Observation of Cabibbo-suppressed and W-exchange Lambda_c^+ baryon decays

We present measurements of the Cabibbo-suppressed decays Lambda_c^+ --> Lambda0 K+ and Lambda_c^+ --> Sigma0 K+ (both first observations), Lambda_c^+ --> Sigma+ K+ pi- (seen with large statistics for the first time), Lambda_c^+ --> p K+ K- and Lambda_c^+ --> p phi (measured with improved accuracy). Improved branching ratio measurements for the decays Lambda_c^+ --> Sigma+ K+ K- and Lambda_c^+ --> Sigma+ phi, which are attributed to W-exchange diagrams, are shown. We also present the first evidence for Lambda_c^+ --> Xi(1690)^0 K+ and set an upper limit on the non-resonant decay Lambda_c^+ --> Sigma+ K+ K-. This analysis was performed using 32.6 fb^{-1} of data collected by the Belle detector at the asymmetric e+ e- collider KEKB.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Lett. B. v2: A small correction to the Authorlist was made. An earlier version of this analysis was released as BELLE-CONF-0130, hep-ex/010800

Search for Direct CP Violation in B -> K pi Decays

We search for direct CP violation in flavor specific B -> K pi decays by measuring the rate asymmetry between charge conjugate modes. The search is performed on a data sample of 11.1 million B B bar events recorded on the Upsilon(4S) resonance by the Belle experiment at KEKB. We measure 90% confidence intervals in the partial rate asymmetry A_CP of -0.25 < A_CP(K-/+ pi+/-) < 0.37, -0.40 < A_CP(K-/+ pi^0) < 0.36, and -0.53 < A_CP(K^0 pi-/+) < 0.82. By combining the K-/+ pi+/- and K-/+ pi^0 final states, we conclude that -0.22 < A_CP[K-/+(pi+/- + pi^0)] < 0.25 at the 90% confidence level.Comment: Submitted to PRD Rapid Communication

Observation of Large CP Violation in the Neutral B Meson System

We present a measurement of the Standard Model CP violation parameter sin 2phi_1 based on a 29.1 fb^{-1} data sample collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e- collider. One neutral B meson is fully reconstructed as a J/psi Ks, psi(2S) Ks, chi_c1 Ks, eta_c Ks, J/psi K_L or J/psi K^{*0} decay and the flavor of the accompanying B meson is identified from its decay products. From the asymmetry in the distribution of the time intervals between the two B meson decay points, we determine sin 2phi_1 = 0.99 +- 0.14(stat) +- 0.06(syst). We conclude that we have observed CP violation in the neutral B meson system.Comment: 4 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. Letter

Measurement of the Branching Fraction for B->eta' K and Search for B->eta'pi+

We report measurements for two-body charmless B decays with an eta' meson in the final state. Using 11.1X10^6 BBbar pairs collected with the Belle detector, we find BF(B^+ ->eta'K^+)=(79^+12_-11 +-9)x10^-6 and BF(B^0 -> eta'K^0)=(55^+19_-16 +-8)x10^-6, where the first and second errors are statistical and systematic, respectively. No signal is observed in the mode B^+ -> eta' pi^+, and we set a 90% confidence level upper limit of BF(B^+-> eta'pi^+) eta'K^+- decays is investigated and a limit at 90% confidence level of -0.20<Acp<0.32 is obtained.Comment: Submitted to Physics Letters

A Measurement of Lifetime Difference in D0D^0 Meson Decays

We report a measurement of the $D^0$-$\bar{D}{}^0$ mixing parameter $y_{CP}$ using 23.4 fb$^{-1}$ of data collected near the $\Upsilon$(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at KEKB. $y_{CP}$ is measured from the lifetime difference of $D^0$ mesons decaying into the $K^-\pi^+$ state and the CP even eigenstate $K^-K^+$. We find $y_{CP}=(-0.5\pm 1.0{}^{+0.7}_{-0.8})\times10^{-2}$, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic, corresponding to a 95% confidence interval $-0.030 < y_{CP} < 0.020$.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure

