Extracting $|V_{bc}|$, $m_c$ and $m_b$ from Inclusive $D$ and $B$ Decays

Abstract

Using recent results for nonperturbative contributions to the $B$ and $D$ meson inclusive semileptonic widths, a model independent extraction of $\vbc$, $m_c$ and $m_b$ is made from the experimentally measured $B$ and $D$ lifetimes and semileptonic branching ratios. Constraining the parameters of the HQET at $\CO(1/m_Q^2)$ by the $D$ semileptonic width, $\vbc$ is found to lie in the range $.040<\vbc< 0.057$. The $c$ and $b$ quark masses are not well constrained due to uncertainty in the relevant scale of $\alpha_s$. These results assume the validity of perturbative QCD at the low scales relevant to semileptonic charm decay. Without making this assumption, somewhat less stringent bounds on $V_{bc}$ from $B$ decay alone may be obtained.