arXiv subjects

Andrzej J. Buras

Publications and source records attributed to Andrzej J. Buras.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

Delta F=2 Observables and Fine-Tuning in a Warped Extra Dimension with Custodial Protection

We present a complete study of Delta S = 2 and Delta B = 2 processes in a warped extra dimensional model with a custodial protection of Z b_L bar b_L, including epsilon_K, Delta M_K, Delta M_s, Delta M_d, A^q_SL, Delta Gamma_q, A_CP(B_d -> psi K_S) and A_CP(B_s -> psi phi). These processes are affected by tree level contributions from Kaluza-Klein gluons, the heavy KK photon, new heavy electroweak gauge bosons Z_H and Z', and in principle by tree level Z contributions. We confirm recent findings that the fully anarchic approach where all the hierarchies in quark masses and weak mixing angles are geometrically explained seems implausible and we confirm that the KK mass scale M_KK generically has to be at least ~20TeV to satisfy the epsilon_K constraint. We point out, however, that there exist regions in parameter space with only modest fine-tuning in the 5D Yukawa couplings which satisfy all existing Delta F = 2 and electroweak precision constraints for scales M_KK ~3TeV in reach of the LHC. Simultaneously we find that A_CP(B_s -> psi phi) and A^s_SL can be much larger than in the SM as indicated by recent results from CDF and D0 data. We point out that for B_{d,s} physics Delta F = 2 observables the complex (Z_H,Z') can compete with KK gluons, while the tree level Z and KK photon contributions are very small. In particular we point out that the Z d^i_L bar d^j_L couplings are protected by the custodial symmetry. As a by-product we show the relation of the RS flavour model to the Froggatt-Nielsen mechanism and we provide analytic formulae for the effective flavour mixing matrices in terms of the fundamental 5D parameters.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Correlations among new CP violating effects in Delta F = 2 observables

We point out that the observed CP violation in Bd - bar{Bd} mixing, taking into account the measured ratio Delta Md / Delta Ms, the recently improved lattice value of the non-perturbative parameter BK and an additional effective suppression factor kappa_epsilon ~= 0.92 in epsilon_K neglected sofar in most analyses, may be insufficient to describe the measured value of epsilon_K within the Standard Model (SM), thus hinting at new CP violating contributions to the K - bar{K} and/or Bd - bar{Bd} systems. Furthermore, assuming that Delta Md / Delta Ms is SM-like, the signs and the magnitudes of new physics effects in epsilon_K and in the CP asymmetries S_{psi Ks} and S_{psi phi} may turn out to be correlated. For example, in a scenario with new CP-phases in Bd and Bs mixings being approximately equal and negative, a common new phase ~= - 5 degrees could remove the tension between epsilon_K and S_{psi Ks} present in the SM and simultaneously accommodate, at least partly, the recent claim of S_{psi phi} being much larger than the SM expectation. We emphasize the importance of precise determinations of Vcb, BK, FK and xi_s, to which the parameter epsilon_K and its correlation with the CP violation in the Bd - bar{Bd} system are very sensitive.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2008

Large |Vub|: A challenge for the Minimal Flavour Violating MSSM

Under the assumption of Minimal Flavour Violation (MFV), the Unitarity Triangle (UT) can be determined by using only angle measurements and tree-level observables. In this respect, the most accurate quantities today available are sin 2 beta_{psi Ks}, |Vcb| and |Vub|. Among the latter, |Vub| is at present the quantity suffering from largest systematic uncertainties, given the discrepancy between the inclusive and the exclusive determinations. We show with a numerical fit how sensitively the MFV-UT determination depends on the choice of |Vub|. In addition, we focus on the implications of the inclusive value for |Vub|, which favors two non-SM like solutions in the rhobar - etabar plane. We study in detail the possibility of reproducing such solutions within the MFV MSSM. Our findings indicate that the case for the MFV MSSM is in this respect quite problematic, unless the non-perturbative parameters xi and BK are significantly different from those obtained by lattice methods. As a byproduct, we point out that scenarios with 200 GeV <~ MA <~ 500 GeV and tan beta =~ 50 that predict a significant suppression for Delta Ms in correlation with an enhancement for BR(Bs --> mu^+ mu^-) have to be fine-tuned in order not to violate the new combined bound on the latter decay mode from the CDF and D0 collaborations. Relatively large correlated effects can however still occur for negative values of mu and large values for MA >~ 500 GeV, increasing with increasing tan beta >~ 30.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

