Branching ratio measurements and isospin violation in B-meson decays

The approximate symmetry of the strong interactions under isospin transformations is among the most precise tools available to control hadronic matrix elements. It is crucial in extracting fundamental parameters, but also provides avenues for the search of phenomena beyond the Standard Model. The precision of the resulting predictions requires special care when determining the quantities they are to be tested with. Specifically, in the extraction of branching ratios often isospin symmetry is assumed at one point or another implicitly, implying a significant bias for precision analyses. We extract a bias-free value for the production asymmetry between charged and neutral $B$ meson pairs at $B$ factories and discuss its consequences for the determination of branching fractions generally, and isospin-violating observables like the rate asymmetries in B -> J/psi K or B -> K* gamma decays specifically.Comment: 5 pages. v2: proposal for new measurement of production fractions added, accepted for publication in PL

Determining weak phases from B->J/Psi P decays

The decay B -> J/Psi K_S remains the most important source of information for the B_d mixing phase, determined by the CKM angle beta in the standard model. When aiming at a precision appropriate for present and coming high luminosity colliders, the corresponding hadronic matrix elements are a major obstacle, as their precise calculation is still not feasible with existing methods. Flavour symmetries offer a possibility to extract them from data, however again with limited precision. In this article, we propose a framework to take subleading contributions in B_{u,d,s} -> J/Psi P decays into account, P=(pi,K,(eta_8)), using an SU(3) analysis, together with the leading corrections to the symmetry limit. This allows for a model-independent extraction of the B_d mixing phase adequate for coming high precision data, and additionally yields information on possible New Physics contributions in these modes. We find the penguin-induced correction to be small, |Delta S|<~0.01, a limit which can be improved with coming data on CP asymmetries and branching ratios. Finally, the sensitivity on the CKM angle gamma from these modes is critically examined, yielding a less optimistic picture than previously envisaged.Comment: 15+6 pages, 6 figures. Minor changes to v1, conclusions unchanged. Version accepted for publication in PR

Bounds on new physics from electric dipole moments

Electric dipole moments are extremely sensitive probes for additional sources of CP violation in new physics models. The multi-scale problem of relating the high-precision measurements with neutrons, atoms and molecules to fundamental parameters can be approached model-independently to a large extent; however, care must be taken to include the uncertainties from especially nuclear and QCD calculations properly. The resulting bounds on fundamental parameters are illustrated in the context of Two-Higgs-Doublet models.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure. Prepared for the proceedings of "Flavor Physics & CP Violation 2015", Nagoya, Japan. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1405.638

A robust limit for the electric dipole moment of the electron

Electric dipole moments constitute a competitive method to search for new physics, being particularly sensitive to new CP-violating phases. Given the experimental and theoretical progress in this field and more generally in particle physics, the necessity for more reliable bounds than the ones usually employed emerges. We therefore propose an improved extraction of the electric dipole moment of the electron and the relevant coefficient of the electron-nucleon coupling, taking into account theoretical uncertainties and possible cancellations, to be used in model-dependent analyses. Specifically, we obtain at 95% C.L. |d_e|<=0.14 10^{-26}e cm with present data, which is very similar to the bound typically quoted from the YbF molecule, but obtained in a more conservative manner. We examine furthermore in detail the prospects for improvements and derive upper limits for the dipole moments of several paramagnetic systems presently under investigation, i.e. Cesium, Rubidium and Francium.Comment: 8 pages, 2 tables, 4 figures. v2: Extended discussion of the EDM of Tl, corrected value for the nuclear magnetic moment of Hg (implying small shifts in the obtained numerical values) and further minor change

Electric Dipole Moments in Two-Higgs-Doublet Models

Electric dipole moments are extremely sensitive probes for additional sources of CP violation in new physics models. Specifically, they have been argued in the past to exclude new CP-violating phases in two-Higgs-doublet models. Since recently models including such phases have been discussed widely, we revisit the available constraints in the presence of mechanisms which are typically invoked to evade flavour-changing neutral currents. To that aim, we start by assessing the necessary calculations on the hadronic, nuclear and atomic/molecular level, deriving expressions with conservative error estimates. Their phenomenological analysis in the context of two-Higgs-doublet models yields strong constraints, in some cases weakened by a cancellation mechanism among contributions from neutral scalars. While the corresponding parameter combinations do not yet have to be unnaturally small, the constraints are likely to preclude large effects in other CP-violating observables. Nevertheless, the generically expected contributions to electric dipole moments in this class of models lie within the projected sensitivity of the next-generation experiments.Comment: 23+8 pages, 6 figures. v2: added new global analysis of the electron EDM, including the recent ThO result, and additional references. Version accepted for publication in JHE