Lifetimes of Charmed Hadrons Revisited. Facts and fancy

Abstract

The problem of the hierarchy of lifetimes of charmed hadrons is reviewed. The QCD-based theory of preasymptotic effects in inclusive weak decays dating back to the beginning of the eighties is now entering its mature phase. Combining recent and old results we argue that the observed hierarchy reflects most intimate features of the hadronic structure. The problem of a wide spread of lifetimes of charmed hadrons is addressed. We speculate on what is to be expected from QCD to provide the observed pattern. A number of predictions is given for the hierarchy of lifetimes in the family of the beautiful hadrons.