Challenging SO(10) SUSY GUTs with family symmetries through FCNC processes

We perform a detailed analysis of the SO(10) SUSY GUT model with D3 family symmetry of Dermisek and Raby (DR). The model is specified in terms of 24 parameters and predicts, as a function of them, the whole MSSM set of parameters at low energy scales. Concerning the SM subset of such parameters, the model is able to give a satisfactory description of the quark and lepton masses, of the PMNS matrix and of the CKM matrix. We perform a global fit to the model, including flavour changing neutral current (FCNC) processes Bs --> mu+ mu-, B --> Xs gamma, B --> Xs l+ l- and the B(d,s) - bar B(d,s) mass differences Delta M(d,s) as well as the flavour changing (FC) process B+ --> tau+ nu. These observables provide at present the most sensitive probe of the SUSY mass spectrum and couplings predicted by the model. Our analysis demonstrates that the simultaneous description of the FC observables in question represents a serious challenge for the DR model, unless the masses of the scalars are moved to regions which are problematic from the point of view of naturalness and probably beyond the reach of the LHC. We emphasize that this problem could be a general feature of SUSY GUT models with third generation Yukawa unification and weak-scale minimal flavour violation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

The MFV limit of the MSSM for low tan(beta): meson mixings revisited

We apply the effective field theory definition of Minimal Flavour Violation (MFV) to the MSSM. We explicitly show how, by this definition, the new sources of flavour and CP violation present in the MSSM become functions of the SM Yukawa couplings, and cannot be simply set to zero, as is common wisdom in phenomenological MSSM studies that assume MFV. We apply our approach to the MSSM Delta B = 2 Hamiltonian at low tan(beta). The limit of MFV amounts to a striking increase in the predictivity of the model. In particular, SUSY corrections to meson-antimeson mass differences Delta M(d,s) are always found to be positive with respect to the SM prediction. This feature is due to an interesting interplay between chargino and gluino box diagrams (the dominant contributions) in the different mass regimes one can consider. Finally, we point out that, due to the presence of gluinos, the MFV MSSM does not belong -- even at low tan(beta) -- to the class of models with the so-called `constrained' MFV (CMFV), in which only the SM operator (V-A)x(V-A) contributes to Delta M(d,s). Consequently, for the MSSM and in the general case of MFV, one should not use the Universal Unitarity Triangle (UUT), relevant for CMFV models, but a MFV-UT constructed from beta(psi KS) and |V(ub)| or gamma from tree level decays. In particular, with the measured value of beta(psi KS), MFV implies a testable correlation between |V(ub)| and gamma. With the present high value of |V(ub)|, MFV favours gamma > 80 degrees.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

Waiting for Precise Measurements of K^+->pi^+ nu nu and K_L->pi^0 nu nu

In view of future plans for accurate measurements of the theoretically clean branching ratios Br(K+ -> pi+ nu nu) and Br(KL -> pi0 nu nu), that should take place in the next decade, we collect the relevant formulae for quantities of interest and analyze their theoretical and parametric uncertainties. We point out that in addition to the angle beta in the unitarity triangle (UT) also the angle gamma can in principle be determined from these decays with respectable precision and emphasize in this context the importance of the recent NNLO QCD calculation of the charm contribution to K+ -> pi+ nu nu and of the improved estimate of the long distance contribution by means of chiral perturbation theory. In addition to known expressions we present several new ones that should allow transparent tests of the Standard Model (SM) and of its extensions. While our presentation is centered around the SM, we also discuss models with minimal flavour violation and scenarios with new complex phases in decay amplitudes and meson mixing. We give a brief review of existing results within specific extensions of the SM, in particular the Littlest Higgs Model with T-parity, Z' models, the MSSM and a model with one universal extra dimension. We derive a new "golden" relation between B and K systems that involves (beta,gamma) and Br(KL -> pi0 nu nu) and investigate the virtues of (R_t,beta), (R_b,gamma), (beta,gamma) and (etabar,gamma) strategies for the UT in the context of K -> pi nu nu decays with the goal of testing the SM and its extensions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

