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# Nonleptonic 𝐵 decays into a charmed tensor meson

## I Introduction

The advent of the $`B`$-factory era in KEK and SLAC opens a new chance for very suppressed $`B`$ decays. Nonleptonic two-body decays into tensor $`(T)`$ mesons, among them, deserve much attention nowadays. Experimental data on them provides only upper bounds of the branching ratios. Two-body hadronic $`B`$ decays involving a tensor meson $`T`$ in the final state has long been studied  using the non-relativistic quark model of Isgur, Scora, Grinstein, and Wise (ISGW)  with the factorization ansatz. Their predictions for the branching ratios are rather small while the preliminary results from the Belle Collaboration indicate that the branching ratios for $`BPT`$ ($`P=`$ pseudoscalar) may not be very small compared to $`BPP`$ modes . Recently, both charmed and charmless $`BP(V)T`$ ($`V=`$ vector) decays were updated  using ISGW2 model  which is an HQET-based improvement of its original model. They are in many respects complementary to $`BP(V)`$ decays. In a theoretical point of view, more reliable description of $`BT`$ transition is required.

The biggest obstacle in theoretical predictions is the hadronic matrix elements. The factorization hypothesis is a widely accepted assumption. Recently, it is pointed out that the factorization parameter $`a_2`$ is process dependent and there is a nonzero strong phase difference between color-allowed and color-suppressed decay modes, based on the first observation of $`\overline{B}^0D^{()0}\pi ^0`$ by Belle and CLEO . It is thus very interesting to see what happens in $`BD_2^{}\pi `$. The vector meson $`D_1`$ and the charmed tensor $`D_2^{}`$ are members of a doublet $`(1^+,2^+)`$ with $`j_l^P=3^+/2`$, while $`(D_0^{},D_1^{})`$ corresponds to $`(0^+,1^+)`$ with $`j_l^P=1^+/2`$. The neutral decay mode $`\overline{B}^0D_2^0\pi ^0`$ is dominated by the color-suppressed internal $`W`$-emission diagram. Within the factorization (we will not consider the small contributions from the $`W`$\- exchange diagram for simplicity), the decay amplitude is proportional to $`0|VA|T`$. It can be easily shown, however, that such a factorized term vanishes . This is a good advantage of tensor mesons in the final state because the decay amplitude is greatly simplified. Given the factorization assumption, therefore, the hadronic uncertainties are condensed to the $`BT`$ transition matrix elements. On the other hand, the observation of sizable branching ratio for $`\overline{B}^0D_2^0\pi ^0`$ would provide the direct information on the nonfactorizable effects . This is another benefit of studying the production of tensor mesons.

Present bounds from the experiments are

$`(B^+\overline{D}_2^0\pi ^+)<1.3\times 10^3,`$ (1)
$`(B^0\overline{D}_2^{}\pi ^+)<2.2\times 10^3.`$ (2)
In this paper, we analyze the two-body $`B`$ decays into a charmed tensor $`D_2^{}`$. Heavy quark effective theory (HQET) is an appropriate framework in this process. In HQET, $`BD_2^{}`$ transition matrix element is parametrized by one universal Isgur-Wise (IW) function at leading order of $`\mathrm{\Lambda }_{\mathrm{QCD}}/m_Q`$, where $`m_Q`$ is the heavy quark mass. An extensive study of the leading and subleading IW function in semileptonic decays is found in . In general, the IW function depends on the velocity transfer $`yvv^{}`$ where $`v(v^{})`$ is the 4-velocity of $`B(D)`$. Typically, kinematically allowed range of $`y1`$ is very small in $`BD`$ transition. It is customary to parametrize the IW function $`\tau (y)`$ in terms of its interception $`\tau (1)`$ and the slope parameter $`\rho ^2`$, and expand in $`(y1)`$. The branching ratio is directly proportional to $`|\tau (1)|^2`$. Unlike the groundstate to groundstate transition, the heavy quark symmetry (HQS) does not guarantee the normalization of $`\tau (1)`$ in $`BD_2^{}`$. This is because at zero recoil ground- to excited-state transition is suppressed by $`𝒪(\mathrm{\Lambda }_{\mathrm{QCD}}/m_Q)`$, due to the HQS.

