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S. Descotes-Genon

Publications and source records attributed to S. Descotes-Genon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2021

Anatomy of a new anomaly in non-leptonic B decays

We discuss the anatomy of the $L_{VV}$ observable designed as a ratio of the longitudinal components of $B_s \to VV$ versus $B_d \to VV$ decays. We focus on the particular case of $B_{d,s} \to K^{*0} {\bar K^{*0}}$ where we find for the SM prediction $L_{K^* \bar{K}^*}=19.5^{+9.3}_{-6.8}$ implying a 2.6$σ$ tension with respect to data. The interpretation of this tension in a model independent way identifies two Wilson coefficients ${\cal C}_{4}$ and ${\cal C}_{8g}$ as possible sources. The example of one simplified model including a Kaluza-Klein (KK) gluon is discussed. This KK gluon embedded inside a composite/extra dimensional model combined with a $Z^\prime$ can explain also the $b\to s\ell\ell$ anomalies albeit with a significant amount of fine-tuning.

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arXiv2020

New physics in $B$ meson mixing: future sensitivity and limitations

The mixing of neutral mesons is sensitive to some of the highest scales probed in laboratory experiments. In light of the planned LHCb Upgrade II, a possible upgrade of Belle II, and the broad interest in flavor physics in the tera-$Z$ phase of the proposed FCC-ee program, we study constraints on new physics contributions to $B_d$ and $B_s$ mixings which can be obtained in these benchmark scenarios. We explore the limitations of this program, and identify the measurement of $|V_{cb}|$ as one of the key ingredients in which progress beyond current expectations is necessary to maximize future sensitivity. We speculate on possible solutions to this bottleneck. Given the current tension with the standard model (SM) in semileptonic $B$ decays, we explore how its resolution may impact the search for new physics in mixing. Even if new physics has the same CKM and loop suppressions of flavor changing processes as the SM, the sensitivity will reach 2 TeV, and it can be much higher if any SM suppressions are lifted. We illustrate the discovery potential of this program.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2020

Future Physics Programme of BESIII

There has recently been a dramatic renewal of interest in the subjects of hadron spectroscopy and charm physics. This renaissance has been driven in part by the discovery of a plethora of charmonium-like $XYZ$ states at BESIII and $B$ factories, and the observation of an intriguing proton-antiproton threshold enhancement and the possibly related $X(1835)$ meson state at BESIII, as well as the threshold measurements of charm mesons and charm baryons. We present a detailed survey of the important topics in tau-charm physics and hadron physics that can be further explored at BESIII over the remaining lifetime of BEPCII operation. This survey will help in the optimization of the data-taking plan over the coming years, and provides physics motivation for the possible upgrade of BEPCII to higher luminosity.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2019

Opportunities in Flavour Physics at the HL-LHC and HE-LHC

Motivated by the success of the flavour physics programme carried out over the last decade at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), we characterize in detail the physics potential of its High-Luminosity and High-Energy upgrades in this domain of physics. We document the extraordinary breadth of the HL/HE-LHC programme enabled by a putative Upgrade II of the dedicated flavour physics experiment LHCb and the evolution of the established flavour physics role of the ATLAS and CMS general purpose experiments. We connect the dedicated flavour physics programme to studies of the top quark, Higgs boson, and direct high-$p_T$ searches for new particles and force carriers. We discuss the complementarity of their discovery potential for physics beyond the Standard Model, affirming the necessity to fully exploit the LHC's flavour physics potential throughout its upgrade eras.

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arXiv2017

Isospin analysis of charmless B-meson decays

We discuss the determination of the CKM angle $α$ using the non-leptonic two-body decays $B\to ππ$, $B\to ρρ$ and $B\to ρπ$ using the latest data available. We illustrate the methods used in each case and extract the corresponding value of $α$. Combining all these elements, we obtain the following determination of $α_{\rm dir}=( 86.2^{+4.4}_{-4.0}~~ \cup~~ 178.4^{+3.9}_{-5.1})^\circ$. We assess the uncertainties associated to the breakdown of the isospin hypothesis and the choice of statistical framework in detail. We also determine the hadronic amplitudes (tree and penguin) describing the QCD dynamics involved in these decays, briefly comparing our results with theoretical expectations. For each observable of interest in the $B\to ππ$, $B\to ρρ$ and $B\to ρπ$ systems, we perform an indirect determination based on the constraints from all the other observables available and we discuss the compatibility between indirect and direct determinations. Finally, we review the impact of future improved measurements on the determination of $α$.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2017

Disentangling weak and strong interactions in $B\to K^*(\to Kπ)π$ Dalitz-plot analyses