Lower Bounds on Delta M_{s,d} from Constrained Minimal Flavour Violation

We demonstrate that in the class of models with Constrained Minimal Flavour Violation (CMFV), in which the CKM matrix is the only source of CP violation and B^0_q-\bar B^0_q mixings (q=d,s) are described by a single operator (\bar b q)_{V-A} (\bar b q)_{V-A}, the lower bounds on the mass differences Delta M_{s,d} are simply given by their Standard Model values (Delta M_{s,d})_SM with two possible exceptions that we identify. Our proof involves all possible charged gauge boson, Goldstone boson and physical charged and neutral scalar exchanges and assumes that the masses of new charge +2/3 singlet heavy fermions T_i that mix with the top quark have all to be larger than m_t, which is chosen by nature. Similarly, the additional charged gauge bosons have to satisfy M_i>M_W, while no such bound needs to be set on the charged and neutral scalar masses. The two possible exceptions arise in the presence of U(1) neutral gauge bosons and Majorana fermions in box diagrams with flavour violating couplings. However in the case of the MSSM with CMFV and low tan beta our bound is satisfied in spite of gluino and neutralino contributions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

Another Look at Minimal Lepton Flavour Violation, l_i -> l_j gamma, Leptogenesis, and the Ratio M_nu/ Lambda_LFV

We analyze lepton flavour violation (LFV), as well as generation of the observed baryon-antibaryon asymmetry of the Universe (BAU) within a generalized minimal lepton flavour violation (MLFV) framework where we allow for CP violation both at low and high energies. The generation of BAU is obtained through radiative resonant leptogenesis (RRL), where starting with three exactly degenerate right-handed neutrinos at Lambda_GUT, we demonstrate explicitly within the SM and the MSSM that the splittings between their masses at the see-saw scale M_nu, generated by renormalization group effects, are sufficient for a successful leptogenesis for M_nu even as low as 10^6 GeV. The inclusion of flavour effects plays an important role in this result and can lead to the observed BAU even in the absence of CP violation beyond the PMNS phases. The absence of a stringent lower bound on M_nu in this type of leptogenesis allows to easily satisfy present and near future upper bounds on mu -> e gamma and other charged lepton flavour violating (LFV) processes even for Lambda_LFV = O(1 TeV). We find, that the MLFV framework in the presence of heavy right-handed neutrinos and leptogenesis is not as predictive as MFV in the quark sector and point out that without a specific MLFV model, there is a rich spectrum of possibilities for charged LFV processes and for their correlation with low energy neutrino physics and the LHC physics, even if the constraint from the observed BAU is taken into account. While certain qualitative features of our analysis confirm findings of Cirigliano et al., at the quantitative level we find phenomenologically important differences. We explain the origin of these differences.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

A Guide to Flavour Changing Neutral Currents in the Littlest Higgs Model with T-Parity

Flavour changing neutral current processes, being strongly suppressed in the Standard Model (SM), provide a unique window to new physics at scales much above the electroweak scale. Here, we summarize the recent progress in flavour physics studies of the Littlest Higgs model with T-parity, both in the quark and lepton sector. Particular emphasis is put on various correlations that could distinguish this model from other extensions of the SM.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

Quark and Lepton Flavour Physics in the Littlest Higgs Model with T-Parity

The Littlest Higgs model with T-parity (LHT) contains new sources of flavour and CP violation both in the quark and the lepton sector. They originate from the interactions of ordinary fermions with mirror fermions mediated by new gauge bosons: W_H, Z_H and A_H. The most spectacular departures from the Standard Model are found in K_L -> pi^0 nu {bar nu}, K^+ -> pi^+ nu {bar nu}, in the CP-asymmetry S_{psi phi} and in lepton flavour violating decays. In particular, the latter decays offer a clear distinction between the LHT model and the MSSM. We summarize the most interesting results of three extensive analyses of flavour physics in the LHT model.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2006

Another Look at the Flavour Structure of the Littlest Higgs Model with T-Parity

We discuss the mixing matrix V_Hd that describes the charged and neutral current interactions between ordinary down-quarks and up- and down-mirror quarks in the Littlest Higgs Model with T-parity (LHT). We point out that this matrix in addition to three mixing angles contains three physical complex phases and not only one as used in the present literature. We explain the reason for the presence of two additional phases, propose a new standard parameterization of V_Hd and briefly comment on the relevance of these new phases for the phenomenology of FCNC processes in the LHT model. In a separate paper we present a detailed numerical analysis, including these new phases, of K and B physics, with particular attention to the most interesting rare decays.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2006

