Related papers: Nonspectator Effects and B Meson Lifetimes
Uncertainties in the theoretical prediction for the inclusive $B\to X_s\gamma$ decay rate are discussed. We emphasize that there is no operator product expansion for this process. Nonetheless, some nonperturbative effects involving a…
We review recent experimental results on lifetimes and hadronic decays of hadrons that contain $c$ and $b$ quarks. The theoretical implications of these results are also considered. An understanding of hadronic decays of heavy quarks is…
The form factors of weak decays of the B meson to orbitally excited scalar, axial vector and tensor light mesons are calculated in the framework of the QCD-motivated relativistic quark model based on the quasipotential approach.…
We present a considerably improved analysis of model-independent bounds on new physics effects in non-leptonic tree-level decays of B-mesons. Our main finding is that contributions of about $\pm 0.1 $ to the Wilson coefficient of the…
A new class of enhanced non-perturbative corrections to the inclusive B->X_s+gamma decay rate is identified, which contribute first at order Lambda/m_b in the heavy-quark expansion and cannot be described using a local operator product…
The lifetime splitting between the B^+ and B_d^0 mesons has recently been calculated in the next-to-leading order of QCD. These corrections are necessary for a reliable theoretical prediction, in particular for the meaningful use of…
We consider penguin contributions to the lifetime splitting between the $B_s$ and the $B_d$ meson. In the Standard Model the penguin effects are found to be opposite in sign, but of similar magnitude as the contributions of the…
Starting from the most general effective $|\Delta B| = 1$ Hamiltonian describing non-leptonic $b$-quark decays $b\to q_1 \bar q_2 q_3$, we compute analytic expressions for all matching coefficients of the two-quark operator contributions in…
The investigation of mixing phenomena and lifetime in neutral B meson systems provides an important testing ground for standard model flavour dynamics. Spectroscopic parameters has been used to calculate the pseudoscalar decay constant and…
Consequences of the interference between external and internal spectator amplitudes for the lifetimes and semileptonic decay fractions of $B^0$ and $B^+$ mesons are discussed. Extrapolating from the constructive interference observed in 11…
The total decay widths of heavy mesons can be systematically calculated in terms of an expansion in the two parameters $1/m_Q$ and $\alpha_s(m_Q)$, where $Q=c,b$ denotes the heavy quark. The dominant contributions to meson lifetime…
Various properties of heavy-light mesons are determined, including decay constants, the $B_{B}$-parameter, and the Isgur-Wise function. The heavy (bottom) quark is simulated with the static, NRQCD and/or (fixed-velocity) lattice-HQET…
Combined results on b-hadron lifetimes, b-hadron production rates, B^0_d - \bar{B^0_d} and B^0_s -\bar{B^0_s} oscillations, the decay width difference between the mass eigenstates of the B^0_s -\bar{B^0_s} system, and the values of the CKM…
We compute next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the $1/m_b^2$ terms of the Heavy Quark Expansion for the contribution to inclusive nonleptonic bottom hadron decays induced by the charged-current operators mediating the transitions $b…
The form factors parameterizing the B_c semileptonic matrix elements can be related to a few invariant functions if the decoupling of the spin of the heavy quarks in B_c and in the mesons produced in the semileptonic decays is exploited. We…
I discuss a QCD sum rule determination of the four-quark operator matrix elements contributing to the $\Lambda_b$ inclusive decay rates at the order $m_b^{-3}$. The results suggest that $1/m_b^3$ corrections are not responsible of the…
The form factors of weak decays of the B_c meson to orbitally excited charmonium, D, B_s and B mesons are calculated in the framework of the QCD-motivated relativistic quark model based on the quasipotential approach. Relativistic effects…
`Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old' Franz Kafka. In the last few years considerable progress has been achieved in our understanding of the decays of heavy flavour hadrons. One can now calculate inclusive transition…
Various exclusive and inclusive decays of B mesons are studied, at present, with dedicated experiments at ``B factories''. In order to compete with the experimental accuracy, we need a reliable theoretical framework to compute strong…
Consequences of the interference between spectator amplitudes for the lifetimes and semileptonic decay fractions of B^0 and B^+ mesons are discussed. Assuming duality and constructive interference between spectator amplitudes we are able to…