Phenomenological Analysis of D Meson Lifetimes

The QCD-based operator-product-expansion technique is systematically applied to the study of charmed meson lifetimes. We stress that it is crucial to take into account the momentum of the spectator light quark of charmed mesons, otherwise the destructive Pauli-interference effect in $D^+$ decays will lead to a negative decay width for the $D^+$. We have applied the QCD sum rule approach to estimate the hadronic matrix elements of color-singlet and color-octet 4-quark operators relevant to nonleptonic inclusive $D$ decays. The lifetime of $D_s^+$ is found to be longer than that of $D^0$ because the latter receives a constructive $W$-exchange contribution, whereas the hadronic annihilation and leptonic contributions to the former are compensated by the Pauli interference. We obtain the lifetime ratio $\tau(D_s^+)/\tau(D^0)$ $\approx 1.08\pm 0.04$, which is larger than some earlier theoretical estimates, but still smaller than the recent measurements by CLEO and E791.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figure

Further study of the helicity selection rule evading mechanism in ηc\eta_c, χc0\chi_{c0} and hch_c decaying to baryon anti-baryon pairs

We investigate the long distance contribution via charmed hadron loops in the processes $\eta_c$, $\chi_{c0}$ and $h_c$ decaying to baryon anti-baryon pairs, which are supposed to be highly suppressed by the helicity selection rule as a consequence of the perturbative QCD framework. With an effective Lagrangian method, our estimation result indicates that such hadron loops play an important role in these hadronic decays. It is a further test of the evading mechanism for the helicity selection rule in charmonium baryon-antibaryon decays.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, to appear in J. Phys.

Covariant Light-Front Approach for s-wave and p-wave Mesons: Its Application to Decay Constants and Form Factors

We study the decay constants and form factors of the ground-state s-wave and low-lying p-wave mesons within a covariant light-front approach. Numerical results of the form factors for transitions between a heavy pseudoscalar meson and an s-wave or p-wave meson and their momentum dependence are presented in detail. In particular, form factors for heavy-to-light and B to D** transitions, where D** denotes generically a p-wave charmed meson, are compared with other model calculations. The experimental measurements of the decays B^- to D** pi^- and B to D D**_s are employed to test the decay constants of D**_s and the B to D** transition form factors. The heavy quark limit behavior of the decay constants and form factors is examined and it is found that the requirement of heavy quark symmetry is satisfied. The universal Isgur-Wise (IW) functions, one for s-wave to s-wave and two for s-wave to p-wave transitions, are obtained. The values of IW functions at zero recoil and their slope parameters can be used to test the Bjorken and Uraltsev sum rules.Comment: 59 pages, 6 figures. Version to appear in Phys. Rev. D. Changes are: (i) D_s to phi transition form factors are discussed and compared with the recent FOCUS measurements and (ii) zero mode effects are clarifie

Charmless Exclusive Baryonic B Decays

We present a systematical study of two-body and three-body charmless baryonic B decays. Branching ratios for two-body modes are in general very small, typically less than $10^{-6}$, except that \B(B^-\to p \bar\Delta^{--})\sim 1\times 10^{-6}. In general, $\bar B\to N\bar\Delta>\bar B\to N\bar N$ due to the large coupling constant for $\Sigma_b\to B\Delta$. For three-body modes we focus on octet baryon final states. The leading three-dominated modes are $\bar B^0\to p\bar n\pi^-(\rho^-), n\bar p\pi^+(\rho^+)$ with a branching ratio of order $3\times 10^{-6}$ for $\bar B^0\to p\bar n\pi^-$ and $8\times 10^{-6}$ for $\bar B^0\to p\bar n\rho^-$. The penguin-dominated decays with strangeness in the meson, e.g., $B^-\to p\bar p K^{-(*)}$ and $\bar B^0\to p\bar n K^{-(*)}, n\bar n \bar K^{0(*)}$, have appreciable rates and the $N\bar N$ mass spectrum peaks at low mass. The penguin-dominated modes containing a strange baryon, e.g., $\bar B^0\to \Sigma^0\bar p\pi^+, \Sigma^-\bar n\pi^+$, have branching ratios of order $(1\sim 4)\times 10^{-6}$. In contrast, the decay rate of $\bar B^0\to\Lambda\bar p\pi^+$ is smaller. We explain why some of charmless three-body final states in which baryon-antibaryon pair production is accompanied by a meson have a larger rate than their two-body counterparts: either the pole diagrams for the former have an anti-triplet bottom baryon intermediate state, which has a large coupling to the $B$ meson and the nucleon, or they are dominated by the factorizable external $W$-emission process.Comment: 46 pages and 3 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. D. Major changes are: (i) Calculations of two-body baryonic B decays involving a Delta resonance are modified, and (ii) Penguin-dominated modes B-> Sigma+N(bar)+p are discusse

