Strange vector currents and the OZI-rule

We investigate the role of correlated $\pi\rho$ exchange in the extraction of matrix elements of the strange vector current in the proton. We show that a realistic isoscalar spectral function including this effect leads to sizeably reduced strange vector form factors based on the dispersion--theoretical analysis of the nucleons' electromagnetic form factors.Comment: 8 pp, plain LaTeX, uses epsf, 3 figure

CP Asymmetry in B_d --> phi K_S: Standard Model Pollution

The difference in the time dependent CP asymmetries between the modes $B --> psi K_S$ and $B --> phi K_S$ is a clean signal for physics beyond the Standard Model. This interpretation could fail if there is a large enhancement of the matrix element of the $b --> u ubar s$ operator between the $B_d$ initial state and the $phi K_S$ final state. We argue against this possibility and propose some experimental tests that could shed light on the situation.Comment: 9 pages, Revte