arXiv subjects

Alejandro Szynkman

Publications and source records attributed to Alejandro Szynkman.

54 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

New-physics contributions to the forward-backward asymmetry in B -> K* mu+ mu-

We study the forward-backward asymmetry (AFB) and the differential branching ratio (DBR) in B -> K* mu+ mu- in the presence of new physics (NP) with different Lorentz structures. We consider NP contributions from vector-axial vector (VA), scalar-pseudoscalar (SP), and tensor (T) operators, as well as their combinations. We calculate the effects of these new Lorentz structures in the low-q^2 and high-q^2 regions, and explain their features through analytic approximations. We find two mechanisms that can give a significant deviation from the standard-model predictions, in the direction indicated by the recent measurement of AFB by the Belle experiment. They involve the addition of the following NP operators: (i) VA, or (ii) a combination of SP and T (slightly better than T alone). These two mechanisms can be distinguished through measurements of DBR in B -> K* mu+ mu- and AFB in B -> K mu+ mu-.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2010

New Physics in Bs -> J/psi phi: a General Analysis

Recently, the CDF and D0 collaborations measured indirect CP violation in Bs -> J/psi phi and found a hint of a signal. If taken at face value, this can be interpreted as a nonzero phase of Bs-Bsbar mixing (beta_s), in disagreement with the standard model, which predicts that beta_s ~= 0. In this paper, we argue that this analysis may be incomplete. In particular, there can be new physics (NP) in the bbar -> sbar c cbar decay. If so, the value of beta_s is different than for the case in which NP is assumed to be present only in the mixing. We have examined several models of NP and found that, indeed, there can be significant contributions to the decay. These effects are consistent with measurements in B -> J/psi K* and Bd -> J/psi Ks. Due to the NP in the decay, polarization-dependent indirect CP asymmetries and triple-product asymmetries are predicted in Bs -> J/psi phi.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2009

CP Violation in Three-Body Chargino Decays

CP violation in supersymmetry can give rise to rate asymmetries in the decays of supersymmetric particles. In this work we compute the rate asymmetries for the three-body chargino decays \tildeχ^\pm_2 \to \tildeχ^\pm_1 HH, \tildeχ^\pm_2 \to \tildeχ^\pm_1 ZZ, \tildeχ^\pm_2 \to \tildeχ^\pm_1 W^+ W^- and \tildeχ^\pm_2 \to tildeχ^\pm_1 ZH. Each of the decays contains contributions mediated by neutral Higgs bosons that can possibly go on shell. Such contributions receive a resonant enhancement; furthermore, the strong phases required for the CP asymmetries come from the widths of the exchanged Higgs bosons. Our results indicate that the rate asymmetries can be relatively large in some cases, while still respecting a number of important low-energy bounds such as those coming from B meson observables and electric dipole moments. For the parameters that we consider, rate asymmetries of order 10% are possible in some cases.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2009

Vertex Displacements for Acausal Particles: Testing the Lee-Wick Standard Model at the LHC

We propose to search for wrong displaced vertices, where decay products of the secondary vertex move towards the primary vertex instead of away from it, as a signature for microscopic violation of causality. We analyze in detail the leptonic sector of the recently proposed Lee-Wick Standard Model, which provides a well motivated framework to study acausal effects. We find that, assuming Minimal Flavor Violation, the Lee-Wick partners of the electron, {\tilde l}^e and \tilde e, can produce measurable wrong vertices at the LHC, the most promising channel being q \bar{q} --> \bar{\tilde l}^e {\tilde l}^e --> e^+ e^- jjjj. A Monte-Carlo simulation using MadGraph/MadEvent suggests that for M_l < 450 GeV the measurement of these acausal vertex displacements should be accessible in the LHC era.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Final-state Polarization in Bs Decays

Certain Bs --> V_1V_2 decays (V_i is a vector meson) can be related by flavor SU(3) symmetry to corresponding Bd --> V_3V_4 decays. In this paper, we show that the final-state polarization can be predicted in the Bs decay, assuming polarization measurements of the Bd decay. This can be done within the scenario of penguin annihilation (PA), which has been suggested as an explanation of the unexpectedly large transverse polarization in B-->phi K^*. PA is used to estimate the breaking of flavor SU(3) symmetry in pairs of decays. Two of these for which PA makes a reasonably precise prediction of the size of SU(3) breaking are (Bs --> phiphi, Bd --> phi K^{0*}) and (Bs --> phi {\bar K}^{0*}, Bd --> {\bar K}^{0*} K^{0*}). The polarization measurement in the Bd decay can be used to predict the transverse polarization in the Bs decay, and will allow a testing of PA.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Electroweak precision constraints on the Lee-Wick Standard Model

