integral equation for the integrated DSPC and solve it with a population dynamics algorithm. We discuss the possible existence of a mobility edge and give strong evidence for the existence of discrete eigenvalues in the whole range of the spectrum.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure. Supplementary material available at http://www.theorie.physik.uni-goettingen.de/~aspel/data/spectrum_supplement.pd

Evading the CKM Hierarchy: Intrinsic Charm in B Decays

We show that the presence of intrinsic charm in the hadrons' light-cone wave functions, even at a few percent level, provides new, competitive decay mechanisms for B decays which are nominally CKM-suppressed. For example, the weak decays of the B-meson to two-body exclusive states consisting of strange plus light hadrons, such as B\to\pi K, are expected to be dominated by penguin contributions since the tree-level b\to s u\bar u decay is CKM suppressed. However, higher Fock states in the B wave function containing charm quark pairs can mediate the decay via a CKM-favored b\to s c\bar c tree-level transition. Such intrinsic charm contributions can be phenomenologically significant. Since they mimic the amplitude structure of ``charming'' penguin contributions, charming penguins need not be penguins at all.Comment: 28 pages, 6 figures, published version. References added, minor change

Factorization and Nonfactorization in B Decays

Using NLL values for Wilson coefficients and including the contributions from the penguin diagrams, we estimate the amount of nonfactorization in two-body hadronic B decays. Also, we investigate the model dependence of the nonfactorization parameters by performing the calculation using different models for the form factors. The results support the universality of nonfactorizable contributions in both Cabibbo-favored and Cabibbo-suppressed B decays.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures, revte