Related papers: The ultimate theoretical error on gamma from B -> …
A new approach to the parametrization of the CKM matrix, $V$, is considered in which $V$ is written as a linear combination of the unit matrix $I$ and a non-diagonal matrix $U$ which causes intergenerational-mixing, that is $V=\cos\theta…
I present the status of the elements and parameters of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix and summarise the related theoretical progress since "Lepton-Photon 2003". One finds |V_{us}| = 0.2227 +/- 0.0017 from K and tau decays and…
We study the (tree-level) weak radiative decays of $B$ mesons. We present a numerical estimate for the inclusive $b \to X_c \gamma (\gamma)$ modes based on the free-quark decay. We then review what is known for the $B \to D^\star \gamma$…
We reconsider two classical proposals for the determination of the angle gamma of the unitarity triangle: B^\pm => chi_{c0} \pi^\pm => \pi^+\pi^-\pi^\pm and B_s => rho^0 K_S => \pi^+ \pi^- K_S. We point out the relevance, in both cases, of…
The latest fits to the CKM matrix indicate that alpha=(90.7+4.5-2.9) degrees. The proximity of alpha to a right-angle raises the question: is it merely accidental or is it due to some physics beyond the Standard Model? In the framework of…
Full O(alpha) electroweak corrections for gamma-gamma-> W+W- are calculated including virtual corrections, soft and hard real photon and Z-boson emission. The corrections are quite large ranging from -2.5% at 500 GeV to -18% at 2 TeV,…
Two of the most powerful methods currently used to determine the angle $\gamma$ of the CKM Unitarity Triangle exploit $B^+ \to DK^+$, $D \to K_{\rm S}^0\pi^+\pi^-$ decays and $B^0 \to DK^+\pi^-$, $D \to K^+K^-$, $\pi^+\pi^-$ decays. It is…
Within the Standard Model, a review of the current determination of the sides and angles of the CKM unitarity triangle is presented, using experimental constraints from the measurements of |\epsilon_K|, |V_{ub}/V_{cb}|, \Delta m_d and from…
Ruling out the inverted neutrino hierarchy with neutrinoless double beta decay experiments is possible if a limit on the effective mass below the minimal theoretically possible value is reached. We stress that this lower limit depends…
In view of future plans for accurate measurements of the theoretically clean branching ratios Br(K+ -> pi+ nu nu) and Br(KL -> pi0 nu nu), that should take place in the next decade, we collect the relevant formulae for quantities of…
We report recent theoretical progress in the analysis of radiative corrections in inclusive rare B-decays. In view of the B-factories, currently under construction at SLAC and KEK, and of the upgraded CESR experiment, the experimental…
These lectures give a brief description of CP violation in B and K meson decays with particular emphasize put on the determination of the CKM matrix. The following topics will be discussed: i) The CKM matrix, the unitarity triangle and…
We describe a method for determining gamma using B^+- -> D K^+- decays followed by a multibody D decay. In the talk we focus on K_S pi^- pi^+ final state, but other modes such as D -> K_S K^- K^+ and D -> K_S pi^- pi^+ pi^0 can also be…
An improved flavor SU(3) method is presented for determining the weak angle $\gamma$ of the unitarity triangle using decay rates for $B^+\to K\pi, B^+\to K^+\bar K^0$ and $B^+\to \pi^+\eta$ (or $B^0\to K\pi$ and $B_s\to K \pi$), their…
Recent advances in the calculation of the $b\to s\gamma$ decay branching ratio are presented in the context of supersymmetric theories. Theoretical accuracy increased by inclusion of the next-to-leading order QCD corrections makes it…
We present results of a unitary triangle fit based on the scan method. This frequentist approach employs Gaussian uncertainties for experimental quantities, but makes no arbitrary assumptions about the distribution of theoretical errors.…
We perform a global fit using results of searches for electric dipole moments (EDM) of diamagnetic systems within the context of the minimal left-right symmetric model. In this way, we disentangle the new "left-right" electroweak and…
We study the implications of the recently improved upper limits on the branching ratios for the decays B -> rho gamma, expressed as R(rho gamma/K^* gamma) = BR(B -> rho gamma)/BR(B -> K^* gamma) <0.047. We work out the constraints that the…
The radiative decay $B \to \phi K \gamma$ is observed for the first time. The branching fraction for the charged $B^- \to \phi K^- \gamma$ decay mode is measured to be ${\cal B}(B^- \to \phi K^- \gamma) = (3.4 \pm 0.9 \pm 0.4) \times…
Unitarity triangles and characteristic measurables of the $3\times 3$ Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix are discussed. Beyond the $3\times 3$ CKM scheme we make a rephasing-invariant generalization of the Gronau-Wyler-Dunietz approach…