Probing hadron structure and strong interactions with inclusive semileptonic decays of B mesons

Abstract

The study of inclusive semileptonic decays of $B$ mesons is analyzed from the viewpoint of probing hadron structure and strong interactions. General formulas for the differential decay rates are given in terms of the structure functions in arbitrary frame of reference, taking into account the finite charged lepton mass. These formulas can be used for structure function measurements. The behavior of the structure functions is shown to contain information on the constitution of the $B$ meson and the dynamics of strong interactions. Measurements of the structure functions would reveal the existence of a point-like $b$ quark in the $B$ meson, establish the spin 1/2 nature of the $b$ quark, and identify the $b$ quantum number of the $B$ meson. These measurements would determine the $b$ quark distribution function, and allow new insight into the nature of confinement. The $b$ quark distribution function can also be extracted directly through the measurements of the decay distributions with respect to the scaling variable $\xi_+$.