Can R-parity violation lower $\sin 2\beta$?

Abstract

Recent time-dependent CP asymmetry measurements in the $B_d \to J/\psi K_S$ channel by the BaBar and Belle Collaborations yield somewhat lower values of $\sin 2\beta$ compared to the one obtained from the standard model fit. If the inconsistency between these numbers persists with more statistics, this will signal new physics contaminating the $B_d \to J/\psi K_S$ channel, thus disturbing the extraction of $\beta$. We show that the R-parity-violating interactions in supersymmetric theories can provide extra new phases which play a role in significantly reducing the above CP asymmetry, thus explaining why BaBar and Belle report lower values of $\sin 2\beta$. The same couplings also affect the $B_d \to \phi K_S$ decay rate and asymmetry, explain the $B \to \eta' K$ anomaly, and predict nonzero CP asymmetry in dominant $B_s$ decays. The scenario will be tested in the ongoing and upcoming B factories.