Observation of B --> K(+/-) pi(0) and B --> (K)0 pi(0), and evidence for B --> pi(+)pi(-)

We have studied charmless hadronic decays of B mesons into two-body final states with kaons and pions and observe three new processes with the following branching fractions: beta(B-->pi(+)pi(-)) = (4.3(+1. 6)(-1.4)+/-0.5)x10(-6), beta(B-->K(0)pi(0)) = (14.6(+5.9+2.4)(-5.1-3. 3))x10(-6), and beta(B-->K(+)/-pi(0)) = (11.6(+3.0+1.4)(-2.7-1.3))x10(-6). We also update our previous measurements for the decays B-->K(+)/-pi(-/+) and B+/--->K(0)pi(+/-).     

Observation of B(+)-->pppi+, B0-->ppK0, and B(+)-->ppK(*+)

We report the first observation of a b-->u type charmless baryonic B decay, B+-->pppi(+), as well as b-->s type B0-->ppK0 and B+-->ppK(*+) decays. The analysis is based on a 78 fb(-1) data sample recorded on the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at KEKB. We find B(B+-->pppi(+))=(3.06(+0.73)(-0.62)+/-0.37)x10(-6), B(B0-->ppK0)=(1.88(+0.77)(-0.60)+/-0.23)x10(-6), and B(B+-->ppK(*+))=(10.3(+3.6+1.3)(-2.8-1.7))x10(-6). We also update B(B+-->ppK+)=(5.66(+0.67)(-0.57)+/-0.62)x10(-6) and present an upper limit on B(B0-->ppK(*0)) at the 90% confidence level. A common feature of the observed decay modes is threshold peaking in baryon pair invariant mass.     

Search for radiative penguin decays B(+)-->rho(+)gamma, B(0)-->rho(0)gamma, and B(0)-->omegagamma

A search for the decays B-->rho(770)gamma and B0-->omega(782)gamma is performed on a sample of 211 x 10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->BB events collected by the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP-II asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) storage ring. No evidence for the decays is seen. We set the following limits on the individual branching fractions: B(B+-->rho(+)gamma)<1.8 x 10(-6), B(B0-->rho(0)gamma)<0.4 x 10(-6), and B(B0-->omegagamma)<1.0 x 10(-6) at the 90% confidence level. We use the quark model to limit the combined branching fraction B [B-->(rho/omega)gamma]<1.2 x 10(-6), from which we determine a constraint on the ratio of Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix elements |V(td)|/|V(ts)|.     

Observation of CP violation in B(0) --> K(+)pi(-) and B(0) --> pi(+)pi(-)

We report observations of CP violation in the decays B(0) --> K(+)pi(-) and B(0) --> pi(+)pi(-) in a sample of 383 x 10(6) Upsilon(4S) --> BB[over] events. We find 4372+/-82 B(0) --> K(+)pi(-) decays and measure the direct CP-violating charge asymmetry A(Kpi) = -0.107+/-0.018(stat)(-0.004)(+0.007)(syst), which excludes the CP-conserving hypothesis with a significance of 5.5 standard deviations. In the same sample, we find 1139+/-49 B(0) --> pi(+)pi(-) decays and measure the CP-violating asymmetries S(pipi) = -0.60+/-0.11(stat)+/-0.03(syst) and C(pipi) = -0.21+/-0.09(stat)+/-0.02(syst). CP conservation in B(0) --> pi(+)pi(-) (S(pipi) = C(pipi) = 0) is excluded at a confidence level 1-C.L. = 8 x 10(-8), corresponding to 5.4 standard deviations.     

