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Nita Sinha

Publications and source records attributed to Nita Sinha.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Tau contamination in the platinum channel at neutrino factories

The platinum channel (ν_e or anti-ν_e appearance) has been proposed at neutrino factories as an additional channel that could help in lifting degeneracies and improving sensitivities to neutrino oscillation parameters, viz., θ_{13}, δ_{CP}, mass hierarchy, deviation of θ_{23} from maximality and its octant. This channel corresponds to ν_μ-> ν_e (or the corresponding anti-particle) oscillations of the initial neutrino flux, with the subsequent detection of (positrons) electrons from charged current interactions of the (anti-) ν_e in the detector. For small values of θ_{13}, the dominant ν_μ\to ν_τ(or corresponding anti-particle) oscillation results in this signal being swamped by electrons arising from the leptonic decay of taus produced in charge-current interactions of ν_τ(anti-ν_τ) with the detector. We examine for the first time the role of this tau contamination to the electron events sample and find that it plays a significant role in the platinum channel compared to other channels, not only at high energy neutrino factories but surprisingly even at low energy neutrino factories. Even when the platinum channel is considered in combination with other channels such as the golden (muon appearance) or muon disappearance channel, the tau contamination results in a loss in precision of the measured parameters.

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Effect of tau neutrino contribution to muon signals at neutrino factories

We discuss precision measurements of the leading atmospheric parameters at a standard neutrino factory with a detector that is sensitive to muons alone. The oscillation of the muon- and electron neutrinos in the neutrino factory beam to tau neutrinos adds to the muon events sample (both right sign and wrong sign) via leptonic decays of the taus produced through charge-current interactions in the detector. In particular, we study how this affects a precision measurement of the atmospheric mixing parameters and the deviation of nu_mu <--> nu_tau mixing from maximality. In spite of the enhancement of the number of events due to the additional tau contribution, the determination of the atmospheric mixing angle and the deviation from maximality will be poorer. We show that it is impossible to devise satisfactory cuts to remove this tau contamination. Neglect of these tau contributions will lead to an incorrect conclusion about the precision obtainable at such a neutrino factory.

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Tau contribution and precision measurement of theta23 at a neutrino factory

We discuss precision measurements of the leading atmospheric parameters at a standard neutrino factory. The oscillation of the muon and electron neutrinos (anti-neutrinos) to tau neutrinos (anti-neutrinos) adds to the muon events sample (both right sign and wrong sign) via leptonic decays of the taus produced through charge-current interactions in the detector. We focus on how this contribution affects a precision measurement of the atmospheric mixing parameters and the deviation of muon neutrino -- tau neutrino mixing from maximality.

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Status of CP Violation

The Standard Model parametrization of CP violation is described. Tests of this parametrization using the observed heavy flavour decays and implications for New physics are discussed.

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Determining the Neutral D Mixing Parameters

Evidence for mixing in the neutral D meson system has recently been reported. Assuming negligible CP violation, non-vanishing width and mass differences between the two neutral D mass eigenstates has been found. Theoretical predictions of these are rather difficult, obscuring detection of New Physics contributions. However, the observation of CP violation in the D system would be a good signal of New Physics. We briefly describe the formalism that describes the neutral D decay and mixing, and present a method to determine all the mixing parameters accurately allowing for arbitrary CP violation.

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Accurate measurement of the D0-D0bar mixing parameters

We propose a new method to determine the mass and width differences of the two D meson mass-eigenstates as well as the CP violating parameters associated with D^0-\bar{D}^0 mixing. We show that an accurate measurement of all the mixing parameters is possible for an arbitrary CP violating phase, by combining observables from a time dependent study of D decays to a doubly Cabibbo suppressed mode with information from a CP eigenstate. As an example we consider D^0-> K^{*0} π^0 decays where the K^{*0} is reconstructed in both K^+π^- and K_Sπ^0. We also show that decays to the CP eigenstate D-> K^+K^- together with D-> K^+π^- can be used to extract all the mixing parameters. A combined analysis using D^0-> K^{*0} π^0 and D-> K^+K^- can also be used to reduce the ambiguity in the determination of parameters.

