On the Necessity of Recalibrating Heavy Flavor Decays and its Impact on Apparent Puzzles in High Energy Physics

Abstract

It is demonstrated that charm is systematically undercounted in various experiments. Via a process of elimination, $B(D^0 \rightarrow K^- \pi^+ )$ is identified as the culprit. It calibrates essentially all charmed meson production and decay properties, and thus is central to the physics of heavy flavors. We predict it to decrease significantly below currently accepted values. We suggest several novel methods for precise measurements of $B(D^0 \rightarrow K^- \pi^+ )$. The $B(\Lambda_c \rightarrow pK^-\pi^+)$, on the other hand, calibrates heavy-flavored baryons. Its world average relies heavily on a model of baryon production in $B$ decays, which would be invalidated if $\overline B\rightarrow D^{(*)} \stackrel{(-)}{N} X$ processes were found to be significant. A Dalitz-plot analysis explains naturally the soft inclusive $\Lambda_c$ momentum spectrum in $\overline B$ decays, and predicts sizable $\overline B\rightarrow D^{(*)}\stackrel{(-)}{N} X$ processes. Consistently carrying through these modifications to charmed meson and baryon yields has the potential to resolve the heavy-flavor puzzles at $Z^0$-factories [$R_c,\; R_b$], the number of charm per $B$-decay puzzle, and the semi-leptonic $B$ decay puzzles. We emphasize that state of the art theoretical calculations are consistent with precise experimental measurements regarding $B(\overline B\rightarrow X\ell\bar\nu )$. Recent CLEO measurements are interpreted as newly available cross-checks that any inclusive theoretical investigation must satisfy. Another topic of this report concerns the $b\rightarrow c + \overline D^{(*)}\overline K$ transitions, which were predicted to be sizable and subsequently confirmed by CLEO. This report discusses the underlying dynamics of those processes and quantifies the necessary modifications in existing