Observation of B0-->omega K0, B+-->eta pi+, and B+-->eta K+ and study of related decays

We present measurements of branching fractions and charge asymmetries for seven B-meson decays with an eta, eta', or omega meson in the final state. The data sample corresponds to 89x10(6) BB pairs produced from e(+)e(-) annihilation at the Upsilon(4S) resonance. We measure the following branching fractions in units of 10(-6): B(B+-->eta pi(+))=5.3+/-1.0+/-0.3, B(B+-->eta K+)=3.4+/-0.8+/-0.2, B(B0-->eta K0)=2.9+/-1.0+/-0.2 (<5.2, 90% C.L.), B(B+-->eta(')pi(+))=2.7+/-1.2+/-0.3 (<4.5, 90% C.L.), B(B+-->omega pi(+))=5.5+/-0.9+/-0.5, B(B+-->omega K+)=4.8+/-0.8+/-0.4, and B(B0-->omega K0)=5.9(+1.6)(-1.3)+/-0.5. The charge asymmetries are A(ch)(B+-->eta pi(+))=-0.44+/-0.18+/-0.01, A(ch)(B+-->eta K+)=-0.52+/-0.24+/-0.01, A(ch)(B+-->omega pi(+))=0.03+/-0.16+/-0.01, and A(ch)(B+-->omega K+)=-0.09+/-0.17+/-0.01.     

Study of B Decays to Charmonium States: B-->eta(c)K and B --> chi(c0)K

In a sample of 9.66x10(6)B&Bmacr; pairs collected with the CLEO detector we make the first observation of B decays to an eta(c) and a kaon. We measure branching fractions B(B+-->eta(c)K+) = (0.69(+0.26)(-0.21)+/-0.08+/-0.20)x10(-3) and B(B degrees -->eta(c)K degrees ) = (1.09(+0.55)(-0.42)+/-0.12+/-0.31)x10(-3), where the first error is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is from the eta(c) branching fraction uncertainty. From these we extract the eta(c) decay constant in the factorization approximation, f(eta(c)) = 335+/-75 MeV. We also search for B decays to a chi(c0) and a kaon. No evidence for a signal is found and we set 90% C.L. upper limits: B(B+-->chi(c0)K+)<4.8x10(-4) and B(B degrees -->chi(c0)K degrees )<5.0x10(-4).     

Observation of B(0) --> D0pi(0) and B(0) -->D(*0)pi(0)

We have studied the color-suppressed hadronic decays of neutral B mesons into the final states D*0pi(0). Using 9.67 x 10(6) BB pairs collected with the CLEO detector, we observe the decays B( 0) --> D0pi(0) and B( 0) -->D(*0)pi(0) with the branching fractions BB( 0) -->D0pi(0)) = (2.74(+0.36)(-0.32) +/- 0.55)x10(-4) and BB( 0) -->D(*0)pi(0)) = (2.20(+0.59)(-0.52) +/- 0.79)x10(-4). The first error is statistical and the second systematic. The statistical significance of the D0pi(0) signal is 12.1sigma ( 5.9sigma for D(*0)pi(0)). Utilizing the B( 0) -->D*0)pi(0) branching fractions we determine the strong phases delta(I,D(*)) between isospin 1/2 and 3/2 amplitudes in the Dpi and D*pi final states to be cosdelta(I,D) = 0.89 +/-0.08 and cosdelta(I,D*) = 0.89 +/- 0.08, respectively.     

Observation of large CP violation and evidence for direct CP violation in B0-->pi(+)pi(-) decays

We report the first observation of CP violation in B0-->pi(+)pi(-) decays based on 152x10(6) gamma (4S)-->BB decays collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. We reconstruct a B0-->pi(+)pi(-) CP eigenstate and identify the flavor of the accompanying B meson from its decay products. From the distribution of the time intervals between the two B meson decay points, we obtain A(pipi)=+0.58+/-0.15(stat)+/-0.07(syst) and S(pipi)=-1.00+/-0.21(stat)+/-0.07(syst). We rule out the CP-conserving case, A(pipi)=S(pipi)=0, at a level of 5.2 standard deviations. We also find evidence for direct CP violation with a significance at or greater than 3.2 standard deviations for any S(pipi) value.     

Observation of B(0)-->D((*)0)pp

The B meson decay modes B-->Dpp; and B-->D(*)pp; have been studied using 29.4 fb(-1) of data collected with the Belle detector at KEKB. The B;(0)-->D(0)pp; and B;(0)-->D(*0)pp; decays have been observed for the first time with branching fractions B(B;(0)-->D(0)pp;)=(1.18+/-0.15+/-0.16)x10(-4) and B(B;(0)-->D(*0)pp;)=(1.20(+0.33)(-0.29)+/-0.21)x10(-4). No signal has been found for the B+-->D(+)pp; and B+-->D(*+)pp; decay modes, and the corresponding upper limits at 90% C.L. are presented.     

