BR of semileptonic B meson decay

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the branching ratio (BR) of the semileptonic decay of B mesons, specifically the decay mode ## B \to \tau \nu ##. Participants explore the theoretical calculations of the branching ratio as presented in the reference 1303.5877v1 and express confusion regarding the order of magnitude of the branching ratio in relation to the mean lifetime of the B meson and the Fermi constant.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the formula for the branching ratio and notes that the Standard Model predicts a value of ## \sim 0.7 \times 10^{-4} ##.
  • Another participant questions how this branching ratio can be of order ## 10^{-4} ## given the mean lifetime of ## \tau_B \sim 10^{-12} s ## and the Fermi constant being on the order of ## 10^{-5} GeV^{-2} ##.
  • A subsequent reply attempts to clarify the conversion of the mean lifetime into energy units, suggesting that the conversion from seconds to GeV is not straightforward and may be misrepresented by online tools.
  • Another participant confirms that the units work out dimensionally, indicating that the branching ratio is dimensionless and provides a breakdown of how the orders of magnitude from various constants contribute to the final result.
  • There is uncertainty expressed regarding the specific values used for the masses and the coupling constant in the calculations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the calculations or the interpretation of the branching ratio, with multiple viewpoints and uncertainties remaining regarding the conversion of units and the values of constants used.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the assumptions made in the calculations, the dependence on specific definitions of constants, and unresolved steps in the mathematical reasoning.

Safinaz
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Hi there,

In a reference as 1303.5877v1 [hep-ph ] the SM branching ratio of ## B \to \tau \nu ## is given by:

## \frac{m_B G_F^2 m_\tau^2 \tau_B f^2_B } { 8 \pi } V_{ub}^2 ( 1 - \frac{m_\tau^2}{m_B^2} )^2 ## . In the SM model the value of this BR ## \sim 0.7 \times 10^{-4} ## .

But I don't understand how the BR is of order 10^-4, while the mean life time ## \tau_B \sim 10^{-12} s ## and the Fermi constant ## \sim 10^{-5} GeV ^{ -2} ## ?
 
Last edited:
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10^{-12} ~s \sim \mathcal{O}(10^{11} ~GeV^{-1})

*edit*

Well I got this from wolframalpha, but I think it's wrong...it's not always correct with its conversions...

eg. here:
http://www.saha.ac.in/theory/palashbaran.pal/conv.html
I find 10^{-12} ~s \approx 1.52 \times 10^{12} ~GeV

I guess the right way is to set the natural units \hbar= 6.58 \times 10^{-25} ~GeV~s=1 so from that you can calculate by yourself the relation between energy and seconds.
You get:
10^{-12} s = \frac{1}{6.58} 10^{13} ~GeV^{-1}= 1.52 \times 10^{12}~GeV^{-1}
 
Last edited:
The units then work fine, since the Branching ratio is immediately dimless...
GeV^{-4}_{G_F} \times GeV_{m_E} \times GeV^{-1}_{\tau_B} \times GeV^2_{m_\tau} \times GeV^2_{f_B} =1

and then you have 10^{-10} from G_F^2,
10^{12} from \tau_B,
10^{-5} \text{-} 10^{-6} from |V_{ub}|^2
so the orders of magnitude can work out. I don't know what values they used for the masses and the coupling constant f
 
Last edited:
Thanx ..
 

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