Measurement of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element V(ub) with B-->rhoenu decays

We present a measurement of the branching fraction for the rare decays B-->rhoenu and extract a value for the magnitude of V(ub), one of the smallest elements of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa quark-mixing matrix. The results are given for five different calculations of form factors used to para-metrize the hadronic current in semileptonic decays. Using a sample of 55 x 10(6) BB meson pairs recorded with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e(+)e(-) storage ring, we obtain B(B0-->rho(-)e(+)nu)=(3.29+/-0.42+/-0.47+/-0.55) x 10(-4) and |V(ub)|=(3.64+/-0.22+/-0.25(+0.39)(-0.56)) x 10(-3), where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and theoretical, respectively.     

An evaluation of |V us | and precise tests of the Standard Model from world data on leptonic and semileptonic kaon decays

We present a global analysis of leptonic and semileptonic kaon decay data, including all recent results published by the BNL-E865, KLOE, KTeV, ISTRA+ and NA48 experiments. This analysis, in conjunction with precise lattice calculations of the hadronic matrix elements now available, leads to a very precise determination of |V _us | and allows us to perform several stringent tests of the Standard Model.     

Comments on |V ub /V cb | and |V ub | from non-leptonic B decays within the perturbative QCD approach

The Color String Percolation Model (CSPM) is used to determine the equation of state (EOS) of the Quark–Gluon Plasma (QGP) produced in central Au–Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathit{NN}}} = 200$  A GeV using STAR data at RHIC. When the initial density of interacting colored strings exceeds the 2D percolation threshold a cluster is formed, which defines the onset of color deconfinement. These interactions also produce fluctuations in the string tension which transforms the Schwinger particle (gluon) production mechanism into a maximum entropy thermal distribution analogous to QCD Hawking–Unruh radiation. The single string tension is determined by identifying the known value of the universal hadron limiting temperature T _c =167.7±2.6 MeV with the CSPM temperature at the critical percolation threshold parameter ξ _c =1.2. At midrapidity the initial Bjorken energy density and the initial temperature determine the number of degrees of freedom consistent with the formation of a ～2+1 flavor QGP. An analytic expression for the equation of state, the sound velocity $C_{s}^{2}(\xi)$ is obtained in CSPM. The CSPM $C_{s}^{2}(\xi)$ and the bulk thermodynamic values energy density ε/T ⁴ and entropy density s/T ³ are in excellent agreement in the phase transition region with recent lattice QCD simulations (LQCD) by the HotQCD Collaboration.     

Precise determination of |V(us)| from lattice calculations of pseudoscalar decay constants

Combining the ratio of experimental kaon and pion decay widths, Gamma(K-->munu (mu)(gamma))/Gamma(pi-->munu (mu)(gamma)), with a recent lattice gauge theory calculation of f(K)/f(pi) provides a precise value for the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa quark mixing matrix element |V(us)|=0.2219(25) or if three generation unitarity is assumed |V(us)|=0.222 1(24). Comparison with other determinations of that fundamental parameter, implications, and an outlook for future improvements are given.     

Measurement of the branching fraction, polarization, and asymmetry for decays, and determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa phase

We have measured the branching fraction , longitudinal polarization fraction f(L), and CP asymmetry coefficients A and S for B(0) --> rho(+) rho(-) decays with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+) e(-) collider using 253 Fb(-1) of data. We obtain B = [22.8 +/- 3.8(stat)(+2.3)(-2.6)(syst)] x 10(-6), f(L) = 0.941 (+0.034)(-0.040)(stat) +/- 0.030(syst). A = 0.00 +/- 0.30(stat) +/- 0.09(syst) and S = 0.08 +/- 0.09(syst). These values are used to constrain the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa phase ; the solution consistent with the standard model is phi(2) = (88 +/- 17) degrees or 59 degrees < phi(2) < 115 degrees at 90% C.L.     

V(us) and m(s) from hadronic tau decays

Recent experimental results on hadronic tau decays into strange particles by the OPAL Collaboration are employed to determine V(us) and m(s) from moments of the invariant mass distribution. Our results are V(us)=0.2208+/-0.0034 and m(s)(2 GeV)=81+/-22 MeV. The error on V(us) is dominated by experiment and should be improvable in the future. Nevertheless, already now our result is competitive with the standard extraction of V(us) from K(e3) decays, and it is compatible with unitarity.     

Improved Measurement of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa angle alpha using B0(B) --> rho+rho- decays

We present results from an analysis of B(0)B(0)--> rho(+)rho(-) using 232 x 10(6) Gamma (4S) --> BB decays collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B factory at SLAC. We measure the longitudinal polarization fraction f(L) = 0.978 +/- 0.014(stat) + 0.021 / -0.029(syst) and the CP-violating parameters S(L)= -0.33 +/- 0.24(stat) + 0.08 / -0.14(syst) and C(L)= -0.03 +/- 0.18(stat) +/- 0.09(syst). Using an isospin analysis of B --> rhorho decays, we determine the unitarity triangle parameter alpha. The solution compatible with the standard model is alpha = (100 +/- 13) degrees.     

