Framework for Identification of Neutral B Mesons

We introduce a method for the study of CP-violating asymmetries in tagged states of neutral $B$ mesons with arbitrary coherence properties. A set of time-dependent measurements is identified which completely specifies the density matrix of the initial state in a two-component space with basis vectors $B^0$ and $\overline B^0$, and permits a determination of phases in the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix. For a given tagging configuration, the measurement of decays both to flavor eigenstates and to CP eigenstates provides the necessary information.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. Letters. 8 pages, LaTeX, Technion-PH-93-31 / EFI 93-3

Topology, Locality, and Aharonov-Bohm Effect with Neutrons

Recent neutron interferometry experiments have been interpreted as demonstrating a new topological phenomenon similar in principle to the usual Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect, but with the neutron's magnetic moment replacing the electron's charge. We show that the new phenomenon, called Scalar AB (SAB) effect, follows from an ordinary local interaction, contrary to the usual AB effect, and we argue that the SAB effect is not a topological effect by any useful definition. We find that SAB actually measures an apparently novel spin autocorrelation whose operator equations of motion contain the local torque in the magnetic field. We note that the same remarks apply to the Aharonov-Casher effect.Comment: 9 page

Low-Mass Baryon-Antibaryon Enhancements in B Decays

The nature of low-mass baryon-antibaryon enhancements seen in B decays is explored. Three possibilities include (i) states near threshold as found in a model by Nambu and Jona-Lasinio, (ii) isoscalar states with $J^{PC} = 0^{\pm +}$ coupled to a pair of gluons, and (iii) low-mass enhancements favored by the fragmentation process. Ways of distinguishing these mechanisms using angular distributions and flavor symmetry are proposed.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX, no figures, to be submitted to Phys. Rev. D. One reference adde

On the equivalence of pairing correlations and intrinsic vortical currents in rotating nuclei

The present paper establishes a link between pairing correlations in rotating nuclei and collective vortical modes in the intrinsic frame. We show that the latter can be embodied by a simple S-type coupling a la Chandrasekhar between rotational and intrinsic vortical collective modes. This results from a comparison between the solutions of microscopic calculations within the HFB and the HF Routhian formalisms. The HF Routhian solutions are constrained to have the same Kelvin circulation expectation value as the HFB ones. It is shown in several mass regions, pairing regimes, and for various spin values that this procedure yields moments of inertia, angular velocities, and current distributions which are very similar within both formalisms. We finally present perspectives for further studies.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Final State Interactions and New Physics in B -> pi K Decays

Within the Standard Model, and if one assumes that soft rescattering effects are negligible, the CP asymmetry A^dir_CP (B^\pm -> \pi^\pm K) is predicted to be very small and the ratio R = BR(B_d -> \pi^\mp K^\pm)/BR(B^\pm -> \pi^\pm K) provides a bound on the angle \gamma of the unitarity triangle, sin^2 \gamma \leq R. We estimate the corrections from soft rescattering effects using an approach based on Regge phenomenology, and find effects of order 10% with large uncertainties. In particular, we conclude that A^dir_CP \sim 0.2 and sin^2 \gamma \sim 1.2 R could not be taken unambiguously to signal New Physics. Using SU(3) relations, we suggest experimental tests that could constrain the size of the soft rescattering effects thus reducing the related uncertainty. Finally, we study the effect of various models of New Physics on A^dir_CP and on R.Comment: 20 pages, RevTex, no figures; a few typos corrected, references added, brief additional discussion of uncertanties is adde

Broken SU(3) Symmetry in Two-Body B Decays

The decays of $B$ mesons to two-body hadronic final states are analyzed within the context of broken flavor SU(3) symmetry, extending a previous analysis involving pairs of light pseudoscalars to decays involving one or two charmed quarks in the final state. A systematic program is described for learning information {}from decay rates regarding (i) SU(3)-violating contributions, (ii) the magnitude of exchange and annihilation diagrams (effects involving the spectator quark), and (iii) strong final-state interactions. The implication of SU(3)-breaking effects for the extraction of weak phases is also examined. The present status of data on these questions is reviewed and suggestions for further experimental study are made.Comment: 38 pages, 8 figures, LaTeX file. The full postscript manuscript is available by anon ftp at ftp://lpsvsh.lps.umontreal.ca/theorie/hep-ph/SU3break.ps (a VAX so use the format theorie.hep-ph if you change by more than one directory at a time

Charmless B→PPB \to PP decays using flavor SU(3) symmetry

The decays of $B$ mesons to a pair of charmless pseudoscalar ($P$) mesons are analyzed within a framework of flavor SU(3). Symmetry breaking is taken into account in tree ($T$) amplitudes through ratios of decay constants; exact SU(3) is assumed elsewhere. Acceptable fits to $B \to \pi \pi$ and $B \to K \pi$ branching ratios and CP asymmetries are obtained with tree, color-suppressed ($C$), penguin ($P$), and electroweak penguin ($P_{EW}$) amplitudes. Crucial additional terms for describing processes involving $\eta$ and $\eta'$ include a large flavor-singlet penguin amplitude ($S$) as proposed earlier and a penguin amplitude $P_{tu}$ associated with intermediate $t$ and $u$ quarks. For the $B^+ \to \pi^+ \eta'$ mode a term $S_{tu}$ associated with intermediate $t$ and $u$ quarks also may be needed. Values of the weak phase $\gamma$ are obtained consistent with an earlier analysis of $B \to VP$ decays, where $V$ denotes a vector meson, and with other analyses of CKM parameters.Comment: 26 pages, 1 figure. To be submitted to Phys. Rev. D. Reference update

A method for determining CP violating phase γ\gamma

A new way of determining the phases of weak amplitudes in charged $B$ decays based on SU(3) symmetry is proposed. The CP violating phase $\gamma$ can now be determined without the previous difficulty associated with electroweak penguins.Comment: 9 pages plus one figure, Revte