Analysis of new charmless strange B decay data leaves high $B\to K\eta'$ and $B\to K\eta' X$ still unexplained

Abstract

The question of whether the anomalously large $B \to K\eta' $ and $B \to K\eta' X $ (inclusive) branching ratios are consistent with the standard model or a sign of new physics is still open and in the experimental court. The nature of the extra hadron $X$ in $B \to K\eta' X $ is completely unknown. Directions for investigation and analysis of inclusive data are suggested as well as for comparable inclusive data on $B \to K\eta X $. New data confirming the prediction $BR(K^\pm \rho^o) = BR(K^\pm \omega)$ support flavor-topology $B \to VP$ sum rules based on the OZI rule and emphasize the sharp contrast with the failure of the analogous $B \to PP $ sum rule due to the anomalously large $BR(B \to K\eta')$. Confirmation of OZI validity in B-decay analyses for VP final states suggests improving data on the analogous neutral decay difference $BR(B^o \to K^o \rho^o) - BR(B^o \to K^o \omega)$ which measures tree-penguin interference and possible direct CP violation. A successful approximate isospin sum rule is rearranged and reinterpreted to pinpoint tree-penguin interference in $B \to K \pi$ and $B \to K \rho$ transitions. The magnitude of the interference is shown to still be at the statistical noise level with present data.