Techniques for computing two-loop QCD corrections to b-->c transitions

We have recently presented the complete O(alpha_s^2) corrections to the semileptonic decay width of the b quark at maximal recoil. Here we discuss various technical aspects of that calculation and further applications of similar methods. In particular, we describe an expansion which facilitates the phase space integrations and the treatment of the mixed real-virtual corrections, for which Taylor expansion does not work and the so-called eikonal expansion must be employed. Several terms of the expansion are given for the O(alpha_s^2) QCD corrections to the differential semileptonic decay width of the b --quark at maximal recoil. We also demonstrate how the light quark loop corrections to the top quark decay rate can be obtained using the same methods. We briefly discuss the application of these techniques to the calculation of the O(alpha_s^2) correction to zero recoil sum rules for heavy flavor transitions.Comment: 22 pages, revte

Two-loop QCD corrections to semileptonic b decays at maximal recoil

We present a complete $O(\alpha_s^2)$ correction to the differential width of the inclusive semileptonic decay $b\to cl\nu_l$ at the kinematical point of vanishing invariant mass of the leptons, $q^2=0$. Together with the recently computed $O(\alpha_s^2)$ correction at the upper boundary of the lepton invariant mass spectrum, this new information permits an estimate of the $O(\alpha_s^2)$ effect in the total inclusive semileptonic decay width $b\to cl\nu_l$. We argue that the non-BLM part of the $O(\alpha_s^2)$ correction gives at most 1% correction to the inclusive semileptonic decay width $b\to cl\nu_l$. This significantly improves the credibility of extracting $|V_{cb}|$ from the inclusive semileptonic decays of the b-hadrons.Comment: 8 pages, revte

Semi-Leptonic Decay of a Polarized Top Quark in the Noncommutative Standard Model

In this paper we study the noncommutative effects to the lepton spectrum from the decay of a polarized top quark. It is shown that the lowest contribution comes from the quadratic terms of the noncommutative parameter. The deviations from the standard model are significant for small values of the noncommutative characteristic scale. However, the charged lepton spin correlation coefficient has a remarkable deviation from the standard model from very low values of the noncommutative characteristic scale to 1 TeV.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Threshold expansion for heavy-light systems and flavor off-diagonal current-current correlators

An expansion scheme is developed for Feynman diagrams describing the production of one massive and one massless particle near the threshold. As an example application, we compute the correlators of heavy-light quark currents, (\bar b gamma_mu u) and (\bar b gamma_5 u), through O(alpha_s^2).Comment: 4 pages, revtex

Semileptonic b --> u decays: lepton invariant mass spectrum

We compute O(alpha_s^2) QCD corrections to the lepton invariant mass spectrum in the decay b --> u l nu_l, relevant for the determination of the CKM matrix element |V_{ub}|. Our method can also be used to evaluate moments of the lepton energy distribution with an O(alpha_s^2) accuracy. The abelian part of our result gives the neutrino invariant mass spectrum in the muon decay and, upon integration, the O(alpha^2) correction to the muon lifetime.Comment: 5 pages, revte

Three-loop QCD corrections and b-quark decays

We present three-loop (NNNLO) corrections to the heavy-to-heavy quark transitions in the limit of equal initial and final quark masses. In analogy with the previously found NNLO corrections, the bulk of the result is due to the beta_0^2 alpha_s^3 corrections. The remaining genuine three-loop effects for the semileptonic b --> c decays are estimated to increase the decay amplitude by 0.2(2)%. The perturbative series for the heavy-heavy axial current converges very well.Comment: 5 page

Electroweak corrections to decays involving a charged Higgs boson

We present complete one-loop radiative corrections to the decay rate of a top quark into a charged Higgs boson and a bottom quark, and for the decay of a charged Higgs boson into leptons. The results are discussed in the framework of the two Higgs boson extension of the Standard Model suggested by supersymmetry. The effect of electroweak corrections after exclusion of universal corrections $\Delta r$ is found to decrease the partial width of the top quark typically by 5%.Comment: 16 pages plus 11 figures available from the author upon request, latex, Alberta Thy-29-9

Muon decay in orbit: spectrum of high-energy electrons

Experimental searches for lepton-flavor-violating coherent muon-to-electron conversion in the field of a nucleus, have been proposed to reach the unprecedented sensitivity of 10^(-16) - 10^(-18) per stopped muon. At that level, they probe new interactions at effective-mass scales well beyond 1000 TeV. However, they must contend with background from ordinary bound muon decay. To better understand the background-spectrum shape and rate, we have carried out a detailed analysis of Coulombic-bound-state muon decay, including nuclear recoil. Implications for future experiments are briefly discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.D. v2: One sentence modified to avoid possible misunderstandings. Journal versio