Though the HQET is very economic and allows a systematic expansion of $`\mathrm{\Lambda }_{\mathrm{QCD}}/m_Q`$, one still needs some nonperturbative methods to evaluate the IW function. At present work, we adopt the QCD sum rule results for the $`BD_2^{}`$ leading IW function . QCD sum rule is among the most reliable nonperturbative methods . It takes into account the nontrivial QCD vacuum which is parametrized by various vacuum condensates in order to describe the nonperturbative nature. In QCD sum rule, hadronic observables can be calculated by evaluating two- or three-point correlation functions. The hadronic currents for constructing the correlation functions are expressed by the interpolating fields. In describing the excited $`D`$ mesons of $`(1^+,2^+)`$ states, the transverse covariant derivative is included in the interpolating fields .

In the next section, the decay amplitudes are given within the factorization and the QCD sum rule results for the leading IW function are summarized. Section III contains the numerical results and discussions. The QCD sum rule results are compared with the ISGW2 model predictions. Possible next-to-leading order corrections are also discussed. We summarize in Sec. IV.

## II Hadronic matrix elements and QCD sum rules

The effective weak Hamiltonian for $`BD_2^{}\pi `$ is

$$_{\mathrm{eff}}=\frac{G_F}{\sqrt{2}}V_{cb}V_{ud}^{}\left[c_1(\mu )(\overline{d}u)(\overline{c}b)+c_2(\mu )(\overline{c}u)(\overline{d}b)+\mathrm{}\right],$$
(3)
where $`(\overline{q}_1q_2)=\overline{q}_1\gamma ^\mu (1\gamma _5)q_2`$ and $`c_i(\mu )`$ are the Wilson coefficients.

Within the factorization framework, the decay rate amplitudes are given by

$`𝒜_+`$ $``$ $`𝒜(\overline{B}^0D_2^+\pi ^{})=𝒯+,`$ (5)
$`𝒜_{00}`$ $``$ $`𝒜(\overline{B}^0D_2^0\pi ^0)={\displaystyle \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}}(𝒞+),`$ (6)
$`𝒜_0`$ $``$ $`𝒜(B^{}D_2^0\pi ^{})=𝒯+𝒞,`$ (7)
where

$`𝒯`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{G_F}{\sqrt{2}}}V_{cb}V_{ud}^{}\pi ^{}|(\overline{d}u)_{VA}|0D_2^+|(\overline{c}b)_{VA}|\overline{B}^0a_1,`$ (9)
$`𝒞`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{G_F}{\sqrt{2}}}V_{cb}V_{ud}^{}D_2^0|(\overline{c}u)_{VA}|0\pi ^0|(\overline{d}b)_{VA}|\overline{B}^0a_2,`$ (10)
$``$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{G_F}{\sqrt{2}}}V_{cb}V_{ud}^{}\overline{B}^0|(\overline{d}b)_{VA}|0D_2^0\pi ^0|(\overline{c}u)_{VA}|0a_2,`$ (11)
are the color-allowed external $`W`$-emission, color-suppressed internal $`W`$\- emission and $`W`$-exchange amplitudes, respectively. The coefficients $`a_{1,2}`$ are defined by

$$a_1c_1+\xi c_2,a_2c_2+\xi c_1,$$
(12)
where $`\xi 1/N_C^{\mathrm{eff}}`$ and $`N_C^{\mathrm{eff}}`$ is the effective number of color. Note that (II) satisfies the isospin triangle relation

$$𝒜_+=\sqrt{2}𝒜_{00}+𝒜_0.$$
(13)
The factorized matrix elements are parametrized as

$`0|A^\mu |P`$ $`=`$ $`if_Pp_P^\mu ,`$ (15)
$`T|j^\mu |B`$ $`=`$ $`ih(m_P^2)ϵ^{\mu \nu \rho \sigma }ϵ_{\nu \alpha }^{}p_B^\alpha (p_B+p_T)_\rho (p_Bp_T)_\sigma +k(m_P^2)ϵ^{\mu \nu }(p_B)_\nu `$ (17)
$`+ϵ_{\alpha \beta }^{}p_B^\alpha p_B^\beta [b_+(m_P^2)(p_B+p_T)^\mu +b_{}(m_P^2)(p_Bp_T)^\mu ],`$
where $`j^\mu =V^\mu A^\mu `$ and $`V^\mu `$ ($`A^\mu `$) denote a vector (an axial-vector) current. Here $`f_P`$ denotes the decay constant of the relevant pseudoscalar meson, and $`h(m_P^2)`$, $`k(m_P^2)`$, $`b_+(m_P^2)`$, $`b_{}(m_P^2)`$ express the form factors for the $`BT`$ transition.

