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L. M. Sehgal

Publications and source records attributed to L. M. Sehgal.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Flow of entropy in the evolution of the B^0 anti B^0 system: Upper bound on CP violation from unidirectionality

We have previously studied the time-dependence of a B anti B meson mixture in terms of its density matrix. The requirement that the absolute value of the Stokes vector zeta(t) should evolve monotonically from its initial value zeta(0)=0 to its final value zeta(infinity)=1 was shown to lead to an upper bound on the CP violating overlap . In the present note we consider an entropy variable S as an alternative measure of mixing. We show that exactly the same upper bound emerges from the requirement that the flow of entropy is unidirectional (dS/dt<0). We compare the entropic current dS/dt with and without CP violation and identify certain physical features that appear when the bound on is violated.

hep-ph

An upper limit on CP violation in the $B^0_s-\bar{B}^0_s$ system

In a previous publication we noted that the time dependence of an incoherent $B^0-\bar{B}^0$ mixture undergoes a qualitative change when the magnitude of CP violation $δ$ exceeds a critical value. Requiring, on physical grounds, that the system evolve from an initial incoherent state to a final pure state in a monotonic way, yields a new upper limit for $δ$. The recent measurement of the wrong charge semileptonic asymmetry of $B_s^0$ mesons presented by the D0 collaboration is outside this bound by one standard deviation. If this result is confirmed it implies the existence of a new quantum mechanical oscillation phenomenon.

hep-ph

PCAC and coherent pion production by low energy neutrinos

Coherent pi^+ and pi^0 production in low energy neutrino reactions is discussed in the framework of the partially conserved axial vector current theory (PCAC). The role of lepton mass effects in suppressing the pi^+ production is emphasized. Instead of using models of pion nucleus scattering, the available data on pion Carbon scattering are implemented for an analysis of the PCAC prediction. Our results agree well with the published upper limits for pi^+ production but are much below the recent MiniBooNE result for pi^0 production.

hep-ph

Lepton Mass Effects in Single Pion Production by Neutrinos

We reconsider the Feynman-Kislinger-Ravndal model applied to neutrino-excitation of baryon resonances. The effects of lepton mass are included, using the formalism of Kuzmin, Lyubushkin and Naumov. In addition we take account of the pion-pole contribution to the hadronic axial vector current. Application of this new formalism to the reaction nu(mu) + p --> mu + Delta at E(nu) approx 1 GeV gives a suppressed cross section at small angles, in agreement with the screening correction in Adler's forward scattering theorem. Application to the process nu(tau) + p --> tau + Delta at E(nu) approx 7 GeV leads to the prediction of right-handed tau polarization for forward-going leptons, in line with a calculation based on an isobar model. Our formalism represents an improved version of the Rein-Sehgal model, incorporating lepton mass effects in a manner consistent with PCAC.

hep-ph

PCAC and the Deficit of Forward Muons in pi^+ Production by Neutrinos

The K2K experiment, using a fine-grained detector in a neutrino beam of energy $ \sim 1.3 \mathrm{GeV}$ has observed two-track events that can be interpreted as a coherent reaction $ν_μ+ \N \to μ^- + \N + π^+ (\N = \rm{C}^{12})$ or an incoherent process $ν_μ+ (p,n) \to μ^- + π^+ + (p,n)$, the final nucleon being unobserved. The data show a significant deficit of forward-going muons in the interval $Q^2 \lesssim 0.1 \rm{GeV}^2$, where a sizeable coherent signal is expected. We attempt an explanantion of this effect, using a PCAC formula that includes the effect of the non-vanishing muon mass. A suppression of about 25 % is caused by a destructive interference of the axial vector and pseudoscalar (pion-exchange) amplitudes. The incoherent background is also reduced by 10 - 15 %. As a consequence the discrepancy between theory and observation is significantly reduced.

