Anomalies in Hadronic $B$ Decays

Marianne Bouchard; David London

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arXiv · 2608.11298

Anomalies in Hadronic $B$ Decays

Marianne Bouchard·David London

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Abstract

The decays $B\to PP$, where the pseudoscalar $P$ is a $\pi$ or $K$, have been studied under the assumption of flavour SU(3) symmetry [SU(3)$_F$]. The global fit shows a 3.6$\sigma$ discrepancy with the Standard Model (SM). Separate fits for $\Delta S = 0$ and $\Delta S = 1$ decays find parameter sets that differ by a factor of 10, suggesting 1000% SU(3)$_F$ breaking, significantly larger than the $\sim$ 30% breaking expected in the SM. This study has been extended to include final states with $\eta$ and $\eta'$ mesons. The resulting global fit, once again under the assumption of SU(3)$_F$ symmetry, is worse, with a 4.1$\sigma$ deviation from the SM. When theoretical constraints $|\widetilde C/\widetilde T| = 0.2$ or $\widetilde A = 0$ are imposed, the fits worsen, with the discrepancy approaching 5$\sigma$. These results hint at new-physics contributions to these decays.

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Marianne Bouchard, David London. 2026-08-11. Anomalies in Hadronic $B$ Decays. https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.11298

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