Inclusive semileptonic branching ratios of b hadrons produced in Z decays

A measurement of the inclusive semileptonic branching ratios of b hadrons produced in Z decay is presented, using four million hadronic events collected by the ALEPH detector from 1991 to 1995. Electrons and muons are selected opposite to b-tagged hemispheres. Two different methods are explored to distinguish the contributions from direct and cascade decays to the total lepton yield. One is based on the lepton transverse momentum spectrum, the other makes use of the correlation between the charge of the lepton and charge estimators built from tracks in the opposite hemisphere of the event. The latter method reduces the dependence on the modelling of semileptonic b decays. The results obtained by averaging the two techniques are Received: 1 August 2001 / Published online: 14 December 2001     

Measurements of inclusive semileptonic branching fractions of b hadrons in \boldmath Z^0z decays

A measurement of inclusive semileptonic branching fractions of b hadrons produced in Z decays is presented. An enriched Z sample is obtained with a lifetime flavour-tagging technique. The leptonic events are then selected from this sample, and classified according to their origin, which is determined by comparing the distribution of several kinematic variables using artificial neural network techniques. Using 3.6 million multihadronic events collected with the OPAL detector at energies near the Z resonance, the values are measured, where b denotes all weakly decaying b hadrons and represents either e or . The second error includes all experimental systematic uncertainties whereas the last error is due to uncertainties in modelling of the lepton momentum spectrum in semileptonic decays and b quark fragmentation. The average fraction of the beam energy carried by the weakly decaying b hadron, , is measured to be where the modelling error is dominated by the choice of b fragmentation model. The agreement between data and various semileptonic decay models and fragmentation functions is also investigated. Received: 11 June 1999 / Published online: 3 February 2000     

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).     

Inclusive charmed-baryon decays and lifetimes

We have quantitatively reanalyzed the inclusive charmed-baryon decays. New ingredients are the Voloshin preasymptotic effects in semileptonic decays and the Cabibbo-subleading contributions to both semileptonic and nonleptonic decays. It has been found that the Cabbibo-subleading Voloshin contribution essentially improves the theoretical semileptonic branching ratio of , in agreement with experiment. The semileptonic branching ratios for and are found to be large, i.e., of the order of 20%. The lifetimes hierarchy is in a good qualitative and even quantitative agreement with experiment except for the lifetime, which is somewhat smaller than the experimental value. Future measurements, especially measurements of the semileptonic branching ratios for , and should be decisive for the check of this approach. Received: 29 April 1997 / Revised version: 25 June 1997 / Published online: 20 February 1998     

A study of B meson oscillations using hadronic Z0 decays containing leptons

An event sample enriched in semileptonic decays of b hadrons is selected using an inclusive lepton selection from approximately 3.0 million hadronic Z⁰ decays collected with the OPAL detector. This sample is used to investigate B meson oscillations by reconstructing a proper decay time for the parent of each lepton, using a jet charge method to estimate the production flavour of this parent, and using the lepton charge to tag the decay flavour. We measure the mass difference between the two B⁰ _d mass eigenstates     

Measurement of the {\rm\bf B_{\bf d}^{\bf 0}- {\bf \bar{B}}_{\bf d}^{\bf 0}} oscillation frequency

Time-dependent mixing is studied using about two million hadronic Z decays registered by L3 in 1994 and 1995. For this study three techniques are used. Tagging of the b-quark charge at decay time is performed by identifying leptons from semileptonic B decays. The flavour of the b quark at production time is determined from the charge of the lepton in the opposite hemisphere or by using a jet-charge technique. The proper time of the B-particle decay is obtained by reconstructing the production and decay vertices or by a measurement of the lepton impact parameter. The combined result for the frequency of meson oscillations is Received: 20 February 1998 / Revised version: 23 March 1998 / Published online: 12 August 1998     

Heavy-heavy form factors and generalized factorization

We reanalyze and data to extract a set of parameters which give the relevant hadronic matrix elements in terms of factorized amplitudes. Various sources of theoretical uncertainties are studied, in particular those depending on the model adopted for the form factors. We find that the fit to the branching ratios substantially depends on the model describing the Isgur-Wise function and on the value of its slope. This dependence can be reduced by substituting the with suitable ratios of non-leptonic to differential semileptonic BRs. In this way, we obtain a model-independent determination of these parameters. Using these results, the form factors at can be extracted from a fit of the . The comparison between the form factors obtained in this way and the corresponding measurements in semileptonic decays can be used as a test of (generalized) factorization free from the uncertainties due to heavy-heavy form factor modeling. Finally, we present predictions for as-yet-unmeasured and branching ratios and extract and from decays. We find MeV and MeV, in good agreement with recent measurements and lattice calculations. Received: 7 October 1998 / Revised version: 4 December 1998 / Published online: 20 May 1999     