hep-ph

Understanding the Forward Muon Deficit in Coherent Pion Production

For any inelastic process $v_{\ell} + I \to \ell^- + F$ with $m_{\ell} = 0$, the cross section at $θ_{\ell} = 0$ is given by Adler's PCAC theorem. Inclusion of the lepton mass has a dynamical effect (``PCAC-screening'') caused by interference of spin-zero ($π^+$) and spin-one exchanges. This effect may be relevant to the forward suppression reported in recent experiments.

hep-ph

Rare Decays as Window to New Physics

Rare decays of K mesons are reviewed from the perspective of testing the ``ones'' and ``zeros'' of the standard model. Decays K^+ -> pi^+ nu anti-nu and K_L -> pi^0 nu anti-nu probe the one-loop effective Hamiltonian for s -> d nu anti-nu, and can constrain the rho, eta coordinates of the unitarity triangle. Decays such as K_L -> pi^0 l^+ l^-, K_L -> mu^+ mu^-, K^+ -> pi^+ l^+ l^- and K_L -> pi^+ pi^- e^+ e^- involve short-distance effects, as well as long-distance photon-induced contributions. Some comments are added on curious features of electroweak amplitudes in the ``gaugeless'' limit, and in the chiral electron limit m_e -> 0.

hep-ph

CP Violation in the Decays B -> K Kbar in the Presence of D Dbar <-> K Kbar Mixing

We have recently shown that the large direct CP violation observed in the decay B^0 -> pi^+ pi^-, and the enhanced branching ratio for B^0 -> pi^0 pi^0, can be understood by invoking a small mixing of the pi pi system with the dominant D Dbar channel. We examine here the analogous effect of D Dbar <-> K Kbar mixing on the rare decays B^0 -> K^0 K^0bar, B^- -> K^- K^0 and B^0 -> K^+ K^-. We find (a) significant values for the asymmetry parameters C and S in B^0 / B^0bar -> K^0 K^0bar, (b) a possible enhancement of the suppressed mode B^0 -> K^+ K^-, (c) a correlation between the three decay channels following from a triangle relation between amplitudes A_{K^0 K^0bar} - A_{K^+ K^-} = A_{K^- K^0}. The pattern of asymmetries and branching ratios is compared with that derived from the short-distance QCD penguin interaction.

hep-ph

Wrong-Helicity Electrons in Radiative Muon Decay

We have studied in detail the spectrum of the decay mu^- -> e^- anti-nu_e nu_mu gamma as a function of the electron helicity, and verify the prediction of Sehgal (Phys.Lett. B569, 25 (2003)) that a significant fraction of the electrons in this decay is right-handed. These ``wrong-helicity'' electrons persist in the limit lambda = m_e / m_mu -> 0, and are connected with helicity-flip bremsstrahlung in QED. The longitudinal polarization of the electron is calculated as a function of the photon and electron energy, and deviates systematically from the naive V-A prediction P_L = -1. The right-handed component is concentrated in the collinear region theta <= m_e / E_e. In the limit lambda -> 0, we reproduce the results obtained in (Phys.Lett. B569, 25 (2003)) using the helicity-flip splitting function introduced by Falk and Sehgal.

hep-ph

Stokes Vector of Photon in the Decays B^0 -> rho^0 gamma and B^0 -> K^* gamma

We consider a model for the decay Bbar^0 -> rho^0 gamma in which the short-distance amplitude determined by the Hamiltonian describing b -> d gamma is combined with a typical long-distance contribution Bbar^0 -> D^+ D^- -> rho^0 gamma. The latter possesses a significant dynamical phase which induces a CP-violating asymmetry A_CP, as well as an important modification of the Stokes vector of the photon. The components S_1 and S_3 of the Stokes vector S = (S_1, S_2, S_3) can be measured in the decay Bbar^0 -> rho^0 gamma^* -> pi^+ pi^- e^+ e^- where they produce a characteristic effect in the angular distribution d Gamma / d phi, phi being the angle between the pi^+ pi^- and e^+ e^- planes. A similar analysis is carried out for the decays Bbar^0 -> Kbar^* gamma and Bbar^0 -> Kbar^* gamma^* -> pi^+ K^- e^+ e^-

hep-ph

Large Direct CP Violation in B^0 -> pi^+ pi^- and an Enhanced Branching Ratio for B^0 -> pi^0 pi^0

