Azimuthal correlation between the (p⃗l,p⃗Xb)(\vec{p}_l,\vec{p}_{X_b}) and (p⃗l,P⃗t)(\vec{p}_l,\vec{P}_t) planes in the semileptonic rest frame decay of a polarized top quark: An O(αs)O(\alpha_s) effect

The azimuthal correlation between the planes formed by the vectors $(\vec{p}_\ell,\vec{p}_{X_b})$ and $(\vec{p}_\ell,\vec{P}_t)$ in the semileptonic rest frame decay of a polarized top quark $t(\uparrow) \to X_b + l^+ + \nu_\ell$ belongs to a class of polarization observables involving the top quark which vanish at the Born term level in the standard model. We determine the next--to--leading order QCD corrections to the afore-mentioned azimuthal correlation and compare the result to the corresponding contribution of a non--standard--model right--chiral quark current.Comment: latex, 12 pages with 2 figures in the text, typos removed,comment and references added, replaced with published versio

Engineering Quantum States, Nonlinear Measurements, and Anomalous Diffusion by Imaging

We show that well-separated quantum superposition states, measurements of strongly nonlinear observables, and quantum dynamics driven by anomalous diffusion can all be achieved for single atoms or molecules by imaging spontaneous photons that they emit via resonance florescence. To generate anomalous diffusion we introduce continuous measurements driven by L\'evy processes, and prove a number of results regarding their properties. In particular we present strong evidence that the only stable L\'evy density that can realize a strictly continuous measurement is the Gaussian.Comment: revtex4-1, 17 pages, 7 eps figure

Quark and Pole Models of Nonleptonic Decays of Charmed Baryons

Quark and pole models of nonleptonic decays of charmed baryons are analysed from the point of view of their symmetry properties. The symmetry structure of the parity conserving amplitudes that corresponds to the contribution of the ground-state intermediate baryons is shown to differ from the one hitherto employed in the symmetry approach. It is pointed out that the "subtraction" of sea quark effects in hyperon decays leads to an estimate of $W$-exchange contributions in charmed baryon decays that is significantly smaller than naively expected on the basis of $SU(4)$. An $SU(2)_{W}$ constraint questioning the reliability of the factorization technique is exhibited. Finally, a successful fit to the available data is presented.Comment: 25 pages, LATEX, 1643/PH IFJ Krako

Helicity Analysis of Semileptonic Hyperon Decays Including Lepton Mass Effects

Using the helicity method we derive complete formulas for the joint angular decay distributions occurring in semileptonic hyperon decays including lepton mass and polarization effects. Compared to the traditional covariant calculation the helicity method allows one to organize the calculation of the angular decay distributions in a very compact and efficient way. In the helicity method the angular analysis is of cascade type, i.e. each decay in the decay chain is analyzed in the respective rest system of that particle. Such an approach is ideally suited as input for a Monte Carlo event generation program. As a specific example we take the decay $\Xi^0 \to \Sigma^+ + l^- + \bar{\nu}_l$ ($l^-=e^-, \mu^-$) followed by the nonleptonic decay $\Sigma^+ \to p + \pi^0$ for which we show a few examples of decay distributions which are generated from a Monte Carlo program based on the formulas presented in this paper. All the results of this paper are also applicable to the semileptonic and nonleptonic decays of ground state charm and bottom baryons, and to the decays of the top quark.Comment: Published version. 40 pages, 11 figures included in the text. Typos corrected, comments added, references added and update

Exclusive semileptonic and nonleptonic decays of the Bc meson

We study exclusive nonleptonic and semileptonic decays of the Bc-meson within a relativistic constituent quark model previously developed by us. For the nonleptonic decays we use the factorizing approximation. We update our model parameters by using new experimental data for the mass and the lifetime of the Bc meson and the leptonic decay constants of the D-meson. We calculate the branching ratios for a large set of exclusive nonleptonic and semileptonic decays of the $B_c$ meson and compare our results with the results of other studies. As a guide for further experimental exploration we provide explicit formulas for the full angular decay distributions in the cascade decays Bc^- => J/psi(=> l^+l^-) + rho^-(=> pi^- pi^0) and Bc^- => J/psi(=> l^+l^-) + W^-(off-shell)(=> l^- + nubar).Comment: 19 pages, 2 figure

SU(3)_flavor analysis of two-body weak decays of charmed baryons

We study two-body weak decays of charmed baryons \Lambda_c and \Xi_c into an octet or decuplet baryon and a pseudoscalar meson employing the SU(3) flavor symmetry. Using certain measured Cabibbo-favored modes, we fix the reduced amplitudes and predict the branching ratios of various decays of charmed baryons in the Cabibbo-enhanced, -suppressed and -doubly suppressed modes.Comment: 25 pages, No figure, Phys. Rev. D (to appear

Exclusive Nonleptonic Decays of Bottom and Charm Baryons in a Relativistic Three-Quark Model: Evaluation of Nonfactorizing Diagrams

Exclusive nonleptonic decays of bottom and charm baryons are studied within a relativistic three-quark model with a Gaussian shape for the momentum dependence of the baryon-three-quark vertex. We include factorizing as well as nonfactorizing contributions to the decay amplitudes. For heavy-to-light transitions Q -> q u d the total contribution of the nonfactorizing diagrams amount up to approximately 60% of the factorizing contributions in amplitude, and up to approximately 30% for b -> c u d transitions. We calculate the rates and the polarization asymmetry parameters for various nonleptonic decays and compare them to existing data and to the results of other model calculations.Comment: 49 pages, LaTeX-fil