Experimental Limits on Weak Annihilation Contributions to b → ulv Decays

We present the first experimental limits on high-q^2 contributions to charmless semileptonic B decays of the form expected from the weak annihilation (WA) decay mechanism. Such contributions could bias determinations of |V_(ub)| from inclusive measurements of B→X_ulν. Using a wide range of models based on available theoretical input we set a limit of Γ_(WA)/Γ_(b→u) <7.4% (90% confidence level) on the WA fraction, and assess the impact on previous inclusive determinations of |V_(ub)|

New Bound on gamma from B^+- -> pi K Decays

A bound on the angle gamma of the unitarity triangle is derived using experimental information on the CP-averaged branching ratios for the rare decays B^+- -> pi^+- K^0 and B^+- -> pi^0 K^+-. The theoretical description is cleaner than the Fleischer-Mannel analysis of the decays B^+- -> pi^+- K^0 and B^0 -> pi^-+ K^+- in that the two decay rates differ only in a single isospin amplitude, which has a simple structure in the SU(3) limit. As a consequence, electroweak penguin contributions and strong rescattering effects can be taken into account in a model-independent way. The resulting bound excludes values of cos(gamma) around 0.6 and is thus largely complementary to indirect constraints derived from a global analysis of the unitarity triangle.Comment: minor corrections, version to appear in Physics Letters

Prospects for improved Λc\Lambda_c branching fractions

The experimental uncertainty on the branching fraction \b(\Lambda_c \to p K^- \pi^+) = (5.0 \pm 1.3)% has not decreased since 1998, despite a much larger data sample. Uncertainty in this quantity dominates that in many other quantities, including branching fractions of $\Lambda_c$ to other modes, branching fractions of $b$-flavored baryons, and fragmentation fractions of charmed and bottom quarks. Here we advocate a lattice QCD calculation of the form factors in $\Lambda_c \to \Lambda \ell^+ \nu_\ell$ (the case $\ell = e^+$ is simpler as the mass of the lepton can be neglected). Such a calculation would yield an absolute prediction for the rate for $\Lambda_c \to \Lambda \ell^+ \nu_\ell$. When combined with the $\Lambda_c$ lifetime, it could provide a calibration for an improved set of $\Lambda_c$ branching fractions as long as the accuracy exceeds about 25%.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, version to be published in Phys.\ Rev.\

Non-factorizable effects in top quark production

The production of top-antitop pairs at the Fermilab Tevatron shows a forward-backward asymmetry in which the top quark tends to follow the proton direction, while the antitop tends to follow the antiproton direction. The effect grows with increasing effective mass $m_{t \bar t}$ of the top-antitop pair, and with increasing rapidity difference between the top and antitop. The observed effect is about three times as large as predicted by next-to-leading-order QCD, but with the same sign. An estimate of non-factorizable effects based on a QCD string picture finds they are negligible, but that small distortions of the $m_t$ spectrum are possible. Tests for such effects, both at and above the level of this estimate, are suggested.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure. Added text and references. Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Properties of the Charmed P-wave Mesons

Two broad charmed mesons, the D_0^* and D_1', have recently been observed. We examine the quark model predictions for the D_0^* and D_1' properties and discuss experimental measurements that can shed light on them. We find that these states are well described as the broad, j=1/2 non-strange charmed P-wave mesons. Understanding the D_0^* and D_1' states can provide important insights into the D_{sJ}^*(2317), D_{sJ}(2460) states whose unexpected properties have led to renewed interest in hadron spectroscopy.Comment: 7 pages. Some additional discussion and reference

Electroweak Constraints from Atomic Parity Violation and Neutrino Scattering

Precision electroweak physics can provide fertile ground for uncovering new physics beyond the Standard Model (SM). One area in which new physics can appear is in so-called "oblique corrections", i.e., next-to-leading order expansions of bosonic propagators corresponding to vacuum polarization. One may parametrize their effects in terms of quantities $S$ and $T$ that discriminate between conservation and non-conservation of isospin. This provides a means of comparing the relative contributions of precision electroweak experiments to constraints on new physics. Given the prevalence of strongly $T$-sensitive experiments, there is an acute need for further constraints on $S$, such as provided by atomic parity-violating experiments on heavy atoms. We evaluate constraints on $S$ arising from recently improved calculations in the Cs atom. We show that the top quark mass $m_t$ provides stringent constraints on $S$ within the context of the Standard Model. We also consider the potential contributions of next-generation neutrino scattering experiments to improved $(S,T)$ constraints.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, final corrected version to be published in Physical Review

On the Mixing of the Scalar Mesons f0(1370)f_0(1370), f0(1500)f_0(1500) and f0(1710)f_0(1710)

Based on a $3\times3$ mass matrix describing the mixing of the scalar states $f_0(1370)$, $f_0(1500)$ and $f_0(1710)$, the hadronic decays of the three states are investigated. Taking into account the two possible assumptions concerning the mass level order of the bare states $|N>=|u\bar{u}+d\bar{d}>/\sqrt{2}$, $|S>=|s\bar{s}>$ and $|G>=|gg>$ in the scalar sector, $M_G > M_S > M_N$ and $M_G > M_N > M_S$, we obtain the glueball-quarkonia content of the three states by solving the unlinear equations. Some predictions about the decays of the three states in two cases are presented, which can provide a stringent consistency check of the two assumptions.Comment: revtex 10 pages, 1 eps figur

Charmed Baryons with J=3/2J = 3/2

The width of a recently discovered excited charmed-strange baryon, a candidate for a state $\Xi_c^*$ with spin 3/2, is calculated. In the absence of configuration mixing between the ground-state (spin-1/2) charmed-strange baryon $\Xi_c^{(a)}$ and the spin-1/2 state $\Xi_c^{(s)}$ lying about 95 MeV above it, one finds $\tilde \Gamma(\Xi^*_c \to \Xi_c^{(a)} \pi) = (3/4) \tilde \Gamma(\Xi^* \to \Xi \pi)$ and $\tilde \Gamma(\Xi^*_c \to \Xi_c^{(s)} \pi) = (1/4) \tilde \Gamma(\Xi^* \to \Xi \pi)$, where the tilde denotes the partial width with kinematic factors removed. Assuming a kinematic factor for P-wave decay of $p_{\rm cm}^3$, one predicts $\Gamma(\Xi^*_c \to \Xi_c^{(a)} \pi) = 2.3$ MeV, while the $\Xi^*_c \to \Xi_c^{(s)} \pi$ channel is closed. Some suggestions are given for detecting the $\Sigma_c^*$, the spin-3/2 charmed nonstrange baryon, and the $\Omega_c^*$, the spin-3/2 charmed doubly-strange baryon.Comment: 11 pages, latex, 2 uuencoded figures sent separatel

A prototype system for detecting the radio-frequency pulse associated with cosmic ray air showers

The development of a system to detect the radio-frequency (RF) pulse associated with extensive air showers of cosmic rays is described. This work was performed at the CASA/MIA array in Utah, with the intention of designing equipment that can be used in conjunction with the Auger Giant Array. A small subset of data (less than 40 out of a total of 600 hours of running time), taken under low-noise conditions, permitted upper limits to be placed on the rate for pulses accompanying showers of energies around $10^{17}$ eV.Comment: 53 pages, LaTeX, 19 figures, published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods. Revised version; some references update