On The Expected Photon Spectrum in B -> X_s + gamma and Its Uses

Measuring the photon energy spectrum in radiative B decays provides essential help for gaining theoretical control over semileptonic B transitions. The hadronic recoil mass distribution in B -> X_u \ell\nu promises the best environment for determining |V_ub|. The theoretical uncertainties are largest in the domain of low values of the lepton pair mass q^2. Universality relations allow to describe this domain reliably in terms of the photon spectrum in B -> X_s + \gamma. A method is proposed to incorporate 1/m_b corrections into this relation. The low-E_\gamma tail in radiative decays is important in the context of extracting |V_ub|. We argue that CLEO's recent fit to the spectrum underestimates the fraction of the photon spectrum below 2 GeV. Potentially significant uncertainties enter in the theoretical evaluation of the integrated end-point lepton spectrum or the B -> X_u \ell\nu width with a too high value of the lower cut on q^2 in alternative approaches to |V_ub|.Comment: 24 pages, 6 figures, LaTeX. Revised: Complete version. Numerical predictions are improved and the estimate for the decay fraction revised. The theoretical expectations for the decay fraction and the spectrum itself are given on the plot

Non-Abelian Dipole Radiation and the Heavy Quark Expansion

Dipole radiation in QCD is derived to the second order in $\alpha_s$. A power-like evolution of the spin-singlet heavy quark operators is obtained to the same accuracy. In particular, ${\cal O}(\alpha_s^2)$ relation between a short-distance low-scale running heavy quark mass and the \barMS mass is given. We discuss the properties of the effective QCD coupling \aw(E) which governs the dipole radiation. This coupling is advantageous for heavy quark physics.Comment: 12 pages, Late

Theoretical Uncertainties in Gamma_sl(b->u)

I review the existing theoretical uncertainties in relating the semileptonic decay width in b->u transitions to the underlying Kobayashi-Maskawa mixing element |V_ub|. The theoretical error bars are only a few percent in |V_ub|, with uncertainties from the impact of the nonperturbative effects nearly negligible.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX; discussion of 1/m_b^3 effects is expanded. Contribution to Workshop on the Derivation of |V_cb| and |V_ub|: Experimental Status and Theory Uncertainties, CERN, May 28 - June 2, 199

Semileptonic B Decays and Determination of |Vub|

Semileptonic decays of the B mesons provide an excellent probe for the weak and strong interactions of the bottom quark. The large data samples collected at the B Factories have pushed the experimental studies of the semileptonic B decays to a new height and stimulated significant theoretical developments. I review recent progresses in this fast-evolving field, with an emphasis on the determination of the magnitude of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |Vub|.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, accepted by Mod. Phys. Lett.

B Physics at SLD

We review recent $B$ physics results obtained in polarized $e^+ e^-$ interactions at the SLC by the SLD experiment. The excellent 3-D vertexing capabilities of SLD are exploited to extract precise \bu and \bd lifetimes, as well as measurements of the time evolution of $B^0_d - \bar{B^0_d}$ mixing.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Higher Order Power Corrections in Inclusive B Decays

We discuss order 1/m_b^4 and 1/m_b^5 corrections in inclusive semileptonic decay of a $B$ meson. We identify relevant hadronic matrix elements of dimension seven and eight and estimate them using the ground-state saturation approximation. Within this approach the effects on the integrated rate and on kinematic moments are estimated. The overall relative shift in V_{cb} turns out about +0.4% as applied to the existing fits. Similar estimates are presented for B -> X_s+\gamma decays.Comment: 30 pages, 16 figure

Subleading Shape-Function Effects and the Extraction of |V_ub|

We derive a class of formulae relating moments of B -> Xu l nu to B -> Xs gamma in the shape function region, where m_X^2 ~ m_b Lambda_QCD. We also derive an analogous class of formulae involving the decay B -> Xs l+ l-. These results incorporate Lambda_QCD/m_b power corrections, but are independent of leading and subleading hadronic shape functions. Consequently, they enable one to determine |V_ub|/|V_tb V_ts*| to subleading order in a model-independent way.Comment: 23 page

Two-loop QCD corrections to semileptonic b decays at maximal recoil

We present a complete $O(\alpha_s^2)$ correction to the differential width of the inclusive semileptonic decay $b\to cl\nu_l$ at the kinematical point of vanishing invariant mass of the leptons, $q^2=0$. Together with the recently computed $O(\alpha_s^2)$ correction at the upper boundary of the lepton invariant mass spectrum, this new information permits an estimate of the $O(\alpha_s^2)$ effect in the total inclusive semileptonic decay width $b\to cl\nu_l$. We argue that the non-BLM part of the $O(\alpha_s^2)$ correction gives at most 1% correction to the inclusive semileptonic decay width $b\to cl\nu_l$. This significantly improves the credibility of extracting $|V_{cb}|$ from the inclusive semileptonic decays of the b-hadrons.Comment: 8 pages, revte

Conclusions from CDF Results on CP Violation in D^0 \to \pi^+\pi^-, K^+K^- and Future Tasks

Within the Standard Model (SM) one predicts both direct and indirect CP violation in D^0 \to \pi^+\pi^-, K^+K^- transitions, although the effects are tiny: Indirect CP asymmetry cannot exceed O(10^{-4}), probably even O(10^{-5}); direct effects are estimated at not larger than 10^{-4}. At B factories direct and indirect asymmetries have been studied with /\tau_{D^0} ~ 1; no CP asymmetry was found with an upper bound of about 1%. CDF has shown intriguing data on CP violation in D^0 \to \pi^+\pi^- [K^+K^-] with /\tau_{D^0} ~ 2.4 [2.65]. Also, CDF has not seen any CP violation. For direct CP asymmetry, CDF has a sensitivity similar to the combination of the B factories, yet for indirect CP violation it yields a significantly smaller sensitivity of a_{cp}^{ind}=(-0.01 +- 0.06_{stat} +- 0.05_{syst})% due to it being based on longer decay times. New Physics models (NP) like Little Higgs Models with T-Parity (LHT) can produce an indirect CP asymmetry up to 1%; CDF's findings thus cover the upper range of realistic NP predictions ~ 0.1 - 1%. One hopes that LHCb and a Super-Flavour Factory will probe the lower range down to ~0.01%. Such non-ad-hoc NP like LHT cannot enhance direct CP violation significantly over the SM level in D^0 \to \pi^+\pi^-, K^+K^- and D^{\pm} \to \pi^{\pm}K^+K^- transitions, but others might well do so.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure. V2 has minor corrections and corresponds to the published versio