A detailed analysis ofD-,D s - andB-meson transition form factors and the determination of |V cb |

We study various transition form factors in semi-leptonic decays ofD-,D _s -,B- andB _s -mesons using the pole dominance assumption. The vector current form factor is found to have only a negligible contribution to the decay rates involving pseudoscalar to vector transitions. In view of this fact we evaluate the form factors from present experimental data on the exclusive semi-leptonic decay rateΓ and the ratioΓ _l /Γ _T of the longitudinal and transverse partial decay rates. Some non-leptonic two-body decay rates are also investigated using the factorization ansatz. Consistency with the semi-leptonic decays is found. The transition form factors of theD- andD _s -mesons are found to contradict the predictions of quark model. In contrast, the experimental data on the transition form factors ofB-mesons are found to be consistent with the quark model predictions. The KM matrix element |V _cb | is determined to be |V _cb |=0.040±0.010, a value somewhat smaller than is usually chosen.     

Heavy to light transitions in the heavy quark limit and the determination of |V UB |

We discuss semileptonic decays of heavy mesons into light pseudoscalar and vector mesons. Exploiting the symmetries arising in the heavy quark limit we use the known data on semileptonicD decays to predict the corresponding rates for semileptonicB decays. These consideration may serve as a model independent way to extract theub matrix element of the CKM matrix.Supported by a grant of Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

A determination of the CKM-matrix element ratio |V ts |/|V cb | from the rareB-decaysB→K *+γ andB→X s +γ

Implications of the recent CLEO observation [1] of the rare decay modeB→K ^*+γ having a combined branching ratio BR(B→K ^*+γ)=(4.5±1.5±0.9)×10^?5 and an improved upper limit on the inclusive branching ratio BR(B→X _s +γ)<5.4×10^?4 (95% C.L.) [2] are discussed in the context of the Standard Model (SM). Using the unitarity of the CKM-matrix and taking into account QCD radiative corrections in the decay rate and the inclusive photon energy spectrum we obtain an improved upper limit on the inclusive branching ratio BR(B→X _s +γ)<4.8×10^?4 (95% C.L.). This can be used to constrain possible non-SM contributions to the inclusive branching ratio, giving BR(B→X _s +γ) (non-SM)<3.0×10^?4 form _t >-108 GeV. Within the SM, we show that the resulting experimental upper limit can be interpreted as a corresponding limit on the CKM-matrix element ratio yielding |V _ts |/|V _cb |<1.67, with the top quark mass assumed to weigh less than 200 GeV. We calculate the relative exclusive to inclusive branching ratioR(K ^*/X _s )≡Γ(B→K ^*+γ)/Γ(B→X _s +γ), based on the inclusive hadronic invariant mass distribution inB→X _s +γ. Estimating theK ^*-contribution from this distribution in the threshold region (m _K +m _π)≤m _{X s} ≤0.97 GeV and using experimental measurements from the semileptonicD-decaysD→K+π+?v _? in the same mass interval, we obtainR(K ^*/X _s )=0.13±0.03. This enables us to put a lower bound on the ratio |V _ts |/|V _cb | from the 95% C.L. lower limit on the branching ratio BR(B→K ^*+γ)>1.6×10^?5 [1,2]. Combining the exclusive and inclusive decay rates, we determine 0.50≤|V _ts |/|V _cb |≤1.67 (at 95% C.L.).     

Study of exclusive charmless semileptonic B decays and |Vub|

We study semileptonic B decay to the exclusive charmless states pi, rho/omega, eta, and eta;{'} using the 16 fb(-1) CLEO Upsilon(4S) data sample. We find B(B0-->pi-l+nu)=(1.37+/-0.15stat+/-0.11sys)x10(-4) and B(B0-->rho-l+nu)=(2.93+/-0.37stat+/-0.37sys)x10(-4) and find evidence for B+-->eta'l+nu, with B(B+-->eta'l+nu)=(2.66+/-0.80stat+/-0.56sys)x10(-4). From our B-->pilnu rate for q2>16 GeV2 and lattice QCD, we find |Vub|=(3.6+/0.4stat+/0.2syst-0.4thy+0.6)x10(-3) [corrected]     

Measurement of the inclusive charmless semileptonic branching ratio of B mesons and determination of |V ub|

We report a measurement of the inclusive charmless semileptonic branching fraction of B mesons in a sample of 89 x 10(6) (-)BB events recorded with the BABAR detector at the Upsilon(4S) resonance. Events are selected by fully reconstructing the decay of one B meson and identifying a charged lepton from the decay of the other B meson. The number of signal events is extracted from the mass distribution of the hadronic system accompanying the lepton and is used to determine the ratio of branching fractions B((-)B-->X(u)lnu;)/B((-)B-->Xlnu;)=[2.06+/-0.25(stat)+/-0.23(syst)+/-0.36(theo)]x10(-2). Using the measured branching fraction for inclusive semileptonic B decays, we find B((-)B-->X(u)lnu;)=[2.24+/-0.27(stat)+/-0.26(syst)+/-0.39(theo)]x10(-3) and derive the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |V(ub)|=[4.62+/-0.28(stat)+/-0.27(syst)+/-0.48(theo)]x10(-3).     

Direct determination of the hubble parameter using type IIn supernovae

A novel approach, a Dense Shell Method, is proposed for measuring distances for cosmology. It is based on original Baade idea to relate absolute difference of photospheric radii with photospheric velocity. We demonstrate that this idea works: the new method does not rely on the Cosmic Distance Ladder and gives satisfactory results for the most luminous Type IIn Supernovae. This allows one to make them good primary distance indicators for cosmology. Fixing correction factors for illustration, we obtain with this method the median distance of ≈ 68₋₁₅⁺¹⁹(68%CL) Mpc to SN 2006gy and median Hubble parameter 79₋₁₇⁺²³(68%CL) km/(s Mpc).