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

Abstract

Recent time-dependent CP asymmetry measurements in the $B_d \to J/ψK_S$ channel by the BaBar and Belle Collaborations yield somewhat lower values of $\sin 2β$ 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 $B_d \to J/ψK_S$ channel, thus disturbing the extraction of $β$. 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 $\sin 2β$. The same couplings also affect the $B_d \to ϕK_S$ decay rate and asymmetry, explain the $B \to η' K$ anomaly, and predict nonzero CP asymmetry in dominant $B_s$ decays. The scenario will be tested in the ongoing and upcoming B factories.