Heavy- to light-meson transition form factors

Semileptonic heavy -> heavy and heavy -> light meson transitions are studied as a phenomenological application of a heavy-quark limit of Dyson-Schwinger equations. Employing two parameters: E, the difference between the mass of the heavy meson and the effective-mass of the heavy quark; and Lambda, the width of the heavy-meson Bethe-Salpeter amplitude, we calculate f_+(t) for all decays on their entire kinematically accessible t-domain. Our study favours f_B in the range 0.135-0.17 GeV and with E=0.44 GeV and 1/Lambda = 0.14 fm we obtain f_+^{B pi}(0) = 0.46. As a result of neglecting 1/m_c-corrections, we estimate that our calculated values of \rho^2 = 0.87 and f_+^{DK}(0)=0.62 are too low by approximately 15%. However, the bulk of these corrections should cancel in our calculated values of Br(D -> \pi l nu)/Br(D -> K l nu)=0.13 and f_+^{D pi}(0)/f_+^{DK}(0) = 1.16.Comment: 26 pages, 3 figures, REVTE

Updated Analysis of a_1 and a_2 in Hadronic Two-body Decays of B Mesons

Using the recent experimental data of $B\to D^{(*)}(\pi,\rho)$, $B\to D^{(*)} D_s^{(*)}$, $B\to J/\psi K^{(*)}$ and various model calculations on form factors, we re-analyze the effective coefficients a_1 and a_2 and their ratio. QCD and electroweak penguin corrections to a_1 from $B\to D^{(*)}D_s^{(*)}$ and a_2 from $B\to J/\psi K^{(*)}$ are estimated. In addition to the model-dependent determination, the effective coefficient a_1 is also extracted in a model-independent way as the decay modes $B\to D^{(*)}h$ are related by factorization to the measured semileptonic distribution of $B\to D^{(*)}\ell \bar\nu$ at $q^2=m_h^2$. Moreover, this enables us to extract model-independent heavy-to-heavy form factors, for example, $F_0^{BD}(m_\pi^2)=0.66\pm0.06\pm0.05$ and $A_0^{BD^*}(m_\pi^2)=0.56\pm0.03\pm0.04$. The determination of the magnitude of a_2 from $B\to J/\psi K^{(*)}$ depends on the form factors $F_1^{BK}$, $A_{1,2}^{BK^*}$ and $V^{BK^*}$ at $q^2=m^2_{J/\psi}$. By requiring that a_2 be process insensitive (i.e., the value of a_2 extracted from $J/\psi K$ and $J/\psi K^*$ states should be similar), as implied by the factorization hypothesis, we find that $B\to K^{(*)}$ form factors are severely constrained; they respect the relation $F_1^{BK}(m^2_{J/\psi})\approx 1.9 A_1^{BK^*}(m^2_{J/\psi})$. Form factors $A_2^{BK^*}$ and $V^{BK^*}$ at $q^2=m^2_{J/\psi}$ inferred from the measurements of the longitudinal polarization fraction and the P-wave component in $B\to J/\psi K^*$ are obtained. A stringent upper limit on a_2 is derived from the current bound on \ov B^0\to D^0\pi^0 and it is sensitive to final-state interactions.Comment: 33 pages, 2 figures. Typos in Tables I and IX are corrected. To appear in Phys. Rev.

Failure of JoAnne's Global Fit to the Wilson Coefficients in Rare B Decays: A Left-Right Model Example

In the Standard Model and many of its extensions, it is well known that all of the observables associated with the rare decays $b\to s\gamma$ and $b\to s\ell^+\ell^-$ can be expressed in terms of the three Wilson coefficients, $C_{7L,9L,10L}(\mu \sim m_b)$, together with several universal kinematic functions. In particular it has been shown that the numerical values of these coefficients can be uniquely extracted by a three parameter global fit to data obtainable at future $B$-factories given sufficient integrated luminosity. In this paper we examine if such global fits are also sensitive to new operators beyond those which correspond to the above coefficients, i.e., whether is it possible that new operators can be of sufficient importance for the three parameter fit to fail and for this to be experimentally observable. Using the Left-Right Symmetric Model as an example of a scenario with an extended operator basis, we demonstrate via Monte Carlo techniques that such a possibility can indeed be realized. In some sense this potential failure of the global fit approach can actually be one of its greatest successes in identifying the existence of new physics.Comment: 30 pages, 6 figure

Transition Form Factors between Pseudoscalar and Vector Mesons in Light-Front Dynamics

We study the transition form factors between pseudoscalar and vector mesons using a covariant fermion field theory model in $(3+1)$ dimensions. Performing the light-front calculation in the $q^+ =0$ frame in parallel with the manifestly covariant calculation, we note that the suspected nonvanishing zero-mode contribution to the light-front current $J^+$ does not exist in our analysis of transition form factors. We also perform the light-front calculation in a purely longitudinal $q^+ > 0$ frame and confirm that the form factors obtained directly from the timelike region are identical to the ones obtained by the analytic continuation from the spacelike region. Our results for the $B \to D^* l \nu_l$ decay process satisfy the constraints on the heavy-to-heavy semileptonic decays imposed by the flavor independence in the heavy quark limit.Comment: 20 pages, 14 figure

