Exclusive semileptonic decays of heavy mesons

Exclusive semileptonic decays of heavy mesons provide interesting information on systems consisting of quarks of unequal mass. We express the formfactors of the hadronic current in terms of relativistic bound state wave functions for which we take the solutions of a relativistic harmonic oscillator potential. The wave function overlap is determined by the quark mass dependent longitudinal momentum distribution and differs from results based on non relativistic wave functions. The semileptonic widths and lepton spectra are calculated using in addition nearest pole dominance for the momentum transfer dependence of the formfactors. We compare our results with recent experimental data. The formfactor calculation also allows an estimate of special nonleptonic transitions. From the CLEO results on \(\bar B^0 \to \pi ^ + \pi ^ -\) and \(\bar B^0 \to D^{* + } + \pi ^ -\) we find for the corresponding Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element ratio the limit |V _ub /V _cb |?0.3.     

Exclusive two-body weak decays of heavy mesons

Two-body weak decays of heavy mesons are studied using a simple non-relativistic model for the meson-quark-antiquark vertex. Numerical results are compared with experimental data where possible. The properties of the amplitudes calculated suggest that dynamical factors are important in determining the nature of these decays.     

Lepton-number violating decays of heavy mesons

The experimental observation of lepton-number violating processes would unambiguously indicate the Majorana nature of neutrinos. Various ΔL=2 processes for pseudoscalar meson M ₁ decays to another pseudoscalar meson M ₂ and two charged leptons ? ₁, ? ₂ (\(M_{1}^{+}\rightarrow \ell_{1}^{+}\ell_{2}^{+}M_{2}^{-}\)) have been studied extensively. Extending the existing literature on the studies of these kinds of process, we consider the rare decays of heavy mesons to a vector meson or a pseudoscalar meson. These processes have not been searched for experimentally, while they may have sizable decay rates. We calculate their branching fractions and propose to search for these decay modes in the current and forthcoming experiments, in particular at the LHCb.     

Radiative decays of heavy mesons with heavy quark symmetry

The radiative decays of heavy mesons are considered in heavy quark symmetry formalism. Introducing the interpolating fields for the heavy mesons we obtain the transition matrix element and the corresponding decay widths in the heavy quark symmetry limits. The Isgur-Wise function present in the expression is determined by ISGW quark model. The results obtained agree reasonably well with other estimations.     

Inclusive semileptonic decays of B mesons

The probability of inclusive semileptonic decay of B mesons is calculated in the constituent-quark model. A compact formula is obtained for the differential decay width of a B meson in terms of the corresponding decay width of a free b quark and the wave function of the internal motion of the quarks in the B meson. Numerical values of semileptonic-decay widths are obtained for a series of models of the wave function. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 65, No. 10, 734–737 (25 May 1997)     

Radiative leptonic decays of heavy mesons in heavy quark limit

We study the radiative leptonic decays of heavy mesons within the covariant light-front model. Using this model, both the form factors F_V and F_A have the same form when the heavy quark limit is taken. In addition, the relation between the form factor F_V and the decay constant of a heavy meson F_H is obtained. The hadronic parameter β can be determined by the parameters appearing in the wave function of the heavy meson. We find that the value of β is not only quite smaller than the one in the non-relativistic case, but also insensitive to the value of the light quark mass m_q. These results mean that the relativistic effects are very important in this work. We also obtain that the branching ratio of B→lν_lγ is about (1.40–1.67)×10^-6, in agreement with the general estimates in the literature. PACS 12.39.Hg; 13.40.Gp     

Hadronic weak decays of heavy mesons and nonfactorization

The parameters L_1,2, which measure nonfactorizable soft gluon contributions to hadronic weak decays of mesons, are updated by extracting them from the data of D,rBMPP,r VP decays (P: pseudoscalar meson, V: vector meson). It is found that L₂ ranges from т.36 to т.60 in the decays from DMK¥? to D⁺MJ?⁺,r DMK¥^*?, while it is of order 10% with a positive sign in BMNK,r D?,r D^*?,r DA decays. Therefore, the effective parameter a₂ is process dependent in charm decay, whereas it stays fairly stable in B decay. This is in accordance with the picture that nonfactorizable soft gluon effects become stronger when the relative momentum of the decay particles becomes smaller. As for D,r BMVV decays, the presence of nonfactorizable terms in general prevents a possible definition of effective a₁ and a₂. This is reinforced by the observation of a large longitudinal polarization fraction in BMNK^* decay, implying nonfactorizable effects contributing differently to S-, Pand D-wave amplitudes. We found that A^nf₁/A₁>0> A^nf₂/A₂,r V^nf/V (nf standing for nonfactorization) for BMNK^* decay and 0>A^nf₁/A₁>A^nf₂/A₂,r V^nf/V for DMK¥^*A decay. A measurement of longitudinally and transversely polarized decay rates &_L and &_T in colorsuppressed decay modes B¥⁰MD^*0A⁰, D^*0P and D⁺M JA⁺ is urged.     

Hadronic weak decays of heavy mesons and nonfactorization

The parametersχ _1,2, which measure nonfactorizable soft gluon contributions to hadronic weak decays of mesons, are updated by extracting them from the data ofD, B→PP, VP decays (P: pseudoscalar meson,V: vector meson). It is found thatχ ₂ ranges from −0.36 to −0.60 in the decays fromD→Kπ toD ⁺→φπ ⁺,D→K*π, while it is of order 10% with a positive sign inB→ψK, Dπ, D*π, Dρ decays. Therefore, the effective parametera ₂ is process dependent in charm decay, whereas it stays fairly stable inB decay. This is in accordance with the picture that nonfactorizable soft gluon effects become stronger when the relative momentum of the decay particles becomes smaller. As forD, B→VV decays, the presence of nonfactorizable terms in general prevents a possible definition of effectivea ₁ anda ₂. This is reinforced by the observation of a large longitudinal polarization fraction inB→ψK* decay, implying nonfactorizable effects contributing differently toS-, P- andD-wave amplitudes. We found thatA ₁ ^nf /A ₁>0>A ₂ ^nf /A ₂,V ^nf/V (nf standing for nonfactorization) forB→ψK* decay and 0>A ₁ ^nf /A ₁>A ₂ ^nf /A ₂,V ^nf/V forD→K*ρ decay. A measurement of longitudinally and transversely polarized decay rates Γ _L and Γ _T in color-suppressed decay modesB ⁰→D*⁰ ρ ⁰,D*⁰ ω andD ⁺→φρ ⁺ is urged.