We present the constraints on the parameter space of the Lee-Wick Standard Model coming from electroweak precision observables. The model predicts a large positive S and a negative T. We show that it is possible to find some regions in parameter space with a fermionic state as light as 2.4-3.5 TeV. We also propose a simple extension of the model including a fourth generation. In this case it is possible to pass the electroweak constraints with Lee-Wick fermionic masses of order 0.4-1.5 TeV and Lee-Wick gauge masses of order 3 TeV.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

CP violation in tau -> K pi pi nu_tau

We consider CP-violating effects in tau->K pi pi nu_tau, assuming that a charged Higgs boson provides a new amplitude that can interfere with the usual Standard Model amplitude. We consider four CP-odd observables -- the regular rate asymmetry, two modified rate asymmetries and a triple-product asymmetry. The regular rate asymmetry is expected to be small because it requires the interference of the new physics amplitude with the standard model amplitude containing the hadronic scalar form factor. The other CP asymmetries may be more promising in terms of their new physics reach. Numerical estimates indicate that the maximum obtainable values for the modified and triple-product asymmetries are on the order of a percent.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Direct test of time reversal invariance violation in B mesons

In this letter we reinterpret and reanalyze the available data of the B meson factories showing the existence of direct experimental evidence of time reversal invariance violation in B mesons. This reinterpretation consists of using the available observables to define a new observable which, in a model independent way and without assuming CPT invariance, compares a transition between a $B^0$ and a here-defined $B_α$-state, with its time reversed transition. The observable then offers a direct way to probe time reversal invariance and it is therefore independent of any conclusion obtained from current experimental information on CP violation and CPT invariance. As far as the authors are concerned, this is the first direct evidence of time reversal invariance violation in B mesons and also the first one obtained from decaying particles whose mean life time difference is negligible.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Polarization Studies: testing explanations of the B -> phi K* puzzle and B -> V T decays

It has been observed in B->phiK* and B^{0(+)}->rho^{0(+)}K^{*0} that the fraction of transverse decays, fT, and the fraction of longitudinal decays, fL, are roughly equal, in opposition to the naive expectation, fT/fL << 1. If one requires a single explanation of all polarization puzzles, two possibilities remain within the standard model (SM): penguin annihilation and rescattering. We examine the predictions of these two explanations for fT/fL in b -> d decays. We also study polarization observables in B -> V T decays (V is a vector and T is a tensor meson) to probe whether the two SM explanations account for the fT/fL ratio in this type of decays and to further investigate the two new-physics scenarios which explain the data in B -> pi K and the phi(rho) K* polarization measurements.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Study of Polarization in B -> VT Decays

In this paper, we examine B -> VT decays (V is a vector and T is a tensor meson), whose final-state particles can have transverse or longitudinal polarization. Measurements have been made of B -> ϕK_2^*, and it is found that fT/fL is small, where fT (fL) is the fraction of transverse (longitudinal) decays. We find that the standard model (SM) naively predicts that fT/fL << 1. The two extensions of the naive SM which have been proposed to explain the large fT/fL in B -> ϕK^* -- penguin annihilation and rescattering -- make no firm predictions for the polarization in B -> ϕK_2^*. The two new-physics scenarios, which explain the data in B -> πK and the ϕ(ρ) K^* polarization measurements, can reproduce the fT/fL data in B -> ϕK_2^* only if the B -> T form factors obey a certain hierarchy. Finally, we present the general angular analysis which can be used to get helicity information using two- and three-body decays.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

U-Spin Tests of the Standard Model and New Physics

Within the standard model, a relation involving branching ratios and direct CP asymmetries holds for the B-decay pairs that are related by U-spin. The violation of this relation indicates new physics (NP). In this paper, we assume that the NP affects only the Delta S = 1 decays, and show that the NP operators are generally the same as those appearing in B -> pi K decays. The fit to the latest B -> pi K data shows that only one NP operator is sizeable. As a consequence, the relation is expected to be violated for only one decay pair: Bd -> K0 pi0 and Bs -> Kbar0 pi0.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Electroweak precision constraints on the Lee-Wick Standard Model

We perform an analysis of the electroweak precision observables in the Lee-Wick Standard Model. The most stringent restrictions come from the S and T parameters that receive important tree level and one loop contributions. In general the model predicts a large positive S and a negative T. To reproduce the electroweak data, if all the Lee-Wick masses are of the same order, the Lee-Wick scale is of order 5 TeV. We show that it is possible to find some regions in the parameter space with a fermionic state as light as 2.4-3.5 TeV, at the price of rising all the other masses to be larger than 5-8 TeV. To obtain a light Higgs with such heavy resonances a fine-tuning of order a few per cent, at least, is needed. We also propose a simple extension of the model including a fourth generation of Standard Model fermions with their Lee-Wick partners. We show that in this case it is possible to pass the electroweak constraints with Lee-Wick fermionic masses of order 0.4-1.5 TeV and Lee-Wick gauge masses of order 3 TeV.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