Inclusive decays and lifetimes of doubly-charmed baryons

The analysis of singly-charmed hadrons has been extended to the case of doubly-charmed baryons, , and . Doubly-charmed baryons are described as a system containing a heavy cc diquark and a light quark, as in the case of a heavy–light meson. This leads to preasymptotic effects in semileptonic and nonleptonic decays that are essentially proportional to the meson wave function. Interplay between preasymptotic effects in semileptonic and/or nonleptonic decay rates leads to very clear predictions for semileptonic branching ratios and lifetimes of doubly-charmed baryons. Received: 21 January 1999 / Published online: 20 May 1999     

Semileptonic decays of heavy quarks in quantum chromodynamics

We investigate the semileptonic decays of heavy quarks in the leading non-trivial order in quantum chromodynamics. Effects of gluon corrections and the initial quark Fermi motion on the semileptonic rates and decay distributions are calculated. The resulting lepton energy spectrum for the charm semileptonic decay is compared with data to extract the mass of the charm quark. This is combined with the semileptonic branching ratio to predict the charm-quark lifetime. We find the lepton energy spectrum very stable with respect to gluon corrections. Expected spectra from the semileptonic decays of bottom and top quarks are presented. We also study the semileptonic decay process Q → q?v_? + G, involving the emission of a single hard non-collinear gluon. This process should be observable with a branching ratio of a few percent in the decays of top (and heavier) quarks.     

Measurement of the semileptonic b branching fractions and average b mixing parameter in Z decays

The semileptonic branching fractions for primary and cascade b decays , and were measured in hadronic Z decays collected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP. The sample was enriched in b decays using the lifetime information and various techniques were used to separate leptons from direct or cascade b decays. By fitting the momentum spectra of di-leptons in opposite jets, the average b mixing parameter was also extracted. The following results have been obtained: Received: 3 March 2000 / Revised version: 23 April 2001 / Published online: 28 May 2001     

Observation of doubly-charmed B decays at LEP

A search for doubly-charmed B decays with both charmed mesons reconstructed is performed, using about 3.8 million hadronic Z decays recorded with the ALEPH detector at LEP. A clear signal is observed in the channels and (where D can be either a D, a D or a D), providing the first direct evidence for doubly-charmed B decays involving no production. Evidence for associated and production in the decays is also presented and some candidates for completely reconstructed decays , and are observed. Furthermore, candidates for the two-body Cabibbo suppressed decays and are also observed. Measurements of the corresponding branching fractions are extracted. Received: 6 March 1998 / Published online: 23 June 1998     

Improved direct measurement of A(b) and A(c) at the Z(0) pole using a lepton tag

The parity violation parameters A(b) and A(c) of the Zb(b) and Zc(c) couplings have been measured directly, using the polar angle dependence of the polarized cross sections at the Z(0) pole. Bottom and charmed hadrons were tagged via their semileptonic decays. Both the electron and muon analyses take advantage of new multivariate techniques to increase the analyzing power. Based on the 1993-1998 SLD sample of 550,000 Z(0) decays produced with highly polarized electron beams, we measure A(b) = 0.919+/-0.030(stat)+/-0.024(syst), and A(c) = 0.583+/-0.055(stat)+/-0.055(syst).     

Measurements of partial branching fractions for B-->Xulnu and determination of |Vub|

We present partial branching fractions for inclusive charmless semileptonic B decays B[over ]-->X_{u}lnu[over ], and the determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |V_{ub}|. The analysis is based on a sample of 383 x 10;{6} Upsilon(4S) decays into BB[over ] pairs collected with the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP-II e;{+}e;{-} storage rings. We select events using the invariant mass M_{X} of the hadronic system, the invariant mass squared, q;{2}, of the lepton and neutrino pair, the kinematic variable P+, or one of their combinations. We then determine partial branching fractions in limited regions of phase space: DeltaB=(1.18+/-0.09_{stat}+/-0.07_{syst}+/-0.01_{theor})x10;{-3} (M_{X}<1.55 GeV/c;{2}), DeltaB=(0.95+/-0.10_{stat}+/-0.08_{syst}+/-0.01_{theor})x10;{-3} (P+<0.66 GeV/c), and DeltaB=(0.81+/-0.08_{stat}+/-0.07_{syst}+/-0.02_{theor})x10;{-3} (M_{X}<1.7 GeV/c;{2}, q;{2}>8 GeV;{2}/c;{4}). Corresponding values of |V_{ub}| are extracted using several theoretical calculations.     

