B Physics and CP Violation

Abstract

After an introduction to the Standard-Model description of CP violation and a brief look at the present status of this phenomenon in the kaon system, a classification of non-leptonic B-decays is given and the formalism of $B_{d,s}^0$--$\overline{B_{d,s}^0}$ mixing is discussed. We then turn to the $B$-factory benchmark modes, CP violation in charged B decays, and the $B_s$-meson system. Finally, we focus both on $B\to \pi K$ decays, which play an important role to probe the CKM angle $\gamma$, and on the $B_d\to {\pi }^{+}{\pi }^{-}$, $B_s\to K^{+}{K}^{-}$ system, which allows an interesting determination of $\beta$ and $\gamma$.

LaTeX, 49 pages, 22 figures. Invited lecture given at the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Recent Developments in Particle Physics and Cosmology, Cascais, Portugal, 26 June - 7 July 2000. To appear in the Proceedings