Extraction of a1a_1 and a2a_2 from B→ψK(K∗), D(D∗)π(ρ)B\to \psi K(K^*),~ D(D^*)\pi(\rho) Decays

Based on the factorization approach, we show that the CLEO data for the ratio $\Gamma(B\to\psi K^*)/\Gamma(B\to \psi K)$ and the CDF measurement of the fraction of longitudinal polarization in $B\to\psi K^*$ can be accounted for by the heavy-flavor-symmetry approach for heavy-light form factors provided that the form factor $F_0$ behaves as a constant, while the $q^2$ dependence is of the monopole form for $F_1,~ A_0,~A_1$, and of the dipole behavior for $A_2$ and $V$. This $q^2$ extrapolation for form factors is further supported by $B\to K^*\gamma$ data and by a recent QCD-sum-rule analysis. We then apply this method to $B\to D(D^*)\pi(\rho)$ decays to extract the parameters $a_1$ and $a_2$. It is found that $a_1(B\to D^{(*)}\pi(\rho))=1.01\pm 0.06$ and $a_2(B\to D^{(*)}\pi(\rho))=0.23\pm 0.06\,$. Our result $a_2/a_1=0.22\pm 0.06$ thus significantly improves the previous analysis that leads to $a_2/a_1=0.23\pm 0.11$. We argue that, contrary to what anticipated from the leading $1/N_c$ expansion, the sign of a_2(B\to\psi\K) should be positive and a_2(B\to\psi\K)~{\large ^>_\sim}~ a_2(B\to D^{(*)}\pi(\rho)).Comment: 14 pages, revised versio

Nonspectator Effects and B Meson Lifetimes from a Field-theoretic Calculation

The B meson lifetime ratios are calculated to the order of $1/m_b^3$ in the heavy quark expansion. The predictions of those ratios are dependent on four unknown hadronic parameters $B_1$, $B_2$, $\epsilon_1$ and $\epsilon_2$, where $B_1$ and $B_2$ parametrize the matrix elements of color singlet-singlet four-quark operators and $\epsilon_1$ and $\epsilon_2$ the matrix elements of color octet-octet operators. We derive the renormalization-group improved QCD sum rules for these parameters within the framework of heavy quark effective theory. The results are $B_1(m_b)=0.96\pm 0.04$, $B_2(m_b)=0.95\pm 0.02$, $\epsilon_1(m_b)=-0.14\pm 0.01$, and $\epsilon_2(m_b)=-0.08\pm 0.01$ to zeroth order in $1/m_b$. The resultant $B$ meson lifetime ratios are $\tau(B^-)/\tau(B_d)=1.11\pm 0.02$ and $\tau(B_s)/\tau(B_d)\approx 1$ in SU(3) symmetry limit.Comment: 22 pages, 2 figures. (i) Sec.II is shortened, (ii) numerical results for epslion_i are revised, and (iii) Fig.2 is revise

Collective future orientation, group-based emotions, and support for policy

While past studies have demonstrated the role of group-based emotions in intergroup attitudes within the context of intractable conflicts, it is unknown how individual temporal perspectives, namely collective future orientations and political ideology, moderate the relationship between conflict-related emotions and support for policies. In two exploratory studies, we adopted a functional approach to emotions in conflict and examined whether the associations between the three group-based emotions of compassion, hope, and hatred and support for conciliatory versus aggressive policies were moderated by individual perceptions of collective future and by political ideology. The results indicate that the way group-based emotions predict support for policies is moderated by both future and political orientation, such that high collective future orientation reduces the effect of positively-valenced emotions on support for conciliatory policies, and increases the effect of negatively-valenced emotions on support for aggressive policies, but only among leftwingers. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of this nuanced link between group-based emotions and support for policies, moderated by political ideology and collective future orientation

Six habits to enhance MET performance under stress: A discussion paper reviewing team mechanisms for improved patient outcomes

Effective team decision making has the potential to improve the quality of health care outcomes. Medical Emergency Teams (METs), a specific type of team led by either critical care nurses or physicians, must respond to and improve the outcomes of deteriorating patients. METs routinely make decisions under conditions of uncertainty and sub optimal care outcomes still occur. In response, the development and use of Shared Mental Models (SMMs), which have been shown to promote higher team performance under stress, may enhance patient outcomes. This discussion paper specifically focuses on the development and use of SMMs in the context of METs. Within this process, the psychological mechanisms promoting enhanced team performance are examined and the utility of this model is discussed through the narrative of six habits applied to MET interactions. A two stage, reciprocal model of both non-analytic decision making within the acute care environment and analytic decision making during reflective action learning was developed. These habits are explored within the context of a MET, illustrating how applying SMMs and action learning processes may enhance team-based problem solving under stress. Based on this model, we make recommendations to enhance MET decision making under stress. It is suggested that the corresponding habits embedded within this model could be imparted to MET members and tested by health care researchers to assess the efficacy of this integrated decision making approach in respect to enhanced team performance and patient outcomes