Search for Charmless Two-body Baryonic Decays of B Mesons

We report the results of a search for the rare baryonic decays $B^0 \to p\bar{p}$, $\Lambda\bar{\Lambda}$, and $B^+ \to p\bar{\Lambda}$. The analysis is based on a data set of $31.7\times 10^6 B\bar{B}$ events collected by the Belle detector at the KEKB $e^+e^-$ collider. No statistically significant signals are found, and we set branching fraction upper limits ${\mathcal B}(B^0 \to p\bar{p}) < 1.2 \times 10^{-6}$, ${\mathcal B}(B^0 \to \Lambda\bar{\Lambda}) < 1.0 \times 10^{-6}$, and ${\mathcal B}(B^+ \to p\bar{\Lambda}) < 2.2 \times 10^{-6}$ at the 90% confidence level.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures and 1 table. Submitted to Phys. Rev. D Rapid Communication

Observation of chi_c2 Production in B-meson Decay

We report the first observation of chi_c2 production in B-meson decays. We find an inclusive B -> chi_c2 X branching fraction of (1.80^{+0.23}_{-0.28}+/- 0.26) 10^-3. The data set, collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB e^+e^- collider, consists of 31.9 million B\bar B events. We also present branching fractions and momentum spectra for both chi_c1 and chi_c2 production.Comment: 5 pages with 2 figure

Precise Measurement of B Meson Lifetimes with Hadronic Decay Final States

The lifetimes of the B0bar and B- mesons are extracted from 29.1/fb of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEK B-factory. A fit to the decay length differences of neutral and charged B meson pairs, measured in events where one of the B mesons is fully reconstructed in several hadronic modes, yields tau_B0bar = 1.554 +/- 0.030(stat) +/- 0.019(syst) ps, tau_B- = 1.695 +/- 0.026(stat) +/- 0.015(syst) ps, and tau_B-/tau_B0bar = 1.091 +/- 0.023(stat) +/- 0.014(syst).Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, and 1 table. (To be) published in Phys. Rev. Let

Observation of Mixing-induced CP Violation in the Neutral B Meson System

This report describes an observation of mixing-induced CP violation and a measurement of the CP violation parameter, sin(2phi_1), with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric e+e- collider. Using a data sample of 29.1 fb-1 recorded on the Upsilon(4S) resonance that contains 31.3 million BBbar pairs, we reconstruct decays of neutral B mesons to the following CP eigenstates: J/psi K_S^0, psi(2S) K_S^0, chi_c1 K_S^0, eta_c K_S^0, J/psi K_L^0 and J/psi K^*0. The flavor of the accompanying B meson is identified by combining information from primary and secondary leptons, K+/- mesons, lambda baryons, slow and fast pions. The proper-time interval between the two B meson decays is determined from the distance between the two decay vertices measured with a silicon vertex detector. The result sin(2phi_1) = 0.99 +/- 0.14(stat) +/- 0.06(syst) is obtained by applying a maximum likelihood fit to the 1137 candidate events. We conclude that there is large CP violation in the neutral B meson system. A zero value for sin(2phi_1) is ruled out by more than six standard deviations.Comment: 25 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review

Production of Prompt Charmonia in e+e−e^+e^- Annihilation at s≈10.6\sqrt{s}\approx 10.6 GeV

The production of prompt $J/\psi$, $\psi(2S)$, $\chi_{c1}$ and $\chi_{c2}$ is studied using a $32.4 fb^{-1}$ data sample collected with the Belle detector at the $\Upsilon(4S)$ and 60 MeV below the resonance. The yield of prompt $J/\psi$ mesons in the $\Upsilon(4S)$ sample is compatible with that of continuum production; we set an upper limit ${\cal B}(\Upsilon(4S) \to J/\psi X) < 1.9 \times 10^{-4}$ at the 95% confidence level, and find $\sigma(e^{+}e^{-} \to J/\psi X)=1.47\pm 0.10 \pm 0.13$ pb. The cross-sections for prompt $\psi(2S)$ and direct $J/\psi$ are measured. The $J/\psi$ momentum spectrum, production angle distribution and polarization are studied.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev. Let