Observation of the decay Omega(0)(c)-->Omega(-)e(+)nu(e)

Using the CLEO detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring we have observed the Omega(0)(c) (css ground state) in the decay Omega(0)(c)-->Omega(-)e(+)nu(e). We find a signal of 11.4+/-3.8(stat) events. The probability that we have observed a background fluctuation is 7.6x10(-5). We measure B(Omega(0)(c)-->Omega(-)e(+)nu(e)).sigma(e(+)e(-)-->Omega(0)(c)X)=(42.2+/-14.1(stat)+/-5.7(syst)) fb and R=[Gamma(Omega(0)(c)-->Omega(-)pi(+))]/[Gamma(Omega(0)(c)-->Omega(-)enu(e))]=00.41+/-0.19(stat)+/-0.04(syst). This is the first statistically significant observation of an individual decay mode of the Omega(0)(c) in e(+)e(-) annihilation and the first example of a baryon decaying via beta emission, where no quarks from the first generation participate in the reaction.     

Observation of B(0)-->D(*-)tau(+)nu(tau) decay at Belle

We report an observation of the decay B{0}-->D{*-}tau{+}nu{tau} in a data sample containing 535x10{6} BB pairs collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e{+}e{-} collider. We find a signal with a significance of 5.2sigma and measure the branching fraction B(B{0}-->D{*-}tau{+}nu{tau})=(2.02{-0.37}{+0.40}(stat)+/-0.37(syst))%. This is the first observation of an exclusive B decay with a b-->ctaunu{tau} transition.     

Observation of the color-suppressed decay B( 0)-->D(0)pi(0)

We report the first observation of color-suppressed B( 0)-->D(0)pi(0), D(*0)pi(0), D0eta, and D0omega decays, and evidence for B( 0)-->D(*0)eta and D(*0)omega. The branching fractions are B(B( 0)-->D0pi(0)) = (3.1 +/- 0.4 +/- 0.5)x10(-4), B(B( 0) -->D(*0)pi(0)) = (2.7(+0.8+0.5)(-0.7-0.6))x10(-4), B(B( 0) --> D0eta) = (1.4(+0.5)(-0.4) +/- 0.3)x10(-4), B(B( 0) --> D0omega) = (1.8 +/- 0.5(+0.4)(-0.3))x10(-4), and we set 90% confidence level upper limits of B(B( 0) --> D(*0)eta)<4.6 x 10(-4) and B(B( 0)-->D(*0)omega)<7.9 x 10(-4). The analysis is based on a data sample of 21.3 fb(-1) collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance by the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) collider.     

Observation of B+ --> Lambda c+ Lambda c- K+ and B0 --> Lambda c+ Lambda c- K0 decays

We report the first measurements of the doubly charmed baryonic B decays B --> Lambda c+ Lambda c- K. The B+ --> Lambda c+ Lambda c- K+ decay is observed with a branching fraction of (6.5(-0.9)(+1.0)+/-1.1+/-3.4)x10(-4) and a statistical significance of 15.4sigma. The B0 --> Lambda c+ Lambda c- K0 decay is observed with a branching fraction of (7.9(-2.3)(+2.9)+/-1.2+/-4.1)x10(-4) and a statistical significance of 6.6sigma. The branching fraction errors are statistical, systematic, and the error resulting from the uncertainty of the Lambda c+ --> pK- pi+ decay branching fraction. The analysis is based on 357 fb(-1) of data accumulated at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+ e- collider.     

Observation of B+ --> K0K+ and B0 --> K0K0

We report observations of the b --> d penguin-dominated decays B+ --> K0K+ and B0 --> K0K0 in 316 fb(-1) of e+ e- collision data collected with the BABAR detector. We measure the branching fractions B(B+ --> K0K+) = (1.61+/-0.44+/-0.09) x 10(-6) and B(B0 --> K0K0 = (1.08+/-0.28+/-0.11) x 10(-6) and the CP-violating charge asymmetry A(CP)(K0K+) = 0.10+/-0.26+/-0.03. Using a vertexing technique previously employed in several analyses of all-neutral final states containing kaons, we report the first measurement of time-dependent CP-violating asymmetries in B0 --> K(S)0K(S)0, obtaining S = -1.28(-0.73-0.16)(+0.80+0.11) and C = -0.40+/-0.41+/-0.06. We also report improved measurements of the branching fraction B(B+ --> K0 pi+) = (23.9+/-1.1+/-1.0) x 10(-6) and CP-violating charge asymmetry A(CP)(K0 pi+) = -0.029+/-0.039+/-0.010.     

Observation of B0-->pLambda(pi)(-)

We report the first observation of the charmless hyperonic B decay, B0-->pLambda(pi)(-), using a 78 fb(-1) data sample recorded on the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at KEKB. The measured branching fraction is B(B0-->pLambda(pi)(-))=(3.97(+1.00)(-0.80)+/-0.56)x10(-6). Searches for B0-->pLambda(K)- and pSigma(0)pi(-) yield no significant signals and we set 90% confidence-level upper limits of B(B0-->pLambda(K)-)<8.2x10(-7) and B(B0-->pSigma(0)pi(-))<3.8x10(-6).     

Observation of B0 -->D0K0 and B0 -->D0K*0 decays

We report on a search for B(0)-->D(*0)K(*0) decays based on 85 x 10(6) BB events collected with the Belle detector at KEKB. The B(0)-->D0K(0) and B(0)-->D0K(*0) decays have been observed for the first time with the branching fractions B(B(0)-->D0K(0))=(5.0(+1.3)(-1.2)+/-0.6)x10(-5) and B(B(0)-->D0K(*0))=(4.8(+1.1)(-1.0)+/-0.5)x10(-5). No significant signal has been found for the B(0)-->D(*0)K*0) and B(0)-->D(*0)K(*0) decay modes, and upper limits at 90% C.L. are presented.     

Observation of a narrow charm-strange meson D(+)(sJ)(2632)-->D(+)(s)eta and D(0)K(+)

We report the first observation of a charm-strange meson D(+)(sJ)(2632) at a mass of 2632.5+/-1.7 MeV/c(2) in data from SELEX, the charm hadro-production experiment E781 at Fermilab. This state is seen in two decay modes, D(+)(s)eta and D0K+. In the D(+)(s)eta decay mode we observe a peak with 101 events over a combinatoric background of 54.9 events at a mass of 2635.4+/-3.3 MeV/c(2). There is a corresponding peak of 21 events over a background of 6.9 at 2631.5+/-2.0 MeV/c(2) in the decay mode D0K+. The decay width of this state is <17 MeV/c(2) at 90% confidence level. The relative branching ratio Gamma(D0K+)/Gamma(D(+)(s)eta) is 0.14+/-0.06. The mechanism that keeps this state narrow is unclear. Its decay pattern is also unusual, being dominated by the D(+)(s)eta decay mode.     

Two-body B meson decays to eta and eta('): observation of B --> eta K*

In a sample of 19 x 10(6) produced B mesons, we have observed the decays B-->eta K(*) and improved our previous measurements of B-->eta'K. The branching fractions we measure for these decay modes are B(B+-->eta K(*+)) = (26.4(+9.6)(-8.2)+/-3.3)x10(-6), B(B(0)-->eta K(*0)) = (13.8(+5.5)(-4.6)+/-1.6)x10(-6), B(B(+)-->eta'K(+) = (80(+10)(-9)+/-7)x10(-6), and B(B(0)-->eta'K0) = (89(+18)(-16)+/-9)x10(-6). We have searched with comparable sensitivity for related decays and report upper limits for these branching fractions.     

Observation of B0-->pi0pi0

We report the observation of the decay B0-->pi(0)pi(0), using a 253 fb(-1) data sample collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) collider. The measured branching fraction is B(B0-->pi(0)pi(0))=(2.3(+0.4+0.2)(-0.5-0.3))x10(-6), with a significance of 5.8 standard deviations including systematic uncertainties. We also make a measurement of the direct CP violating asymmetry in this mode.