Polarization Anomaly in $B\to \phi K^{*}$ and Probe of Tensor Interactions

Abstract

The pure penguin process $B\to \phi K^*$ is one of the most important probes of physics beyond the Standard Model. Recently BaBar and Belle have measured the unexpectedly large transverse polarization in the decays $B\to \phi K^*$, which may single out new physics effects beyond the Standard model. We study the possibility that the phenomenon could serve as an important probe of anomalous tensor interactions. We find that a spin flipped tensor interaction with a small strength and a phase could give a possible solution to the polarization puzzle.