Recent measurements of B^0 -> pi pi decays reveal two features that are in conflict with conventional calculations: the channel B^0 (Bbar^0) -> pi^+ pi^- shows a large direct CP-violating asymmetry, and the channel B^0 (B^0) -> pi^0 pi^0 has an unexpectedly high branching ratio. We show that both features can be understood in terms of strong-interaction mixing of pi pi and D Dbar channels in the isospin-zero state, an effect that is important because of the large experimentally observed ratio Gamma(B^0 / Bbar^0 -> D^+ D^-) / Gamma (B^0 / Bbar^0 -> pi^+ pi^-) approx. 50. Our dynamical model correlates the branching ratios and the CP-violating parameters C and S, for the decays B^0 (Bbar^0) -> pi^+ pi^-, B^0 (Bbar^0) -> pi^0 pi^0, B^0 (Bbar^0) -> D^+ D^- and B^0 (Bbar^0) -> D^0 Dbar^0.

hep-ph

Right-handed Electrons in Radiative Muon Decay

Electrons emitted in the radiative decay mu^- -> e^- anti-nu_e nu_mu gamma have a significant probability of being right-handed, even in the limit m_e -> 0. Such ``wrong-helicity'' electrons, arising from helicity-flip bremsstrahlung, contribute an amount alpha/(4 pi) Gamma_0 to the muon decay width (Gamma_0 = G_F^2 m^5_mu/ (192 pi^3)). We use the helicity-flip splitting function D_hf (z) of Falk and Sehgal (Phys. Lett. B 325, 509 (1994)) to obtain the spectrum of the right-handed electrons and the photons that accompany them. For a minimum photon energy E_gamma = 10 MeV (20 MeV), approximately 4% (7%) of electrons in radiative mu-decay are right-handed.

hep-ph

Electroweak Effects in the Double Dalitz Decay $B_s \to l^+ l^- l'^+ l'^-$

We investigate the double Dalitz decays $B_s \to l^+ l^- l'^+ l'^-$ on the basis of the effective Hamiltonian for the transition $b \bar{s} \to l^+ l^-$, and universal form factors suggested by QCD. The correlated mass spectrum of the two lepton pairs in the decay $B_s \to e^+ e^- μ^+ μ^-$ is derived in an efficient way, using a QED result for meson decays mediated by two virtual photons: $B_s \to γ^* γ^* \to e^+ e^- μ^+ μ^-$. A comment is made on the correlation between the planes of the two lepton pairs. The conversion ratios $ρ_{lll'l'}= \frac{Γ(B_s \to l^+ l^- l'^+ l'^-)}{Γ(B_s \to γγ)}$ are estimated to be $ρ_{eeee}=3 \times 10^{-4}, ρ_{eeμμ}=9 \times 10^{-5} \text{and} ρ_{μμμμ}=3 \times 10^{-5}$, and are enhanced relative to pure QED by $10-30 %$.

hep-ph

Interference of Conversion and Bremsstrahlung Amplitudes in the Decay K_L -> mu^+ mu^- gamma

In the region of large mu^+ mu^- invariant mass, the decay spectrum of K_L -> mu^+ mu^- gamma deviates from the Dalitz pair spectrum, as a result of interference between conversion (K_L -> gamma^* gamma -> mu^+ mu^- gamma) and bremsstrahlung amplitudes. The latter is proportional to the K_L -> mu^+ mu^- matrix element, whose 2 gamma-absorptive part appears to dominate the observed K_L -> mu^+ mu^- decay rate. We examine the extent to which a scrutiny of the K_L -> mu^+ mu^- gamma spectrum in the end-point region could provide evidence on the real part of the K_L -> mu^+ mu^- amplitude. As a by-product, we obtain the absorptive part of the K_L -> gamma^* gamma form factor, using data on the K_L -> pi^+ pi^- gamma spectrum.