Dalitz-plot analyses of $B\rightarrow Kππ$ decays provide direct access to decay amplitudes, and thereby weak and strong phases can be disentangled by resolving the interference patterns in phase space between intermediate resonant states. A phenomenological isospin analysis of $B\rightarrow K^*(\rightarrow Kπ)π$ decay amplitudes is presented exploiting available amplitude analyses performed at the Babar, Belle and LHCb experiments. A first application consists in constraining the CKM parameters thanks to an external hadronic input. A method, proposed some time ago by two different groups and relying on a bound on the electroweak penguin contribution, is shown to lack the desired robustness and accuracy, and we propose a more alluring alternative using a bound on the annihilation contribution. A second application consists in extracting information on hadronic amplitudes assuming the values of the CKM parameters from a global fit to quark flavour data. The current data yields several solutions, which do not fully support the hierarchy of hadronic amplitudes usually expected from theoretical arguments (colour suppression, suppression of electroweak penguins), as illustrated from computations within QCD factorisation. Some prospects concerning the impact of future measurements at LHCb and Belle II are also presented. Results are obtained with the CKMfitter analysis package, featuring the frequentist statistical approach and using the Rfit scheme to handle theoretical uncertainties.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2015

Current status of the Standard Model CKM fit and constraints on $ΔF=2$ New Physics

This letter summarises the status of the global fit of the CKM parameters within the Standard Model performed by the CKMfitter group. Special attention is paid to the inputs for the CKM angles $α$ and $γ$ and the status of $B_s\toμμ$ and $B_d\to μμ$ decays. We illustrate the current situation for other unitarity triangles. We also discuss the constraints on generic $ΔF=2$ New Physics. All results have been obtained with the CKMfitter analysis package, featuring the frequentist statistical approach and using Rfit to handle theoretical uncertainties.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2014

Analyticity of $ηπ$ isospin-violating form factors and the $τ\toηπν$ second-class decay

We consider the evaluation of the $ηπ$ isospin-violating vector and scalar form factors relying on a systematic application of analyticity and unitarity, combined with chiral expansion results. It is argued that the usual analyticity properties do hold (i.e. no anomalous thresholds are present) in spite of the instability of the $η$ meson in QCD. Unitarity relates the vector form factor to the $ηπ\to ππ$ amplitude: we exploit progress in formulating and solving the Khuri-Treiman equations for $η\to 3π$ and in experimental measurements of the Dalitz plot parameters to evaluate the shape of the $ρ$-meson peak. Observing this peak in the energy distribution of the $τ\to ηπν$ decay would be a background-free signature of a second-class amplitude. The scalar form factor is also estimated from a phase dispersive representation using a plausible model for the $ηπ$ elastic scattering $S$-wave phase shift and a sum rule constraint in the inelastic region. We indicate how a possibly exotic nature of the $a_0(980)$ scalar meson manifests itself in a dispersive approach. A remark is finally made on a second-class amplitude in the $τ\toππν$ decay.

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arXiv2013

Isospin breaking in the phases of the Ke4 form factors

Isospin breaking in the Kl4 form factors induced by the difference between charged and neutral pion masses is studied. Starting from suitably subtracted dispersion representations, the form factors are constructed in an iterative way up to two loops in the low-energy expansion by implementing analyticity, crossing, and unitarity due to two-meson intermediate states. Analytical expressions for the phases of the two-loop form factors of the K\pm -> pi^+ pi^- e^\pm nu_e channel are given, allowing one to connect the difference of form-factor phase shifts measured experimentally (out of the isospin limit) and the difference of S- and P-wave pi-pi phase shifts studied theoretically (in the isospin limit). The isospin-breaking correction consists of the sum of a universal part, involving only pi-pi rescattering, and a process-dependent contribution, involving the form factors in the coupled channels. The dependence on the two S-wave scattering lengths a_0^0 and a_0^2 in the isospin limit is worked out in a general way, in contrast to previous analyses based on one-loop chiral perturbation theory. The latter is used only to assess the subtraction constants involved in the dispersive approach. The two-loop universal and process-dependent contributions are estimated and cancel partially to yield an isospin-breaking correction close to the one-loop case. The recent results on the phases of K^\pm -> pi^+ pi^- e^\pm nu_e form factors obtained by the NA48/2 collaboration at the CERN SPS are reanalysed including this isospin-breaking correction to extract values for the scattering lengths a_0^0 and a_0^2, as well as for low-energy constants and order parameters of two-flavour ChPT.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2013

Determining the chiral condensate from the distribution of the winding number beyond topological susceptibility

The first two non-trivial moments of the distribution of the topological charge (or gluonic winding number), i.e., the topological susceptibility and the fourth cumulant, can be computed in lattice QCD simulations and exploited to constrain the pattern of chiral symmetry breaking. We compute these two topological observables at next-to-leading order in three-flavour Chiral Perturbation Theory, and we discuss the role played by the eta propagation in these expressions. For hierarchies of light-quark masses close to the physical situation, we show that the fourth cumulant has a much better sensitivity than the topological susceptibility to the three-flavour quark condensate, and thus constitutes a relevant tool to determine the pattern of chiral symmetry breaking in the limit of three massless flavours. We provide the complete formulae for the two topological observables in the isospin limit, and predict their values in the particular setting of the recent analysis of the RBC/UKQCD collaboration. We show that a combination of the topological susceptibility and the fourth cumulant is able to pin down the three-flavour condensate in a particularly clean way in the case of three degenerate quarks.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2013