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Patterns of New Physics in B Decays

We show that any new physics (NP) which affects B decays with penguin contributions can be absorbed by redefinitions of the standard-model (SM) diagrammatic amplitudes. Hence, there are no clean signals of NP in such decays unless there is an accurate theoretical estimate of parameters or a justifiable approximation can be made. In all decays with penguin contributions, NP simultaneously affects pairs of diagrams. The evidence for a large C' from fits to B-> pi K data is naturally explained if NP contributes to P_EW, since NP affects the P_EW and C' diagrams as a pair. The weak phase gamma measured in B-> pi K decays will always agree with its SM value even in the presence of NP, if the NP contributes in such a way that the amplitudes retain the SM form after suitable redefinitions.

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Neutrino oscillation probabilities: Sensitivity to parameters

We study in detail the sensitivity of neutrino oscillation probabilities to the fundamental neutrino parameters and their possible determination through experiments. The first part of the paper is devoted to the broad theme of isolating regions in the neutrino (and anti-neutrino) energy and propagation length that are sensitive to the oscillation parameters. Such a study is relevant to neutrinos both from the Earth's atmosphere or from a neutrino factory. For completeness we discuss the sensitivity, however small, to the parameters involved in a three-generation framework, and to the Earth matter density profile. We then study processes relevant to atmospheric neutrinos which are sensitive to and allow precision measurements of the mixing angle theta_23 and mass-squared difference delta_32 apart from the mixing angle theta_13. Crucial to this analysis is charge identification; detectors having this capability can isolate these matter effects. In particular, we address the issue of using matter effects to determine whether the mixing angle theta_23 is maximal, and, if not, to explore how well its octant can be determined. When realistic detector resolutions are included, we find that deviations of about 15% (20%) from a maximal value of sin^2 theta_23=1/2 can be measured at 95% (99%) CL provided theta_13 is non-zero, sin^2 theta_13 >= 0.015, and the neutrino mass ordering is normal, with fairly large exposures of 1000 kton-years.

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Improved measurement of (2 beta+gamma)

We propose to measure the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa parameter (2 beta+gamma) using B^0 decays involving several intermediate states, and describe a general formalism that applies to a broad class of decays. The main advantage of this method is that the ratios between the interfering amplitudes can be measured without requiring external input. In addition, discrete ambiguities are resolved.

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Methods for Measuring New-Physics Parameters in B Decays

Recently, it was argued that new-physics (NP) effects in B decays can be approximately parametrized in terms of a few quantities. As a result, CP violation in the $B$ system allows one not only to detect the presence of new physics (NP), but also to measure its parameters. This will allow a partial identification of the NP, before its production at high-energy colliders. In this paper, we examine three methods for measuring NP parameters. The first uses a technique involving both $\btos$ and $\btod$ penguin B decays. Depending on which pair of decays is used, the theoretical error is in the range 5--15%. The second involves a comparison of $B\to πK$ and $B\toππ$ decays. Although the theoretical error is large ($\gsim 25%$), the method can be performed now, with presently-available data. The third is via a time-dependent angular analysis of $\bvv$ decays. In this case, there is no theoretical error, but the technique is experimentally challenging, and the method applies only to those NP models whose weak phase is universal to all NP operators. A reliable identification of the NP will involve the measurement of the NP parameters in many different ways, and with as many B decay modes as possible, so that it will be important to use all of these methods.

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Determining gamma using B->D^**K

We propose the use of B -->D^**K decay modes for a theoretically clean determination of the weak phase gamma. The self tagging decays of the neutral D^** mesons, makes a measurement of the b --> u\bar{c}s amplitude feasible. This overcomes the problem with the Gronau-London-Wyler proposal. Even an upper limit on the branching ratio for B^- -->bar{D}^{**0}K^- will place an assumption free, lower bound on gamma.

