Spin Alignment of Heavy Meson Revisited

Abstract

Using heavy quark effective theory a factorized form for inclusive production rate of a heavy meson can be obtained, in which the nonperturbative effect related to the heavy meson can be characterized by matrix elements defined in the heavy quark effective theory. Using this factorization, predictions for the full spin density matrix of a spin-1 and spin-2 meson can be obtained and they are characterized only by one coefficient representing the nonperturbative effect. Predictions for spin-1 heavy meson are compared with experiment performed at $e^+e^-$ colliders in the energy range from $\sqrt{s}=10.5$GeV to $\sqrt{s}=91$GeV, a complete agreement is found for $D^*$- and $B^*$-meson. There are distinct differences from the existing approach and they are discussed.