Implications of LHCb measurements and future prospects

During 2011 the LHCb experiment at CERN collected 1.0 fb-1 of sqrt{s} = 7 TeV pp collisions. Due to the large heavy quark production cross-sections, these data provide unprecedented samples of heavy flavoured hadrons. The first results from LHCb have made a significant impact on the flavour physics landscape and have definitively proved the concept of a dedicated experiment in the forward region at a hadron collider. This document discusses the implications of these first measurements on classes of extensions to the Standard Model, bearing in mind the interplay with the results of searches for on-shell production of new particles at ATLAS and CMS. The physics potential of an upgrade to the LHCb detector, which would allow an order of magnitude more data to be collected, is emphasised.

hep-ex↗
arXiv2013

Dispersive evaluation of the second-class amplitude $τ\toηπν_τ$ in the standard model

We reevaluate the two form factors relevant for the $ηπ$ second-class $τ$ decay mode, making systematic use of analyticity, unitarity, combined with updated inputs to the NLO chiral constraints. We focus, in particular, on the shape of the $ρ$ resonance peak which is a background-free signature of a second-class current. Its dispersive construction requires the $ηπ\toππ$ scattering amplitude which we derive from a family of Khuri-Treiman equations solutions constrained with accurate recent results on the $η\to3π$ Dalitz plot.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2012

New Physics in B-Bbar mixing in the light of recent LHCb data

We perform model-independent statistical analyses of three scenarios accommodating New Physics (NP) in Delta F=2 flavour-changing neutral current amplitudes. In a scenario in which NP in B_d-B_d-bar and B_s-B_s-bar is uncorrelated, we find the parameter point representing the Standard-Model disfavoured by 2.4 standard deviations. However, recent LHCb data on B_s neutral-meson mixing forbid a good accommodation of the D0 data on the semileptonic CP asymmetry A_SL. We introduce a fourth scenario with NP in both M_12^d,s and Gamma_12^d,s, which can accommodate all data. We discuss the viability of this possibility and emphasise the importance of separate measurements of the CP asymmetries in semileptonic B_d and B_s decays. All results have been obtained with the CKMfitter analysis package, featuring the frequentist statistical approach and using Rfit to handle theoretical uncertainties.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2012

Two-loop representations of low-energy pion form factors and pi-pi scattering phases in the presence of isospin breaking

Dispersive representations of the pi-pi scattering amplitudes and pion form factors, valid at two-loop accuracy in the low-energy expansion, are constructed in the presence of isospin-breaking effects induced by the difference between the charged and neutral pion masses. Analytical expressions for the corresponding phases of the scalar and vector pion form factors are computed. It is shown that each of these phases consists of the sum of a "universal" part and a form-factor dependent contribution. The first one is entirely determined in terms of the pi-pi scattering amplitudes alone, and reduces to the phase satisfying Watson's theorem in the isospin limit. The second one can be sizeable, although it vanishes in the same limit. The dependence of these isospin corrections with respect to the parameters of the subthreshold expansion of the pi-pi amplitude is studied, and an equivalent representation in terms of the S-wave scattering lengths is also briefly presented and discussed. In addition, partially analytical expressions for the two-loop form factors and pi-pi scattering amplitudes in the presence of isospin breaking are provided.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2012

Exploring New Physics in C_7-C_7'

We discuss the model dependence in the determination of the Wilson coefficient C_7 that governs the radiative electromagnetic decays of B mesons in the Standard Model, by considering various extensions of the effective Hamiltonian used to describe such decays. We include already measured observables like the branching ratios of B->X_s mu+ mu- and B->X_s gamma, the isospin and CP asymmetries in B->K* gamma, as well as A_FB and F_L in B->K* l+ l-, adding the LHCb measurements presented at this conference. We explore the constraints on C_7,C_9,C_10 as well as their chirality-flipped counterparts. We also discuss the transverse asymmetry A_T^2 which, once measured, may help to disentangle some of the scenarios considered.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2011

Workshop on Precision Measurements of alphas

These are the proceedings of the "Workshop on Precision Measurements of alphas" held at the Max-Planck-Institute for Physics, Munich, February 9-11, 2011. The workshop explored in depth the determination of alphas(mZ) in the MS-bar scheme from the key categories where high precision measurements are currently being made, including DIS and global PDF fits, tau-decays, electroweak precision observables and Z-decays, event-shapes, and lattice QCD. These proceedings contain a short summary contribution from the speakers, as well as the lists of authors, conveners, participants, and talks.

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