Rare K and B Decays in the Littlest Higgs Model without T-Parity

We analyze rare K and B decays in the Littlest Higgs (LH) model without T-parity. We find that the final result for the Z^0-penguin contribution contains a divergence that is generated by the one-loop radiative corrections to the currents corresponding to the dynamically broken generators. Including an estimate of these logarithmically enhanced terms, we calculate the branching ratios for the decays K^+ -> pi^+ nu bar nu, K_L -> pi^0 nu bar nu, B_{s,d} -> mu^+ mu^- and B -> X_{s,d} nu bar nu. We find that for the high energy scale f=O(2-3) TeV, as required by the electroweak precision studies, the enhancement of all branching ratios amounts to at most 15% over the SM values. On the technical side we identify a number of errors in the existing Feynman rules in the LH model without T-parity that could have some impact on other analyses present in the literature. Calculating penguin and box diagrams in the unitary gauge, we find divergences in both contributions that are cancelled in the sum except for the divergence mentioned above.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2006

Minimal Flavour Violation Waiting for Precise Measurements of Delta M_s, S_{psi phi}, A^s_SL, |V_ub|, gamma and B^0_{s,d} -> mu+ mu-

We emphasize that the recent measurements of the B^0_s - bar B^0_s mass difference Delta M_s by the CDF and D0 collaborations offer an important model independent test of minimal flavour violation (MFV). The improved measurements of the angle gamma in the unitarity triangle and of |V_ub| from tree level decays, combined with future accurate measurements of Delta M_s, S_{psi K_S}, S_{psi phi}, Br(B_{d,s} -> mu+ mu-), Br(B -> X_{d,s} nu bar nu), Br(K+ -> pi+ nu bar nu) and Br(K_L -> pi^0 nu bar nu) and improved values of the relevant non-perturbative parameters, will allow to test the MFV hypothesis in a model independent manner to a high accuracy. In particular, the difference between the reference unitarity triangle obtained from tree level processes and the universal unitarity triangle (UUT) in MFV models would signal either new flavour violating interactions and/or new local operators that are suppressed in MFV models with low tan(beta), with the former best tested through S_{psi phi} and K_L -> pi^0 nu bar nu. A brief discussion of non-MFV scenarios is also given. In this context we identify in the recent literature a relative sign error between Standard Model and new physics contributions to S_{psi phi}, that has an impact on the correlation between S_{psi phi} and A^s_SL. We point out that the ratios S_{psi phi}/A^s_SL and (Delta M_s)/(Delta Gamma_s) will allow to determine (Delta M_s)/(Delta M_s)^SM. Similar proposals for the determination of (Delta M_d)/(Delta M_d)^SM are also given.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

New Aspects of B -> pi pi, pi K and their Implications for Rare Decays

We analyse the B -> pi pi, pi K modes in the light of the most recent B-factory data, and obtain the following new results: (i) the B0 -> pi+ pi-, pi- K+ modes prefer gamma=(74+-6)deg, which - together with |V_ub/V_cb| - allows us to determine the ``true'' unitarity triangle and to search for CP-violating new-physics contributions to B0_d-\bar B0_d mixing; (ii) the B -> pi K puzzle reflected in particular by the low experimental value of the ratio R_n of the neutral B -> pi K rates persists and still favours new physics in the electroweak penguin sector with a new CP-violating phase phi ~ -90deg, although now also phi ~ +90deg can bring us rather close to the data; (iii) the mixing-induced B0 -> pi0 K_S CP asymmetry is a sensitive probe of the sign of this phase, and would currently favour phi ~ +90deg, as well as the direct CP asymmetry of B+- -> pi0 K+-, which suffers, however, from large hadronic uncertainties; (iv) we investigate the sensitivity of our B -> pi K analysis to large non-factorizable SU(3)-breaking effects and find that their impact is surprisingly small so that it is indeed exciting to speculate on new physics; (v) assuming that new physics enters through Z0 penguins, we study the interplay between B -> pi K and rare B, K decays and point out that the most recent B-factory constraints for the latter have interesting implications, bringing us to a few scenarios for the future evolution of the data, where also the mixing-induced CP violation in B0 -> pi0 K_S plays a prominent role.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Electroweak Penguin Hunting Through B -> pi pi, pi K and Rare K and B Decays

