Measurement of |Vcb| using B0 -> D* l nu_l Decays

Abstract

A preliminary measurement of |Vcb| and the branching fraction BR(B0 -> D* l nu_l) has been performed based on a sample of about 55,700 B0 -> D* l nu_l decays recorded with the BaBar detector. The decays are identified in the D* -> D0 pi final state, with the D0 reconstructed in three different decay modes. The differential decay rate is measured as a function of the relativistic boost of the D* in the B0 rest frame. The value of the differential decay rate at `zero recoil', namely the point at which the D* is at rest in the B0 frame, is predicted in Heavy Quark Effective Theory as a kinematic factor times F(1)|Vcb|, where F(1) is the unique form factor governing the decay. We extrapolate the measured differential decay rate to the zero recoil point and obtain F(1)|Vcb|=(34.03+-0.24+-1.31) x 10^-3. Using a theoretical calculation for F(1) we extract |Vcb| = (37.27+-0.26(stat.)+-1.43(syst.)+1.5-1.2(theo.) x 10^-3. From the integrated decay rate we obtain BR(B0 -> D* l nu_l) = (4.68+-0.03+-0.29)%.