Decay constants, semi-leptonic and non-leptonic decays in a Bethe-Salpeter Model

We evaluate the decay constants for the B and $D$ mesons and the form factors for the semileptonic decays of the B meson to $D$ and $D^*$ mesons in a Bethe-Salpeter model. From data we extract $V_{cb}=0.039 \pm 0.002$ from ${\bar B} \to D^* l {\bar{\nu}}$ and $V_{cb}=0.037 \pm 0.004$ from ${\bar B} \to D l {\bar{\nu}}$ decays. The form factors are then used to obtain non-leptonic decay partial widths for $B\to D \pi (K)$ and $B \to D D (D_s)$ in the factorization approximation.Comment: 15 Pages, 3 Postscript figures (available also from [email protected]

Measurement of the B-Meson Inclusive Semileptonic Branching Fraction and Electron-Energy Moments

We report a new measurement of the B-meson semileptonic decay momentum spectrum that has been made with a sample of 9.4/fb of electron-positron annihilation data collected with the CLEO II detector at the Y(4S) resonance. Electrons from primary semileptonic decays and secondary charm decays were separated by using charge and angular correlations in Y(4S) events with a high-momentum lepton and an additional electron. We determined the semileptonic branching fraction to be (10.91 +- 0.09 +- 0.24)% from the normalization of the electron-energy spectrum. We also measured the moments of the electron energy spectrum with minimum energies from 0.6 GeV to 1.5 GeV.Comment: 36 pages postscript, als available through http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/, Submitted to PRD (back-to-back with preceding preprint hep-ex/0403052

Measurements of the Branching Fractions and Helicity Amplitudes in B --> D* rho Decays

Using 9.1 fb-1 of e+ e- data collected at the Upsilon(4S) with the CLEO detector using the Cornell Electron Storage Ring, measurements are reported for both the branching fractions and the helicity amplitudes for the decays B- -> D*0 rho- and B0bar -> D*+ rho-. The fraction of longitudinal polarization in B0bar -> D*+ rho- is found to be consistent with that in B0bar -> D*+ l- nubar at q^2 = M^2_rho, indicating that the factorization approximation works well. The longitudinal polarization in the B- mode is similar. The measurements also show evidence of non-trivial final-state interaction phases for the helicity amplitudes.Comment: 11 pages postscript, also available through http://w4.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS, submitted to PR

Semileptonic B decays to excited charmed mesons

Exclusive semileptonic B decays into excited charmed mesons are investigated at order $\Lambda_{QCD}/m_Q$ in the heavy quark effective theory. Differential decay rates for each helicity state of the four lightest excited $D$ mesons ($D_1$, $D_2^*$, $D_0^*$, and $D_1^*$) are examined. At zero recoil, $\Lambda_{QCD}/m_Q$ corrections to the matrix elements of the weak currents can be written in terms of the leading Isgur-Wise functions for the corresponding transition and meson mass splittings. A model independent prediction is found for the slope parameter of the decay rate into helicity zero $D_1$ at zero recoil. The differential decay rates are predicted, including $\Lambda_{QCD}/m_Q$ corrections with some model dependence away from zero recoil and including order $\alpha_s$ corrections. Ratios of various exclusive branching ratios are computed. Matrix elements of the weak currents between $B$ mesons and other excited charmed mesons are discussed at zero recoil to order $\Lambda_{QCD}/m_Q$. These amplitudes vanish at leading order, and can be written at order $\Lambda_{QCD}/m_Q$ in terms of local matrix elements. Applications to $B$ decay sum rules and factorization are presented.Comment: 39 pages revtex including 10 figures, uses epsf. Substantial improvements throughout the pape

Update of the measurement of the cross section for e^+e^- -> psi(3770) -> hadrons

We have updated our measurement of the cross section for e^+e^- -> psi(3770) -> hadrons, our publication "Measurement of sigma(e^+e^- -> psi(3770) -> hadrons) at E_{c.m.} = 3773 MeV", arXiv:hep-ex/0512038, Phys.Rev.Lett.96, 092002 (2006). Simultaneous with this arXiv update, we have published an erratum in Phys.Rev.Lett.104, 159901 (2010). There, and in this update, we have corrected a mistake in the computation of the error on the difference of the cross sections for e^+e^- -> psi(3770) -> hadrons and e^+e^- -> psi(3770) -> DDbar. We have also used a more recent CLEO measurement of cross section for e^+e^- -> psi(3770) -> DDbar. From this, we obtain an upper limit on the branching fraction for psi(3770) -> non-DDbar of 9% at 90% confidence level.Comment: 3 pages, 0 figures. This is an erratum to Phys.Rev.Lett.96:092002,2006. Added a reference

Measurement of the eta-Meson Mass using psi(2S) --> eta J/psi

We measure the mass of the eta meson using psi(2S) --> eta J/psi events acquired with the CLEO-c detector operating at the CESR e+e- collider. Using the four decay modes eta --> gamma gamma, 3pi0, pi+pi-pi0, and pi+pi-gamma, we find M(eta)=547.785 +- 0.017 +- 0.057 MeV, in which the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This result has an uncertainty comparable to the two most precise previous measurements and is consistent with that of NA48, but is inconsistent at the level of 6.5sigma with the much smaller mass obtained by GEM.Comment: 10 pages postscript,also available through http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/2007/, Submitted to PR