Related papers: The B -> pi K Puzzle: A Status Report

Recently, we have seen interesting progress in the exploration of CP violation in B^0_d -> pi^+ pi^-: the measurements of mixing-induced CP violation by the BaBar and Belle collaborations are now in good agreement with each other, whereas…

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 $B\to\pi K$ decays with significant electroweak penguin contributions show a puzzling pattern. We explore this "$B\to\pi K$ puzzle" through a systematic strategy. The starting point, which is essentially unaffected by electroweak…

The recent observation of B_d -> pi^0 pi^0 at the B factories with a surprisingly large branching ratio represents a challenge for theory, and complements the amazingly small B_d -> pi^+ pi^- rate. We point out that all puzzling B -> pi pi…

The recently observed direct CP violation in $B_d \to K^+ \pi^-$ has raised suggestions of possible new physics. A robust test of the standard model vs. new physics is its prediction of equal direct CP violation in $B_s \to K^- \pi^+$…

We investigate allowed regions in observable space of B --> pi K, B_d --> pi^+pi^- and B_s --> K^+K^- decays, characterizing these modes in the Standard Model. After a discussion of a new kind of contour plots for the $B\to\pi K$ system, we…

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…

The $B\to\pi\pi,\pi K$ system offers a powerful laboratory to probe strong and weak interactions. Using the isospin symmetry, we determine hadronic $B\to\pi\pi$ parameters from data where new measurements of direct CP violation in…

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 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)…

The CP asymmetry in $B^0\to K^+\pi^-$ is expected to be similar to that in $B^+\to K^+\pi^0$. The experimental data however show $\sim 5\sigma$ difference between the two, leading to the so called $\Delta {A}_{K\pi}$ puzzle. Employing sum…

We analyse the B -> pi pi, pi K modes in the light of the most recent B-factory data, and obtain the following new results: (i) the B0 -> pi+ pi-, pi- K+ modes prefer gamma=(74+-6)deg, which - together with |V_ub/V_cb| - allows us to…

The large ratio of color-suppressed tree amplitude to color-allowed one in $B \to \pi \pi$ decays is difficult to understand within the Standard Model, which is known as the "$B \to \pi\pi$ puzzle". The two tree diagrams contain the up- and…

Using isospin relations, we predict the Standard-Model correlation between S_{pi^0 K_S}=(sin 2beta)_{pi^0 K_S} and A_{pi^0 K_S}, the mixing-induced and direct CP asymmetries of B^0-> pi^0 K_S. The calculation uses flavour SU(3) only to fix…

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 update the profile of the CKM matrix. The apex (rhobar,etabar) of the Unitarity Triangle is given by means of a global fit. We propose to include therein sin2alpha from the CP-violating asymmetries in B0->rho+rho-, using isospin to…

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 difference between the CP asymmetries of the $B^0 \to K^+ \pi^-$ and $B^+ \to K^+ \pi^0$ decays has been recently confirmed with an evidence larger than $5\sigma$'s. We discuss it as a possible signal of new physics associated with new…

The LHCb collaboration has recently reported the first observation of CP violation in the penguin-dominated $B^0_s\to K^-K^+$ decay and further new measurements, indicating differences between the direct CP asymmetries of both the $B^0_s\to…

Direct CP violation in B^0-> K^+\pi^- decay has emerged at -10% level, but the asymmetry in B^+ -> K^+\pi^0 mode is consistent with zero. This difference points towards possible New Physics in the electroweak penguin operator. We point out…