Ward identities, $\bm{ B\to V}$ transition form factors and applications

Long distance effects are studied in the rare exclusive semileptonic $B_{(d,s)}\to V \ell^+ \ell^-$ decays, where $V$ denotes a $K^*$ or $\phi$ meson. The form factors, which describe the meson transition amplitudes in the effective Hamiltonian approach, are calculated by means of Ward identities, experimental constraints and extrapolated within a general vector meson dominance framework. These form factors are then compared to the ones obtained in Lattice QCD simulations, with Light Cone Sum Rules and a Dyson-Schwinger equation approach. Additionally, the $B_d\to K^* \ell^+ \ell^-$ and $B_s\to \phi \ell^+ \ell^-$ branching ratios are computed and the differential branching fractions are given as a function of the squared-momentum transfer.