Rates and Asymmetries in $B \to K \pi$ Decays

Abstract

We discuss a potential discrepancy in an approximate relation among $B \to K \pi$ rates which, with increased statistical significance, would imply new physics in $\Delta I=1$ transitions. An approximate relation between CP-violating rate differences in $B^0/\bar{B}^0 \to K^{\pm}\pi^{\mp}$ and $B^{\pm} \to K^{\pm}\pi^0$ is used to combine these rate differences to reduce upper limits on the two CP asymmetries. These rates and asymmetries are used to update bounds on the CKM phase $\gamma$.