Hints for Enhanced b -> sg from Charm and Kaon Counting

Abstract

Previously, motivation for enhanced b -> sg from new flavor physics has centered on discrepancies between theory and experiment. Here two experimental hints are considered: (1) updated measurements of the charm multiplicity and BR(Bbar -> X_{ccbars}) at the Upsilon (4S) imply BR(B -> Xnocharm}) \approx 12.4 \pm 5.6 %, (2) the Bbar} -> K- X and Bbar -> K+/K- X branching fractions are in excess of conventional Bbar -> Xc -> KX yields by about 16.9 \pm 5.6 % and 18 \pm 5.3 %, respectively. JETSET 7.4 was used to estimate kaon yields from ssbar popping in Bbar -> Xcubard decays. JETSET 7.4 Monte Carlos for BR(Bbar -> Xsg) \sim 15 % imply that the additional kaon production would lead to 1 σagreement with observed charged and neutral kaon yields. The Ks momentum spectrum would be consistent with recent CLEO bounds in the end point region. Search strategies for enhanced b -> sg are discussed in light of large theoretical uncertainty in the standard model fast kaon background from b -> s penguin operators.