Highlights of the B-Physics Landscape

Abstract

The exploration of the quark-flavour sector of the Standard Model is one of the hot topics in particle physics of this decade. In these studies, which show a fruitful interplay between theory and experiment, the B-meson system offers a particularly interesting laboratory. After giving an introduction to quark-flavour mixing and CP violation as well as to the theoretical tools to deal with non-leptonic B decays, we discuss popular avenues for new physics to enter the roadmap of quark-flavour physics. This allows us to have a detailed look at the B-factory benchmark modes $B_d^0\to J/\psi K_S$, $B_d^0\to \varphi K_S$ and $B_d^0\to {\pi }^{+}{\pi }^{-}$, with a particular emphasis of the impact of new physics. We then perform an analysis of the $B\to \pi K$ puzzle, which may indicate new sources of CP violation in the electroweak penguin sector, and discuss its implications for rare B and K decays. The next topic is given by $b\to d$ penguin processes, which are now starting to become accessible at the B factories, thereby representing a new territory of the B-physics landscape. Finally, we discuss the prospects for B-decay studies at the Large Hadron Collider, where the $B_s^0$-meson system plays an outstanding role.

64 pages, 19 figures, invited topical review for Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics

Cited by in corpus (9)

• Charmless non-leptonic B_s decays to PP, PV and VV final states in the pQCD approach
• Probing New Physics through B Mixing: Status, Benchmarks and Prospects
• On Puzzles and Non-Puzzles in B -> pi pi, pi K Decays
• Exploring B_{d,s}-> KK decays through flavour symmetries and QCD-factorisation
• Exploring CP Violation and Penguin Effects through $B_d^0\to D^{+}{D}^{-}$ and $B_s^0\to D_s^{+}{D}_s^{-}$
• Studying of B_s^0-\bar{B}_s^0 mixing and B_{s}\to K^{(*)-}K^{(*)+} decays within supersymmetry
• U-Spin Tests of the Standard Model and New Physics
• B_s\to K^{(*)-}K^{(*)+}, K^{(*)-}π^{+}, K^{(*)-}ρ^{+} decays in R-parity violating supersymmetry
• In Pursuit of New Physics in the B System