Enhancement of preasymptotic effects in inclusive beauty decays

We extend Voloshin's recent analysis of charmed and beauty hyperon decays based on SU(3) symmetry and heavy quark effective theory, by introducing a rather moderate model-dependence, in order to obtain more predictive power, e.g. the values of lifetimes of the (\Lambda_{b},\Xi_{b}) hyperon triplet and the lifetime of \Omega_{b}. In this way we obtain an improvement of the ratio \tau(\Lambda_{b})/\tau(B_{d}^{0}) \sim 0.9 and the hierarchy of lifetimes \tau(\Lambda_{b}) \simeq \tau(\Xi_{b}^{0}) < \tau(\Xi_{b}^{-}) < \tau(\Omega_{b}) with lifetimes of \Xi_{b}^{-} and \Omega_{b} exceeding the lifetime of \Lambda_{b} by 22% and 35%, respectively.Comment: Latex2e, 12 pages, 3 eps figures include

Inclusive Charmed-Baryon Decays and Lifetimes

We have quantitatively reanalyzed the inclusive charmed-baryon decays. New ingredients are the Voloshin preasymptotic effects in semileptonic decays and the Cabibbo-subleading contributions to both semileptonic and nonleptonic decays. It has been found that the Cabbibo-subleading Voloshin contribution essentially improves the theoretical semileptonic branching ratio of $\Lambda_c^{+}$, in agreement with experiment. The semileptonic branching ratios for $\Xi_c^{+}$ and $\Omega_c^{0}$ are found to be large, i.e., of the order of 20%. The lifetimes hierarchy is in a good qualitative and even quantitative agreement with experiment except for the $\Xi_c^{+}$ lifetime, which is somewhat smaller than the experimental value. Future measurements, especially measurements of the semileptonic branching ratios for $\Omega_c^{0}$, $\Xi_c^{+}$ and $\Xi_c^{0}$ should be decisive for the check of this approach.Comment: 13 pages, Latex, 3 figures included, shortened version, to appear in Z.Phys.

Cabibbo suppressed decays and the Ξc+\Xi_{c}^{+} lifetime

The problem of the $\Xi_{c}^{+}$ lifetime is considered in the framework of {\em Heavy-Quark Expansion} and $SU(3)_{flavor}$ symmetry. The lifetime of $\Xi_{c}^{+}$ is expressed in terms of measurable inclusive quantities of the other two charmed baryons belonging to the same $SU(3)_{flavor}$ multiplet in a model-independent way. In such a treatment, inclusive decay rates of singly Cabibbo suppressed decay modes have a prominent role. An analogous approach is applied to the multiplet of charmed mesons yielding interesting predictions on $D_{s}^{+}$ properties. The results obtained indicate that a more precise measurement of inclusive decay quantities of some charmed hadrons (such as $\Lambda_{c}^{+}$) that are more amenable to experiment can contribute significantly to our understanding of decay properties of other charmed hadrons (such as $\Xi_{c}^{+}$) where discrepancies or ambiguities exist.Comment: 9 pages, revtex4; certain improvements in text as suggested by the referee, acknowledgement changed; version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Preasymptotic effects in beauty decays

Large preasymptotic effects in beauty decays have been found using heavy-quark and SU(3) symmetry, as well as experimental data on charmed hyperons. Contrary to rather uniform beauty-meson lifetimes, a much larger spread of beauty-baryon lifetimes is predicted. However, it is highly unlikely that, theoretically, the $\tau(\Lambda_b)/\tau(B_d^0)$ ratio, which at present deviates more than $1\sigma$ from the experimental result, can be lowered below 0.9.Comment: 6 pages, talk given by B. Melic at The 3rd International Conference on B Physics and CP Violation, Taipei, Taiwan, December 3-7, 1999, to appear in the Proceedings, two figures adde

Inclusive decays and lifetimes of doubly charmed baryons

The analysis of singly charmed hadrons has been extended to the case of doubly charmed baryons, $\Xi_{cc}^{++}$, $\Xi_{cc}^{+}$ and $\Omega_{cc}^{+}$. Doubly charmed baryons are described as a system containing a heavy $cc$-diquark and a light quark, similarly as in a heavy-light meson. This leads to preasymptotic effects in semileptonic and nonleptonic decays which are essentially proportional to the meson wave function. Interplay between preasymptotic effects in semileptonic and/or nonleptonic decay rates leads to very clear predictions for semileptonic branching ratios and lifetimes of doubly charmed baryons.Comment: 14 pages latex file, 4 figures, 1 tabl

Electromagnetic Production of Quarkonium in Z0Z^{0} decay

The decay $Z^{0}\rightarrow Q+ \ell^{+}\ell^{-}$, where $Q$ is a $J^{PC}=1^{--}$ quarkonium state, has a very clean final state, which should make it easy to detect. The branching ratio of this mode is greater than $10^{-6}$ for $\rho$, $\phi$, and $\psi$, indicating that these processes may be detectable at LEP.Comment: Latex, 6 pages, 2 figure in postscript format (uuencoded), (or available upon request), NUHEP-TH-93-1

Hadronic Event Shapes in BB Decay

We compute the differential momentum correlation function for hadrons produced in the decay of $B$-mesons. This measure of hadronic event shapes tests the free $b$-quark decay picture for nonleptonic and semileptonic decays of $B$-mesons. Our results can also be applied to $B_s$ and $\Lambda_b$ decay.Comment: 11 pages, 3 uuencoded figures included, uses harvmac and epsf, UTPT 93-28, CMU-HEP 93-24, CALT-68-190

Holography and Variable Cosmological Constant

An effective local quantum field theory with UV and IR cutoffs correlated in accordance with holographic entropy bounds is capable of rendering the cosmological constant (CC) stable against quantum corrections. By setting an IR cutoff to length scales relevant to cosmology, one easily obtains the currently observed rho_Lambda ~ 10^{-47} GeV^4, thus alleviating the CC problem. It is argued that scaling behavior of the CC in these scenarios implies an interaction of the CC with matter sector or a time-dependent gravitational constant, to accommodate the observational data.Comment: 7 pages, final version accepted by PR

Cabibbo-suppressed decays of the Omega_c^0 - feedback to the Xi_c^+ lifetime

We investigate a possible background of the type Omega_c^0 --> Xi_c^+ pi^- to the CLEO Xi_c^+ lifetime measurement. This decay mode may lead to an overestimate of the Xi_c^+ decay length and, therefore, increase the measured Xi_c^+ lifetime. The branching ratio Gamma(Omega_c^0 --> Xi_c^+ pi^-)/Gamma(Omega_c^0 --> Omega^- pi^+) is analyzed in the framework of the pole model and the modified current algebra. We find that the Omega_c^0 --> Xi_c^+ pi^- decay mode could not generate a substantial systematic error in the Xi_c^+ lifetime measurement. Also, it cannot significantly reduce the disagreement between theoretical and experimental values of the Xi_c^+ lifetime.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure