Weak decays of heavy mesons in the instantaneous Bethe Salpeter approach

In the framework of the instantaneous Bethe Salpeter equation we investigate weak decays ofB andD mesons. Mesons are described asq $\bar q$ states interacting via a mixture of a scalar and a vector confining kernel and a one gluon exchange. The model parameters are fixed by a fit to the meson mass spectrum including also the light mesons. We calculate form factors and compare our results to the pole dominance hypothesis. From a fit to ARGUS and CLEO data onB→D ^*?v semileptonic decay we extract the Cabbibo Kobayashi Maskawa matrix element to beV _cb =(0.032 ± 0.003)(1.49ps/τ _b )^1/2 The Isgur Wise function is calculated utilizing the heavy quark mass limit. Finally, we give some results on nonleptonic decays.     

Thermodynamic properties of the spin-Peierls transition in CuGeO3

We present an investigation of the spin-Peierls transition atT _SP=14.5 K in polycrystalline CuGeO₃ through specific-heat and thermal-expansion measurements. Clear second-order phase-transition anomalies are found in both properties atT _SP, although only a small entropy of S0.1 Rn2 is released at the transition. Most of the entropy is released atT _SP<T<150 K, where the temperature dependence of the magnetic contribution to the specific heat as well as the thermal expansion exhibit extrema atT ^*40 K. These are caused by one-dimensional antiferromagnetic fluctuations along the Cu chains, possibly accompanied by structural fluctuations. Using Ehrenfest's relation, a hydrostatic pressure coefficient (T _SP/_p)_p0 (0.45±0.06) K/kbar is derived.