The $B\toπK$ decays with significant electroweak penguin contributions show a puzzling pattern. We explore this "$B\toπK$ puzzle" through a systematic strategy. The starting point, which is essentially unaffected by electroweak penguins, is the determination of the angle $γ$ of the unitarity triangle through the CP-violating $B^0_d\toπ^+π^-$, $B^0_d\toπ^-K^+$ asymmetries, yielding $γ=(73.9^{+5.8}_{-6.5})^\circ$, and the extraction of hadronic parameters through the measured $B\toππ$ branching ratios. Using arguments related to the SU(3) flavour symmetry, we convert the hadronic $B\toππ$ parameters into their $B\toπK$ counterparts, allowing us to predict the $B\toπK$ observables in the Standard Model. We find agreement with the data for those quantities that are only marginally affected by electroweak penguins, while this is not the case for the observables with sizeable electroweak penguin contributions. Since we may also perform a couple of internal consistency checks of our working assumptions, which are nicely satisfied for the current data, and find a small sensitivity of our results to large non-factorizable SU(3)-breaking corrections, the "$B\toπK$" puzzle may be due to new physics in the electroweak penguin sector. We show that it can indeed be resolved through such a kind of new physics with a large CP-violating phase. Further insights into the electroweak penguins are provided by the $B^+\toπ^0K^+$ and $B_d^0\toπ^0K_{\rm S}$ CP asymmetries, and in particular through correlations with various rare $K$ and B decays.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Flavour Physics and CP Violation

After listing basic properties of the Standard Model (SM) that play the crucial role in the field of flavour and CP violation, we discuss the following topics: 1) CKM matrix and the unitarity triangle. 2) Theoretical framework in a non-technical manner, classifying various extentions of the SM. 3) Particle-Antiparticle mixing and various types of CP violation. 4) Standard analysis of the unitarity triangle. 5) Strategies for the determination of the angles alpha, beta and gamma in non-leptonic B decays. 6) The rare decays K^+ -> pi^+ nu \bar nu and K_L -> pi^0 nu \bar nu 7) Models with minimal flavour violation (MFV). 8) Models with new complex phases, addressing in particular possible signals of new physics in the B -> pi K data and their implications for rare K and B decays. A personal shopping list for the rest of this decade closes these lectures.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

KL -> pi0 nu nu-bar as a Probe of New Physics

We summarize the theoretical virtues of the rare K -> pi nu nu-bar decays and emphasize the unique role of KL -> pi0 nu nu-bar in probing the nature of physics beyond the Standard Model, in particular concerning possible new sources of CP violation and flavor-symmetry breaking. A brief summary of the prospects for the measurement of the KL -> pi0 nu nu-bar rate is also given.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Upper Bounds on Rare K and B Decays from Minimal Flavour Violation

We study the branching ratios of rare K and B decays in models with minimal flavour violation, using the presently available information from the universal unitarity triangle analysis and from the measurements of Br(B -> X_s gamma), Br(B -> X_s l^+l^-) and Br(K^+ -> pi^+ nu nubar). We find the following upper bounds: Br(K^+ -> pi^+ nu nubar)< 11.9 10^{-11}, Br(K_L -> pi^0 nu nubar)< 4.6 10^{-11}, Br(K_L -> mu mubar)_{SD}< 1.4 10^{-9}, Br(B -> X_s nu nubar)< 5.2 10^{-5}, Br(B -> X_d nu nubar)< 2.2 10^{-6}, Br(B_s -> mu mubar)< 7.4 10^{-9}, Br(B_d -> mu mubar)< 2.2 10^{-10} at 95 % probability. We analyze in detail various possible scenarios with positive or negative interference of Standard Model and New Physics contributions, and show how an improvement of experimental data corresponding to the projected 2010 B factory integrated luminosities will allow to disentangle and test these different possibilities. Finally, anticipating that subsequently the leading role in constraining this kind of new physics will be taken over by the rare decays K^+ -> pi^+ nu nubar, K_L -> pi^0 nu nubar and B_{s,d} -> mu mubar, that are dominated by the Z^0 -penguin function C, we also present plots for several branching ratios as functions of C . We point out an interesting triple correlation between K^+ -> pi^+ nu nubar, B -> X_s gamma and B -> X_s l^+l^- present in MFV models.

hep-ph↗