B->X_s l^+l^- in the MSSM at NNLO

We present the results of the calculation of QCD corrections to the matching conditions for the Wilson coefficients of operators mediating the transition b->s l^+l^- in the context of the MSSM. Within a scenario with decoupled heavy gluino the calculated contributions together with those present already in the literature allow for the first time a complete NNLO analysis of B->X_s l^+l^-. We study the impact of the QCD corrections and the reduction of renormalization scale dependencies for the dilepton invariant mass distribution and the forward-backward asymmetry in the inclusive decay B->X_s l^+l^- restricting the analysis to the "low-s" region and small values of tan(beta). The NNLO calculation allows to decrease the theoretical uncertainties related to the renormalization scale dependence below the size of supersymmetric effects in B->X_s l^+l^- depending on their magnitude. While it will be difficult to distinguish the MSSM expectations for the branching ratio from the Standard Model ones, this can become possible in the dilepton invariant mass distribution depending on the MSSM parameters and \hat{s}. In this respect the position of the zero of the forward-backward asymmetry s_0 is even more promising.Comment: 35 pages, 10 figure

Upper Bounds on Rare K and B Decays from Minimal Flavour Violation

We study the branching ratios of rare K and B decays in models with minimal flavour violation, using the presently available information from the universal unitarity triangle analysis and from the measurements of Br(B -> X_s gamma), Br(B -> X_s l^+l^-) and Br(K^+ -> pi^+ nu nubar). We find the following upper bounds: Br(K^+ -> pi^+ nu nubar) pi^0 nu nubar)< 4.6 10^{-11}, Br(K_L -> mu mubar)_{SD} X_s nu nubar)< 5.2 10^{-5}, Br(B -> X_d nu nubar) mu mubar)< 7.4 10^{-9}, Br(B_d -> mu mubar)< 2.2 10^{-10} at 95 % probability. We analyze in detail various possible scenarios with positive or negative interference of Standard Model and New Physics contributions, and show how an improvement of experimental data corresponding to the projected 2010 B factory integrated luminosities will allow to disentangle and test these different possibilities. Finally, anticipating that subsequently the leading role in constraining this kind of new physics will be taken over by the rare decays K^+ -> pi^+ nu nubar, K_L -> pi^0 nu nubar and B_{s,d} -> mu mubar, that are dominated by the Z^0 -penguin function C, we also present plots for several branching ratios as functions of C . We point out an interesting triple correlation between K^+ -> pi^+ nu nubar, B -> X_s gamma and B -> X_s l^+l^- present in MFV models.Comment: 26 pages, 12 figure

Analysis of Neutral Higgs-Boson Contributions to the Decays B_s -> l^+l^- and B -> K l^+l^-

We report on a calculation of Higgs-boson contributions to the decays B_s -> l^+l^- and B -> K l^+l^- (l=e, mu) which are governed by the effective Hamiltonian describing b -> s l^+ l^-. Compact formulae for the Wilson coefficients are provided in the context of the type-II two-Higgs-doublet model (2HDM) and supersymmetry (SUSY) with minimal flavour violation, focusing on the case of large tan(beta). We derive, in a model-independent way, constraints on Higgs-boson-mediated interactions, using present experimental results on rare B decays including b -> s gamma, B_s -> mu^+ mu^-, and B -> K^(*) mu^+ mu^-. In particular, we assess the impact of possible scalar and pseudoscalar interactions transcending the standard model (SM) on the branching ratio of B_s -> mu^+ mu^- and the forward-backward (FB) asymmetry of mu^- in B -> K mu^+ mu^- decay. We find that the average FB asymmetry, which is unobservably small within the SM, and therefore a potentially valuable tool to search for new physics, is predicted to be no greater than 4% for a nominal branching ratio of about 6x10^{-7}. Moreover, striking effects on the decay spectrum of B -> K mu^+ mu^- are already ruled out by experimental data on the B_s -> mu^+ mu^- branching fraction. In addition, we study the constraints on the parameter space of the 2HDM and SUSY with minimal flavour violation. While the type-II 2HDM does not give any sizable contributions to the above decay modes, we find that SUSY contributions obeying the constraint on b -> s gamma can affect significantly the branching ratio of B_s -> mu^+ mu^-. We also comment on previous calculations contained in the literature.Comment: 29 pages, REVTeX, 8 figures. Minor corrections in Eqs. (5.4), (5.11) and (6.3) of the published versio

Large-m_c Asymptotic Behaviour of O(alpha_s^2) Corrections to B -> X_s gamma

We present details of our evaluation of the NNLO QCD corrections to BR(B -> X_s gamma) in the heavy charm limit m_c >> m_b/2. Results of this calculation have been essential for estimating O(alpha_s^2) effects in this branching ratio via interpolation in m_c.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figure

The Physics of the B Factories

This work is on the Physics of the B Factories. Part A of this book contains a brief description of the SLAC and KEK B Factories as well as their detectors, BaBar and Belle, and data taking related issues. Part B discusses tools and methods used by the experiments in order to obtain results. The results themselves can be found in Part C