Measurements of direct CP violating asymmetries in charmless decays of strange bottom mesons and bottom baryons

We report measurements of direct CP-violating asymmetries in charmless decays of neutral bottom hadrons to pairs of charged hadrons with the upgraded Collider Detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. Using a data sample corresponding to 1 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity, we obtain the first measurements of direct CP violation in bottom strange mesons, A(CP)(B(s)(0)→K(-)π(+))=+0.39±0.15(stat)±0.08(syst), and bottom baryons, A(CP)(Λ(b)(0)→pπ(-))=+0.03±0.17(stat)±0.05(syst) and A(CP)(Λ(b)(0)→pK(-))=+0.37±0.17(stat)±0.03(syst). In addition, we measure CP violation in B(0)→K(+)π(-) decays with 3.5σ significance, A(CP)(B(0)→K(+)π(-))=-0.086±0.023(stat)±0.009(syst), in agreement with the current world average. Measurements of branching fractions of B(s)(0)→K(+)K(-) and B(0)→π(+)π(-) decays are also updated.     

Determination of the b -quark mass and nonperturbative parameters in semileptonic B -meson decays at BABAR⋆

Knowing the mass of the b -quark is essential to the study of the structure and decays of B -mesons as well as to future tests of the Higgs mechanism of mass generation. We present recent preliminary measurements of the b -quark mass and related nonperturbative parameters from moments of kinematic distributions in charmed and charmless semileptonic B -meson decays. Their determination from charmless semileptonic B -meson decays is the first measurement in this mode. The data were collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e ⁺ e ^- -collider at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center at a center-of-mass energy of 10.58GeV. Original article based on material presented at HADRON 2007.     

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.     

Investigation of inclusive CP asymmetries in \rm B^0 decays

A search for CP violating effects in the mixing of neutral B mesons is performed using a sample of 4.1 million hadronic Z decays collected with the ALEPH detector from 1991 to 1995. By studying time-dependent asymmetries in flavour-tagged samples of semileptonic and fully inclusive b-hadron decays, two measurements of the semileptonic asymmetry are extracted. No evidence for CP violation is observed, and the combined value is obtained. Received: 26 July 2000 / Published online: 8 June 2001     

Charged Higgs effects on exclusive semi-tauonicB decays

We study effects of charged Higgs boson exchange in theB semileptonic decays $\bar B \to D^{(*)} \tau \bar v_\tau $ . Both branching ratio and τ polarization are examined. We use the recent experimental data on semileptonicB decays and the heavy quark effective theory in order to reduce theoretical uncertainty in the hadronic form factors. Theoretical uncertainty in the branching ratio is found to be rather small and that in the τ polarization is almost negligible. Their measurements will give nontrivial constraints on the charged Higgs sector.     

Production of orbitally excited charm mesons in semileptonic B decays

A sample of 3.6 million hadronic Z decays recorded between 1991 and 1995 with the ALEPH detector at LEP is used to investigate semileptonic decays of B mesons into final states involving orbitally excited charm mesons. Topological vertex criteria are used to search for decays involving narrow D** states as well as wide D** resonances and non-resonant D(*)π final states. The sum of the branching ratios for these processes is measured to be ${? Br}({?erline {? B}}?ghtarrow {? D}? ?l^{-}{?erline v}) + {? Br}({?erline {? B}}?ghtarrow {? D}^{?t}? ?l^{-}{?erline v})?op =(2.26 pm 0.29({? stat}) pm 0.33({? syst}))%,$which accounts for a significant fraction of the deficit between inclusive measurements and the sum of exclusive semileptonic B decay modes.     

Observation of the decay B+ --> K+K-pi+

We report the observation of charmless hadronic decays of charged B mesons to the final state K{+}K{-}pi{+}. Using a data sample of 347.5 fb{-1} collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector, we observe 429+/-43 signal events with a significance of 9.6sigma. We measure the inclusive branching fraction B(B{+}-->K{+}K{-}pi{+})=[5.0+/-0.5(stat)+/-0.5(syst)]x10{-6}. Inspection of the Dalitz plot of signal candidates shows a broad structure peaking near 1.5 GeV/c{2} in the K+K- invariant mass distribution. We find the direct CP asymmetry to be consistent with zero.