Hyperfine Effects and Large $1/{m}_{Q}^{2}$ Corrections

Abstract

Effects associated with hyperfine mass splitting between pseudo\-scalar and vector mesons may induce surprisingly large $1/{m}_{Q}^{2}$ corrections in the heavy quark expansion. We demonstrate this in a relativistic quark model by calculating to all orders in $1/{m}_{Q}$, with and without hyperfine effects, and comparing to the first order results. Total corrections of 30\% or more are quite possible in the decay rates for $B\rightarrow Dlν$ and $B\rightarrow D^{\ast}lν$ near zero recoil.