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Bounds on New Physics from B -> V1 V2 Decays

We consider the possibility that physics beyond the standard model contributes to the decays B -> V1 V2, where V1 and V2 are vector mesons. We show that a time-dependent angular analysis of B -> V1 V2 decays provides many tests for this new physics (NP). Furthermore, although one cannot solve for the NP parameters, we show that this angular analysis allows one to put bounds on these parameters. This can be useful in estimating the scale of NP, and can tell us whether any NP found directly at future high-energy colliders can be responsible for effects seen in B -> V1 V2 decays.

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Signals of New Physics using angular analysis in B -> V1 V2 decays

We show that an angular analysis of B -> V1 V2 decays yields numerous tests for new physics in the decay amplitudes. Many of these new-physics observables are nonzero even if the strong phase differences vanish. For certain observables, neither time-dependent measurements nor tagging is necessary. Should a signal for new physics be found, one can place a lower limit on the size of the new-physics parameters, as well as bound its effect on the measurement of the B^0--Bbar^0 mixing phase.

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Determining weak phases using B->D^*V Decays

We describe how the angular analysis of vector-vector final states in B decays provides theoretically clean techniques for determination of CP violating phases. The quantity $\sin^2 (2β+ γ)$ can be cleanly obtained from the time dependent study of decays such as B_d(t)->D^{*\pm} ρ^\mp, D^{*\pm} a_1^{\mp} etc. Similarly, one can use B_s(t)-> D_s^{*\pm} K^{*\mp} to extract $\sin^2 γ$. A time independent study of the charged decay mode B^\pm-> D^{*0}(\bar D^{*0}) K^{*\pm} can also be used to extract gamma.

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Lepton Polarization and Forward-Backward Asymmetries in b -> s tau+ tau-

We study the spin polarizations of both tau leptons in the decay b -> s tau+ tau-. In addition to the polarization asymmetries involving a single tau, we construct asymmetries for the case where both polarizations are simultaneously measured. We also study forward-backward asymmetries with polarized tau's. We find that a large number of asymmetries are predicted to be large, >~ 10%. This permits the measurement of all Wilson coefficients and the b-quark mass, thus allowing the standard model (SM) to be exhaustively tested. Furthermore, there are many unique signals for the presence of new physics. For example, asymmetries involving triple-product correlations are predicted to be tiny within the SM, O(10^{-2}). Their observation would be a clear signal of new physics.

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Weak Phase gamma Using Isospin Analysis and Time Dependent Asymmetry in B_d -> K_s pi^+ pi^-

We present a method for measuring the weak phase gamma using isospin analysis of three body B decays into K pi pi channels. Differential decay widths and time dependent asymmetry in B_d -> K_s pi^+pi^- mode needs to be measured into even isospin pi pi states. The method can be used to extract gamma, as well as, the size of the electroweak penguin contributions. The technique is free from assumptions like SU(3) or neglect of any contributions to the decay amplitudes. By studying different regions of the Dalitz plot, it is possible to reduce the ambiguity in the value of gamma.

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Penguin Pollution in B->pi pi

In the presence of penguin contributions, the indirect CP asymmetry in B0(t)->pi+ pi- measures some effective (``polluted'') angle 2alpha_{eff}. The angle 2theta=2alpha_{eff}-2alpha, parameterizes the size of the penguin pollution. A new, most stringent upper bound on |2theta|, requiring the measurement of of BR(B+ -> pi+ pi0) and an upper bound on B00 \equiv {1\over 2} [BR(B0 -> pi0 pi0) + BR(B0bar -> pi0 pi0)] is discussed. An interesting consequence of this bound, is a lower limit on B00. The summer update of the branching ratios and asymmetries in B->pi pi modes is expected to provide a more precise picture of the size of penguin pollution.

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