Forward-backward asymmetry in top quark semileptonic decay

The semileptonic decay of the top quark t → bW⁺ → bl⁺ν_l is analyzed in the rest system of the W. The forward-backward asymmetry of the lepton l⁺ with respect to the heavy quark direction is defined and computed. It is argued that this observable will be an ideal tool to study top quark properties at Tevatron and LHC. Higher order QCD corrections are calculated and their structure is elucidated in some detail.     

Rare semileptonic decays of heavy mesons in the heavy quark limit

We study the branching ratios of D+→D0e+ν,DS+→D0e+ν,BS0→B+e-ν,DS+→D+e-e+ and BS0→B0e-e+ rare semileptonic decay processes,which are induced by decays of light quarks,the heavy quarks remain unchanged.The branching ratios of these decay processes are estimated in the heavy quark limit and with SU(3) flavor symmetry.We find that the decay rates are very tiny in the framework of the Standard Model.We also estimate the sensitivities of the measurements of these rare decays at the future experiments,such as BES-Ⅲ,super-B and LHC-b.Observations of these decays may shed some light on new physics beyond the standard model.     

Rare semileptonic decays of heavy mesons in the heavy quark limit

We study the branching ratios of D^＋ → D^0e^＋ν, Ds^＋ → D^0e^＋ν, Bs^0→B^＋e^-^-ν, Ds^＋→D^＋e^-e^＋ and Bs^0→B^0e^-e^＋ rare semileptonic decay processes, which are induced by decays of light quarks, the heavy quarks remain unchanged. The branching ratios of these decay processes are estimated in the heavy quark limit and with SU（3） flavor symmetry. We find that the decay rates are very tiny in the framework of the Standard Model. We also estimate the sensitivities of the measurements of these rare decays at the future experiments, such as BES-Ⅲ, super-B and LHC-b. Observations of these decays may shed some light on new physics beyond the standard model.     

Calculating heavy quark distributions

A systematic calculation of the evolution of parton distribution functions including the effects of heavy-quark masses is presented. The method involves the use of a special renormalization scheme which ensures ordinary massless evolution with the correct number of active quark flavors at all stages, and specifies appropriate matching conditions at thresholds. This method is applicable to all orders of the perturbation expansion in principle, and it is simple to implement in practice. Results of this calculation using known distributions at low energies as input are examined and compared with published results. The heavy-quark distribution functions are found to be about a factor of two larger than the well-known EHLQ results.     

Effects of multiplicity on charm semileptonic decay distributions

We consider the effects of multiplicity in semileptonic decays of charmed D(1.87) mesons, produced near threshold in e⁺e^? collisions. We calculate the decay distributions from uncorrelated D → (nπ)Kev and resonance dominated $\text{D}\text{→}\text{K}{}^1\text{e}\text{v}$ modes. Recent data from DORIS suggest that modes with two or more final hadrons dominate strongly.     

On the semileptonic decay of charmed hadrons

The semileptonic and leptonic decay modes of charmed hadrons produced in e⁺e^? collisions above 4 GeV in the cm have been investigated by selecting events with a single electron plus at least two charged tracks. The electron momentum spectrum peaks near 0.5 GeV/c with few events above 0.7 GeV/c. The spectrum excludes large rates for the decays $\text{D}\text{→}\text{e}\text{v}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>e</mtext>}}$ and $\text{D}\text{→}\text{e}\text{v}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>e</mtext>}}\text{π}$, but is compatible with $\text{D}\text{→}\text{e}\text{v}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>e</mtext>}}\text{K}{}^1\text{(892)}$, $\text{D}\text{→}\text{e}\text{v}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>e</mtext>}}\text{K}$ or a mixture of both. The semileptonic branching ratio is obtained both by comparing the inclusive electron cross section with the total cross section attributable to charm, and by studying the fraction of events containing a second electron. The semileptonic charm branching ratios obtained are 0.11 ± 0.03 and 0.16 ± 0.06 respectively. A single event with three electrons and hadrons is found, consistent with the estimated background. The 90% confidence upper limit for σ(e⁺e^? → 3e + hadrons) is 0.1 nb.     

Jet-like distributions from the weak decay of heavy quarks

We consider the production and weak decay of a pair of heavy quarks (mesons) ine ⁺ e ^? experiments and study their effect on the various jet distributions. The relative magnitudes of the two-quark-jet and three-quark-jet final states, in the decay of a heavy quark are estimated in the framework of an SU(2) _L ×U(1) model. We find that the three quark configuration dominates over the two quark configuration. For the quark jets resulting from the weak decay of the heavy quarks, we calculate the jet distributions in Sphericity, Spherocity and Thrust for the process \(e^ + e^ - \to Q\bar Q \to 6\) quarks. These distributions are compared with the corresponding quantities from the non-perturbative process \(e^ + e^ - \to q\bar q\) and the QCD process \(e^ + e^ - \to q\bar qg\) . We find that the weak decay of heavy quarks is the dominant mechanism for jet broadening ine ⁺ e ^? experiments, in the intermediate energy region relevant for PETRA and PEP.     

A quark model study of semileptonic baryon decays in the electronic decay modes

A relativistic quark model based on Dirac equation with the independent-quark confining potential of the form (1 +γ ⁰)[a ln(r/b)] is used to compute the weak electric and magnetic form factors for semileptonic baryonic decays in the electronic decay modes. The values obtained for (g ₂/g ₁) agree with the non relativistic results and those for (f ₂/f ₁) agree with the MIT bag model values of Donoghue and Holstein. The SU(3) symmetry breaking does not generate appreciable departures in (f ₂/f ₁) values from corresponding Cabibbo values.     

Predictions for semileptonic decay rates of charmed baryons in the quark confinement model

Baryons as relativistic three-quark states are investigated in the quark confinement model (QCM), a relativistic quark model based on some assumptions about hadronization and quark confinement. In the framework of the quark-diquark approximation of the three-quark structure of baryons, the main characteristics of light (noncharmed) baryons are calculated. The obtained results agree with experimental data. Predictions are also given for semileptonic decay of charmed baryons and differential production cross-sections in quasielastic neutrino scattering of charmed baryons.     

Determination of heavy quark non-perturbative parametersfrom spectral moments in semileptonic B decays

Moments of the hadronic invariant mass and of the lepton energy spectra in semileptonic B decays have been determined with the data recorded by the DELPHI detector at LEP. From measurements of the inclusive b-hadron semileptonic decays, and imposing constraints from other measurements on b- and c-quark masses, the first three moments of the lepton energy distribution and of the hadronic mass distribution, have been used to determine parameters which enter into the extraction of |V_cb| from the measurement of the inclusive b-hadron semileptonic decay width. The values obtained in the kinetic scheme are: and include corrections at order 1/m_b³. Using these results, and present measurements of the inclusive semileptonic decay partial width of b-hadrons at LEP, an accurate determination of |V_cb| is obtained: Received: 26 April 2005, Revised: 16 September 2005, Published online: 16 November 2005     

Polarized heavy quark photoproduction in next to leading order

Results of our next-to-leading order analytic calculation for longitudinally polarized photoproduction of heavy quarks are presented. Certain differential cross sections and the corresponding asymmetries are computed for energy ranges accessible to CERN and HERA. We argue that determination of the polarized gluon distribution is possible at both places: at HERA certain acceptance cuts are necessary.