Measurement of |Vcb| using B0 to D*l nu decays

Abstract

The magnitude of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element Vcb has been measured using B0 to D*l nu decays recorded on the Z0 peak using the OPAL detector at LEP. The D* to D0 pi+ decays were reconstructed both in the particular decay modes D0 to K- pi+ and D0 to K- pi+ pi- and via an inclusive technique. The product of |Vcb| and the decay form factor of the B0 to D* l nu transition at zero recoil F(1) was measured to be F(1)|Vcb| = (37.1+-1.0+-2.0)x10^-3, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic respectively. By using Heavy Quark Effective Theory calculations for F(1), a value of |Vcb| = (40.7+-1.1+-2.2+-1.6)x 10^-3 was obtained, where the third error is due to theoretical uncertainties in the value of F(1). The branching ratio Br(B0 to D* l nu) was also measured to be (5.26+-0.20+-0.46)%.