Testing Explanations of the $B\toϕK^*$ Polarization Puzzle

$B\toϕK^*$ ($\btos$) is three separate decays, one for each polarization of the final-state vector mesons (one longitudinal, two transverse). It is observed that the fraction of transverse decays, $\fT$, and the fraction of longitudinal decays, $\fL$, are roughly equal: $\fTfL \simeq 1$, in opposition to the naive expectation that $\fT \ll \fL$. If one requires a single explanation of all polarization puzzles, two possibilities remain within the standard model: penguin annihilation and rescattering. In this paper we examine the predictions of these two explanations for $\fTfL$ in $\btod$ decays. In $B \to ρρ$ decays, only $\bd \to ρ^0ρ^0$ can possibly exhibit a large $\fTfL$. In B decays related by U-spin, we find two promising possibilities: (i) $B^+ \to K^{*0} ρ^+$ ($\btos$) and $B^+ \to \Kbar^{*0} K^{*+}$ ($\btod$) and (ii) $\bs \to K^{*0} \Kbar^{*0}$ ($\btos$) and $\bd \to \Kbar^{*0} K^{*0}$ ($\btod$). The measurement of $\fTfL$ in these pairs of decays will allow us to test penguin annihilation and rescattering. Finally, it is possible to distinguish penguin annihilation from rescattering by performing a time-dependent angular analysis of $\bd \to \Kbar^{*0} K^{*0}$.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

CP Violation in Supersymmetric Theories: stop2->stop1 H H, stop2->stop1 Z Z, stop2->stop1 W+ W-, stop2->stop1 Z H

We study the decays stop2->stop1 H H, stop2->stop1 Z Z, stop2->stop1 W+ W- and stop2->stop1 Z H, with an eye towards measuring the CP-violating supersymmetric parameters contained in these processes. We find that stop2->stop1 H H tends to have the largest CP asymmetry and width, and is perhaps the most favourable experimentally. These decays are sensitive primarily to phi_At, the phase of the trilinear coupling A_t.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

CP Violation in Hadronic tau Decays

We re-examine CP violation in the Delta S = 0 decays tau -> N pi nu_tau (N=2,3,4). We assume that the new physics (NP) is a charged Higgs. We show that there is no NP contribution to tau -> pi pi nu_tau, which means that no CP violation is expected in this decay. On the other hand, NP can contribute to tau -> N pi nu_tau (N=3,4). These are dominated by the intermediate resonant decays tau -> omega pi nu_tau, tau -> rho pi nu_tau and tau -> a_1 pi nu_tau. We show that the only sizeable CP-violating effects which are possible are in tau -> a_1 pi nu_tau -> 4 pi nu_tau (polarization-dependent rate asymmetry) and tau -> omega pi nu_tau (triple-product asymmetry).

hep-ph↗

arXiv2006

CP Violation in Supersymmetric Theories: stop2 -> stop1 tau- tau+

Supersymmetric (SUSY) theories include many new parameters, some of which are CP-violating. Assuming that SUSY is found at a future high-energy collider, we examine the decay stop2 -> stop1 tau- tau+ with an eye to obtaining information about the new CP phases. We show that there are two CP-violating asymmetries which can be large in some regions of the SUSY parameter space. These involve measuring one or both of the tau spins. These asymmetries are particularly sensitive to phi_At, the phase of the trilinear coupling A_t.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2004

Right handed currents and FSI phases in B^0 --> ϕK^{*0}

We consider possible effects of New Physics (NP) on the angular distributions of the decay B^0 --> ϕK^{*0}, showing how these effects depend on the nature of nonstandard interactions. In a general framework based on factorization, we show that triple products can be used to probe the chirality of NP currents. In this analysis we take into account the presence of non-vanishing strong phases, which is motivated by recent experimental evidence. It is seen that the observability of right-handed NP is strongly dependent on the relation between the relative magnitude of these phases and the ratio of Standard Model and NP scales. As an application we estimate the expected values of relevant observables in a particular Left Right Symmetric Model.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2004

Nonstandard CP violation in B --> D_s D^0π^0 decays

We study the possibility of measuring nonstandard CP violation effects through Dalitz plot analysis in B --> D_s D^0π^0 decays. The accuracy in the extraction of CP violating phases is analyzed by performing a Monte Carlo simulation of the decays, and the magnitude of possible new physics effects is discussed. It is found that this represents a hopeful scenario for the search of new physics.

hep-ph↗