Extracting and using photon polarization information in radiative B decays

Abstract

We discuss the uses of conversion electron pairs for extracting photon polarization information in weak radiative B decays. Both cases of leptons produced through a virtual and real photon are considered. Measurements of the angular correlation between the $(Kπ)$ and $(e^+e^-)$ decay planes in $B\to K^*(\to Kπ)γ^{(*)}(\to e^+e^-)$ decays can be used to determine the helicity amplitudes in the radiative $B\to K^*γ$ decay. A large right-handed helicity amplitude in $\bar B$ decays is a signal of new physics. The time-dependent CP asymmetry in the $B^0$ decay angular correlation is shown to measure $\sin 2β$ and $\cos 2β$ with little hadronic uncertainty.