Related papers: The B -> pi pi, pi K Puzzles: Implications for Had…
Flavour physics offers interesting probes for the exploration of the Standard Model and the search for new physics. In these lectures, we focus on B- and K-meson decays, introduce the concept of low-energy effective Hamiltonians to describe…
Recently, we developed a strategy to analyse the B -> pi pi,pi K data. We found that the B -> pi pi measurements can be accommodated in the Standard Model (SM) through large non-factorizable effects. On the other hand, our analysis of the…
The exploration of the quark-flavour sector of the Standard Model is one of the hot topics in particle physics of this decade. In these studies, which show a fruitful interplay between theory and experiment, the B-meson system offers a…
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…
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…
In this decade, the exploration of CP violation is governed by the B-meson system, where non-leptonic decays play an outstanding role. To set the stage, we have first a look at the main strategies to circumvent the calculation of the…
B-meson decays play an important role in flavour physics. The $B \rightarrow \pi K$ decays are dominated by QCD loop diagrams (penguins) but also electroweak penguins, where New Physics may enter, have a significant impact on the decay…
The B-meson system offers interesting probes for the search of physics beyond the Standard Model. After addressing possible signals of new-physics contributions to the B -> phi K and B -> pi K decay amplitudes, we focus on the data for…
In the heavy-quark limit, the hadronic matrix elements entering nonleptonic $B$-meson decays into two light mesons can be calculated from first principles including ``nonfactorizable'' strong-interaction corrections. The $B\to\pi K,\pi\pi$…
The rare decays of mesons are higher order effects in weak interactions. The main contributions to such decay processes are from the Z-penguin, the photonpenguin and the box diagram. At the quark level, these contributions are well known.…
We review recent advances in the theory of strong-interaction effects and final-state interactions in hadronic weak decays of heavy mesons. In the heavy-quark limit, the amplitudes for most nonleptonic, two-body B decays can be calculated…
I review recent progress on exclusive hadronic B meson decays in the perturbative QCD approach, with focus on puzzles in the branching ratios and the CP asymmetries of the B -> pi K and B -> pi pi modes, and polarization fractions in B ->…
Many topics are discussed in b physics including lifetimes, decay mechanisms, determinations of the CKM matrix elements |V_{cb}| and |V_{ub}|, facilities for b quark studies, neutral $B$ meson mixing, rare b decays, hadronic decays and CP…
Hadronic decays of $B$ mesons are reviewed. First, masses of $B$ mesons and observed patterns together with physics behind them are discussed. Then the effective Hamiltonian responsible for major decays is presented and its practical…
A brief review of the current state of observed deviations of theoretical predictions from experimental data in semileptonic decays of $B$ and $B_c$ mesons is given. A theoretical analysis of these decays is carried out, taking into account…
We review recent advances in the theory of strong-interaction effects and final-state interactions in hadronic weak decays of heavy mesons. In the heavy-quark limit, the amplitudes for most nonleptonic, two-body B decays can be calculated…
CP-violating effects in decays of B mesons offer a wide spectrum of probes for testing the phase structure of the quark-flavour sector of the Standard Model. After a brief discussion of the picture emerging from the current LHC data, the…
The $B_s$-meson system is a key element in the $B$-physics programme of hadron colliders, offering various avenues to explore CP violation and to search for new physics. One of the most prominent decays is $B_s\to J/\psi\phi$, the…
With the running B, kaon and neutrino physics experiments, flavour physics takes centre stage within today's particle physics. We discuss the opportunities offered by these experiments in our search for new physics beyond the SM and discuss…
The study of b-hadrons made possible a great number of benchmark results in flavour physics. In recent years a lot of effort in understanding their dynamics has been done. These studies can represent a possible avenue for the discovery of…