CP violation in \Lambda_b \to p \pi^- decay

Using the next-to-leading order QCD corrected effective Hamiltonian, scale and scheme independent Wilson coefficients, we have estimated the branching ratio and CP violating asymmetries for the decay mode in the Standard Model using the framework of generalized factorization. The effects of nonfactorizable contributions are taken into account by treating the effective no. of colors as a free parameter. The form factors are evaluated in the nonrelativistic quark model. The estimated branching ratio is found to be which lies below the current experimental upper limit and the CP violating asymmetries are and . Received: 15 February 2000 / Published online: 8 June 2000