Puzzles in charm spectroscopy

We briefly analyze aspects of open and hidden charm resonances, discussing in particular the mesons $D_{sJ}(2860)$ and X(3872).Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. Invited talk given at the YKIS Seminar on New Frontiers in QCD: Exotic Hadrons and Hadronic Matter, Kyoto, Japan, 20 Nov. - 8 Dec. 200

FCNC BsB_s and Λb\Lambda_b transitions: Standard Model versus a single Universal Extra Dimension scenario

We study the FCNC $B_s \to \phi \gamma, \phi \nu \bar \nu$ and $\Lambda_b \to \Lambda \gamma, \Lambda \nu \bar \nu$ transitions in the Standard Model and in a scenario with a single Universal Extra Dimension. In particular, we focus on the present knowledge of the hadronic uncertainties and on possible improvements. We discuss how the measurements of these modes can be used to constrain the new parameter involved in the extra dimensional scenario, the radius $R$ of the extra dimension, completing the information available from B-factories. The rates of these $b \to s$ induced decays are within the reach of new experiments, such as LHCb.Comment: LaTex, 8 pages, 7 eps figures. Version to be published in Physical Review

Bounding effective parameters in the chiral Lagrangian for excited heavy mesons

We use recent experimental data on charmed mesons to constrain three coupling constants in the effective lagrangian describing the interactions of excited heavy-light mesons with light pseudoscalar mesons at order $m_Q^{-1}$. Predictions in the beauty sector are also derived.Comment: LaTex, 11 pages, 1 eps figur

Estimating Form Factors of Bs→Ds(∗)B_s\rightarrow D_s^{(*)} and their Applications to Semi-leptonic and Non-leptonic Decays

$B_s^0\rightarrow D_s^{-}$ and $B_s^0\rightarrow D_s^{*-}$ weak transition form factors are estimated for the whole physical region with a method based on an instantaneous approximated Mandelstam formulation of transition matrix elements and the instantaneous Bethe-Salpeter equation. We apply the estimated form factors to branching ratios, CP asymmetries and polarization fractions of non-leptonic decays within the factorization approximation. And we study the non-factorizable effects and annihilation contributions with the perturbative QCD approach. The branching ratios of semi-leptonic $B_s^0\rightarrow D_s^{(*)-}l^+\nu_l$ decays are also evaluated. We show that the calculated decay rates agree well with the available experimental data. The longitudinal polarization fraction of $B_s\rightarrow D_s^*V(A)$ decays are $\sim0.8$ when $V(A)$ denotes a light meson, and are $\sim0.5$ when $V(A)$ denotes a $D_q$ ($q=d,s$) meson.Comment: Final version published in J Phys. G 39 (2012) 045002 (Title also changed

Model independent analysis of a class of Bˉs0\bar{B}_s^0 decay modes

The widths of a class of two-body $\bar{B}_s^0$ decays induced by $b \to c \bar u d$ and $b \to c \bar u s$ transitions are determined in a model-independent way, using $SU(3)_F$ symmetry and existing information on $\bar B \to D_{(s)} P$ and $\bar B \to D_{(s)} V$ decays, with $P$ and $V$ a light pseudoscalar or vector meson. The results are relevant for the $B_s$ physics programmes at the hadron colliders and at the $e^+ e^-$ factories running at the peak of $\Upsilon(5S)$.Comment: LaTeX, 10 pages, 3 figures. Results for B_s \to D \eta(') in Table 1 correcte

Excited Charmed Mesons: Observations, Analyses and Puzzles

We review the status of recently observed positive parity charmed resonances, both in the non-strange and in the strange sector. We describe the experimental findings, the main theoretical analyses and the open problems deserving further investigations.Comment: LaTeX, 25 pages, 5 figures. Invited revie

Hadron Spectroscopy: Theory and Experiment

Many new results on hadron spectra have been appearing in the past few years thanks to improved experimental techniques and searches in new channels. New theoretical techniques including refined methods of lattice QCD have kept pace with these developments. Much has been learned about states made of both light (u, d, and s) and heavy (c, b) quarks. The present review treats light-quark mesons, glueballs, hybrids, particles with a single c or b quark, charmonium, and bottomonium states. Some prospects for further study are noted.Comment: 29 pages, 9 figures, to be published in Journal of Physics G. Further updating of reference