Related papers: A solution to B --> pi pi puzzle and B --> K K
CP-violating asymmetries in the decay $B^0(t)\to \pi^+ \pi^-$ are a potentially rich source of information about both strong and weak phases. In a previous treatment by the present authors use was made of an assumption about the relative…
A phenomenological analysis based on the published branching fractions and $CP$ asymmetry observables of the $B\to K\pi$, $B\to\pi\pi$ and $B\to KK$ dataset is performed. The amplitude decomposition by the topological diagrams and the…
We study $B \to K^* \rho$ modes that are analogues of the much studied $B\to K \pi$ modes with B decaying to two vector mesons instead of pseudoscalar mesons, using topological amplitudes in the quark diagram approach. We show how $B \to…
The Standard-Model interpretation of the ratios of charged and neutral B-> pi K rates, R_c and R_n, respectively, points towards a puzzling picture. Since these observables are affected significantly by colour-allowed electroweak (EW)…
Over the last two decades, $B \to \pi K$ modes have received a lot of attention. They are particularly interesting since the main contribution to these decays comes from QCD penguin topologies. Furthermore, electroweak penguin amplitudes…
The $b \to s$ penguin amplitude affects a number of $B$ meson decays to two pseudoscalar ($P$) mesons in which potential anomalies are being watched carefully, though none has yet reached a statistically compelling level. These include (a)…
We show that the anomalies in the $B\to\pi\pi$ decay channels, {\em viz.}, the large branching ratio of $B\to\pi^0\pi^0$ and large direct CP asymmetry of $B\to\pi^+\pi^-$, can both be explained, even in the framework of existing theoretical…
We discuss the correlations of charming penguin contributions to $B\to\pi\pi$, $\pi K$ and KK using approximate flavor SU(3) symmetry. Strong constraints are found from the direct CP asymmetries especially in $\pi K$ modes. We make a global…
In charmless nonleptonic B decays to \pi\pi or \rho\rho, the "color allowed" and "color suppressed" tree amplitudes can be studied in a systematic expansion in \alphas(mb) and \Lambda/mb. At leading order in this expansion their relative…
Charmless B decay modes $B \to \pi \pi, \pi K$ and $KK$ aresystematically investigated with and without flavor SU(3) symmetry. Independent analyses on $\pi \pi$ and $\pi K$ modes both favor a large ratio between color-suppressed tree ($C$)…
The measured B -> pi pi, pi K branching ratios exhibit puzzling patterns. We point out that the B -> pi pi hierarchy can be nicely accommodated in the Standard Model (SM) through non-factorizable hadronic interference effects, whereas the B…
New data from the BaBar, Belle, and CLEO Collaborations on B decays to two-body charmless final states are analyzed, with the following consequences: (1) The penguin amplitude which dominates the decay $B^+ \to \pi^+ K^{*0}$ has a magnitude…
I discuss some puzzles observed in exclusive $B$ meson decays, concentrating on the large difference between the direct CP asymmetries in the $B^0\to \pi^\mp K^\pm$ and $B^\pm\to \pi^0 K^\pm$ modes, the large $B^0\to\pi^0\pi^0$ branching…
A major goal in B physics is measuring the CP-violating asymmetry in the decay $B^0 \rightarrow \pi^+ \pi^-$. In order to determine one of the phase angles in the CKM matrix from this decay it is necessary to determine the influence of the…
We summarize a recent strategy for a global analysis of the B -> pi pi, pi K systems and rare decays. We find that the present B -> pi pi and B -> pi K data cannot be simultaneously described in the Standard Model. In a simple extension in…
We compute branching ratios of $B\to K\pi$ decays in the framework of perturbative QCD factorization theorem. Decay amplitudes are classified into the topologies of tree, penguin and annihilation, all of which contain both factorizable and…
Full expressions of the $B^0_d \to \pi^+ \pi^-$ and $B^0_d \to \pi^0 \pi^0$ amplitudes, given in terms of matrix elements of operators of the effective weak Hamiltonian, are used to study the dependence of the relevant branching ratios on…
Motivated by the recent experimental data, we have revisited the $B\to \pi K,\pi \pi$ decays in the framework of QCD factorization, with inclusion of the important strong penguin corrections of order $\alpha_s^2$ induced by $b\to D g^\ast…
The influence of strong and electroweak penguin amplitudes in $B/ \bar B \rightarrow \pi^+\pi^-$ is investigated in connection with the determination of the unitarity triangle angle $\alpha$ of the CKM matrix. A relation between the…
Within the framework of the perturbative QCD approach, we study the two-body charmless decays $B\to K_1(1270)(K_1(1400))\pi(K)$. We find the following results: (i) The decays $\bar B^0\to K_1(1270)^+\pi^-, K_1(1400)^+\pi^-$ are incompatible…