hep-ph

Strong Final State Interactions in gamma.gamma --> W+W-

We study the effects of a possible strong final state interaction among longitudinal W's in gamma.gamma --> W+W-. The relevant partial wave amplitudes are modified by an Omnès function approximated by a Breit-Wigner form factor. We study the fractional cross section f_{00} = σ_{LL}/σ_{Total} with both W's longitudinally polarised, in the presence of a J = 2 resonance (M = 2.5 TeV, Width = 500 GeV) or a J = 0 resonance (M = 1 TeV, Width = 1 TeV), whose parameters are scaled up from the f_2 and σresonances in the ππsystem. We also examine the effects of final state interaction in the case of polarised photons (J_z = 0 or J_z = 2), and the impact on the Drell-Hearn-Gerasimov sum rule.

hep-ph

CP-Violation in the decay B^0, (B^0)bar -> pi^+ pi^- gamma

The decay (B^0)bar -> pi^+ pi^- gamma has a bremsstrahlung component determined by the amplitude for (B^0)bar -> pi^+ pi^-, as well as a direct component determined by the penguin interaction V_tb V^*_td c_7 O_7. Interference of these amplitudes produces a photon energy spectrum d Gamma/d x = a/x + b + c_1 x + c_2 x^2 + ... (x = 2 E_gamma/m_B) where the terms c_1,2 contain a dependence on the phase alpha_eff = pi - arg[(V_tb V^*_td)^* Amp((B^0)bar -> pi^+ pi^-)]. We also examine the angular distribution of these decays, and show that in the presence of strong phases, an untagged B^0/(B^0)bar beam can exhibit an asymmetry between the pi^+ and pi^- energy spectra.

hep-ph

Lepton Spectra from e^+ e^- \to W^+ W^- in the BESS model

We investigate the reaction e^+ e^- \to W^+ W^-, W^- \to l^- \bar{nu} in a strong coupling scenario as implemented in the BESS model. Energy and angle spectra of the secondary lepton are calculated and compared with the predictions of the Standard Model. These spectra provide a determination of the fraction f_0 of longitudinally polarized W's, and the backward fraction of secondary leptons, f_{back}. Assuming BESS parameters allowed by present data, we give numerical estimates of the effects to be expected at an e^+e^- collider of energy \sqrt{s} = 500- 800 GeV.

hep-ph

Charge Asymmetry and Photon Energy Spectrum in the Decay $B_s \to l^+ l^- γ$

We consider the structure-dependent amplitude of the decay $B_s \to l^+ l^- γ$ $(l=e,μ)$ in a model based on the effective Hamiltonian for $b \bar{s} \to l^+ l^-$ containing the Wilson coefficients $C_7,C_9$ and $C_{10}$. The form factors characterising the matrix elements $< γ| \bar{s} γ_μ(1 \mp γ_5) b | \bar{B}_s>$ and $< γ| \bar{s} σ_{μν} (1 \mp γ_5) b | \bar{B}_s>$ are taken to have the universal form $f_V \approx f_A \approx f_T \approx f_{B_s} M_{B_s} R_s / (3 E_γ)$ suggested by recent work in QCD, where $R_s$ is a parameter related to the light cone wave function of the $B_s$ meson. Simple expressions are obtained for the charge asymmetry $A(x_γ)$ and the photon energy spectrum $d Γ/ d x_γ(x_γ= 2 E_γ/M_{B_s})$. The decay rates are calculated in terms of the decay rate of $B_s \to γγ$. The branching ratios are estimated to be $Br(B_s \to e^+ e^- γ) = 2.0 \times 10^{-8}$ and $Br(B_s \to μ^+ μ^- γ) = 1.2 \times 10^{-8}$, somewhat higher than earlier estimates.

hep-ph