Complete angular analysis of the decay cascadeB→D ** (→D *(→Dπ)+π+W(→lv)

We develop a general algorithm for describing angular decay distributions in cascade decay chains of arbitrary length. The general algorithm is used to study joint angular decay distributions for the cascade decayB→D ^**(→D ^*(→Dπ)+W(→lv) where theD ^** is a genericP-wave charm meson state. Lepton mass effects are fully incorporated. The joint angular decay distribution depend on 43 independently measurable decay parameters if the spin parity of theD ^** is 1⁺ and on 48 decay parameters if the spin parity of theD ^** is 2⁺. We give expressions for these decay parameters in terms of the helicity amplitudes of the two-body decay processes. An absolute prediction for all the parameters is presented in the framework of the heavy quark effective theory. A method for obtaining the helicity amplitudes from measured joint angular distributions is suggested.