Related papers: Lifetime Difference in B_s mixing: Standard Model …
To start the $b$-decay session we briefly introduce and comment some important theoretical tools which are currently used in $b$ physics. Heavy Quark Symmetry and its consequences for heavy to heavy and heavy to light semi-leptonic decays,…
(1) A simple transversity analysis permits one to separate the P-even and P-odd partial waves in such decays as $B_s \to J/\psi \phi$ and $B \to J/\psi K^*$. This method is relevant to the separation of contributions of CP-even and CP-odd…
We present first calculations of new long-distance contributions to $B_s \to \gamma \gamma$ decay due to intermediate $D_s$ and $D_s^*$ meson states. The relevant $\gamma$ vertices are estimated using charge couplings and transition moment…
The calculation of the one-loop induced decay rate b -> s \gamma is improved by including radiative corrections to the charged Higgs mass and to the charged-Higgs-fermion-fermion vertex. It is shown how the radiative corrections modify the…
Effects associated with hyperfine mass splitting between pseudo\-scalar and vector mesons may induce surprisingly large $1/{m}_{Q}^{2}$ corrections in the heavy quark expansion. We demonstrate this in a relativistic quark model by…
We present O(alpha_s^2) corrections to the decay t-->bW in the limit of a very large top quark mass, m_t >> m_W. We find that the O(alpha_s^2) effects decrease the top quark decay width Gamma_t by about 2%: Gamma_t =…
The experimentally established non-zero decay width difference of the B_s meson system gives us access to a mass eigenstate rate asymmetry for each B_s transition. This observable is not only the key ingredient in converting between…
I report new, world-leading LHCb results on heavy meson lifetimes. We use a novel approach that suppresses the shortcomings typically associated with reconstruction of semileptonic decays, allowing for precise measurements of lifetimes and…
We update the theory predictions for the mass difference $\dm_s$, the width difference $\dg_s$ and the CP asymmetry in flavour-specific decays, $a_{\rm fs}^{s}$, for the \bbs system. In particular we present a new expression for the element…
Lifetimes of the doubly heavy baryons ${\cal B}_{bb}$ and ${\cal B}_{bc}$ are analyzed within the framework of the heavy quark expansion (HQE). Lifetime differences arise from the spectator effects such as $W$-exchange and Pauli…
New physics contribution to the lifetime difference in $D^0 - \bar{D}^0$ mixing is re-examined within the non-manifest Left-Right Symmetric Model. Diagrams with one of $\Delta C = 1$ transitions, mediated by a propagator with $W_L - W_R$…
The $Z^0 \to b\bar b$ width, $\Gamma_b$, is analysed in conjunction with the total and hadronic $Z^0$ widths, $\Gamma_T$ and $\Gamma_h$. Assuming, tentatively, that the present 2$\sigma$ discrepancy in $\Gamma_b$ will substantiate as time…
The status of heavy quark expansions for charm and beauty lifetime ratios is reviewed. Taking note of the surprising semiquantitative success of this description for charm hadrons I interprete the new data on $\tau (D_s)$ and re-iterate the…
Recent results relevant for the B-physics phenomenology, obtained from lattice QCD simulations by the APE Collaboration, are reviewed. This includes the B0-B0bar mixing amplitude, B-> pi semileptonic decay and the relative width difference…
Heavy meson pairs produced in the decays of heavy quarkonium resonances at e+ e- machines (beauty and tau-charm factories) have the useful property that the two mesons are in the CP-correlated states. By tagging one of the mesons as a CP…
We evaluate the impact of radiative corrections in the ratios $\Gamma[B\to M \mu^+\mu^-]/\Gamma[B\to M e^+e^-]$ when the meson $M$ is a $K$ or a $K^*$. Employing the cuts on $m^2_{\ell\ell}$ and the reconstructed $B$-meson mass presently…
Precision measurements of b-hadron lifetimes are a key goal of the LHCb experiment. In the B_s sector, the measurement of the effective lifetimes for B_s mesons decaying to CP-odd, CP-even and flavor specific final states are essential for…
We present updated predictions for the lifetimes of all weakly decaying doubly heavy baryons, including $bb$, $cc$, and $bc$ baryons, as well as for the $B_c$ meson. The analysis includes NNLO corrections to the leading dimension-three…
The experimental and theoretical status of the inclusive decay B -> X_s gamma is briefly summarized. Results from a very recent theoretical analysis are reported. An ~11% increase in the SM prediction for BR[ B -> X_s gamma] is found after…
In the framework of three-point QCD sum rules, the form factors for the semileptonic decays of B_c --> B_s(B_s^*) l \nu are calculated with account for the Coulomb-like alpha_s/v-corrections in the heavy quarkonium. The generalized…