What Factors Affect the Lifetime of B+ and Bc Mesons?

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SUMMARY

The Bc meson, composed of an anti-b and a c quark, has a lifetime of 0.46 picoseconds, significantly shorter than the ~1.6 picoseconds lifetime of B+ and B- mesons. This discrepancy is primarily attributed to the greater number of available decay channels for the Bc meson, with the decay dominated by the charm quark, which accounts for 70% of its decay processes. The Bc can decay through three distinct mechanisms: the b quark decay, the c quark decay, or annihilation, whereas the B0 meson has only one decay pathway. The shorter lifetime of the Bc meson is a result of these factors rather than a mere coincidence.

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ghetom
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I'm trying to understand why the Bc meson (anti b and c) has a lifetime of 0.46 picoseconds whilst the Bs, B+ and B- have lifetimes of ~1.6 picoseconds. Is this a density of states thing? or to do with the CKM elements?

Thanks for any help.
 
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It seems to be at least partly due to more available decay channels for the Bc. They say the decay is dominated by decays of the charm quark (70 percent). And in addition to all the other things that quarks can do, the charm quark can decay to a strange. Which is a channel that would not be available in a meson that had strange to begin with. :rolleyes:
 
One way to look at this is that there are three ways a Bc can decay (the b can decay, the c can decay, or the two can annihilate) vs. only one for the B0. The fact that the lifetime is a factor of three shorter is coincidence.
 

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