We will neglect the internal $`W`$-exchange diagram $``$ for simplicity. And the color-suppressed internal $`W`$-emission diagrma $`𝒞`$ is forbbiden, because

$$𝒞0|j^\mu |T(p,\lambda )p_\nu ϵ^{\mu \nu }(p,\lambda )+p^\mu ϵ_\nu ^\nu (p,\lambda )=0.$$
(18)
Thus, the decay mode $`\overline{B}^0D_2^0\pi ^0`$ is not allowed in the factorization scheme.

In the heavy quark limit where $`m_Q\mathrm{}`$, all the form factors are expressed by one universal Isgur-Wise (IW) function $`\tau (yvv^{})`$ :

$`h(y)`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{\tau (y)}{2m_B\sqrt{m_Bm_T}}},`$ (20)
$`k(y)`$ $`=`$ $`\sqrt{{\displaystyle \frac{m_T}{m_B}}}(1+y)\tau (y),`$ (21)
$`b_+(y)`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{\tau (y)}{2m_B\sqrt{m_Bm_T}}},`$ (22)
$`b_{}(y)`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{\tau (y)}{2m_B\sqrt{m_Bm_T}}},`$ (23)
where $`v`$ ($`v^{}`$) denotes the four velocity of $`B`$ ($`T`$).

At this point, nonperturbative methods are needed to evaluate $`\tau (y)`$. We use the QCD sum rule results at leading order of $`\mathrm{\Lambda }_{\mathrm{QCD}}/m_Q`$. The QCD sum rule result for $`\tau (y)`$ is

$`\tau (y)f_{,1/2}f_{+,3/2}e^{(\overline{\mathrm{\Lambda }}_{,1/2}+\overline{\mathrm{\Lambda }}_{+,3/2})/M}`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2\pi ^2(y+1)^3}}{\displaystyle _0^{\omega _c}}𝑑\omega _+\omega _+^3e^{\omega _+/M}`$ (25)
$`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{12}}m_0^2{\displaystyle \frac{\overline{q}q}{M}}{\displaystyle \frac{1}{3\times 2^5\pi }}\alpha _sGG{\displaystyle \frac{y+5}{(y+1)^2}},`$
where

$`f_{,1/2}^2e^{2\overline{\mathrm{\Lambda }}_{,1/2}/M}`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{3}{16\pi ^2}}{\displaystyle _0^{\omega _{c0}}}\omega ^2e^{\omega /M}𝑑\omega {\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}\overline{q}q\left(1{\displaystyle \frac{m_0^2}{4M^2}}\right),`$ (27)
$`f_{+,3/2}^2e^{2\overline{\mathrm{\Lambda }}_{+,3/2}/M}`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2^6\pi ^2}}{\displaystyle _0^{\omega _{c2}}}\omega ^4e^{\omega /M}𝑑\omega {\displaystyle \frac{1}{12}}m_0^2\overline{q}q{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2^5\pi }}\alpha _sGGM,`$ (28)
from which $`f_{\pm ,3/2(1/2)}`$ and $`\overline{\mathrm{\Lambda }}_{\pm ,3/2(1/2)}`$ are determined. Here $`\overline{q}q`$ and $`\alpha _sGG`$ are vacuum condensates, $`m_0^2=0.8\mathrm{GeV}^2`$, and $`M`$ is the Borel parameter. The continuum thresholds $`\omega _c`$, $`\omega _{c0}`$, and $`\omega _{c2}`$ are adjustable parameters for the numerical analysis. Typically, the kinematically allowed range of $`y`$ is very narrow, $`1y1.3`$. It is therefore convenient to approximate $`\tau (y)`$ linearly as

$$\tau (y)=\tau (1)[1\rho ^2(y1)].$$
(29)
The QCD sum rule predicts from Eqs. (25), (II)

$$\tau (1)=0.74\pm 0.15,\rho ^2=0.90\pm 0.05.$$
(30)
The errors come from the QCD sum rule parameters, the continuum threshold and the Borel parameter.

## III Results and Discussions

The decay rate for $`BPT`$ is in general given by

$$\mathrm{\Gamma }(BPT)=\frac{|\stackrel{}{p}_P|^5}{12\pi m_T^2}\left(\frac{m_B}{m_T}\right)^2\left|\frac{𝒜(BPT)}{ϵ_{\mu \nu }^{}p_B^\mu p_B^\nu }\right|^2,$$
(31)
where $`\stackrel{}{p}_P`$ is the pseudoscalar three momentum. We use the WCs of , where $`c_1(m_b)=1.149`$ and $`c_2(m_b)=0.3209`$. The branching ratios for $`BD_2^{}\pi `$ are summarized in Table I with the abbreviations

$`_+`$ $``$ $`(\overline{B}^0D_2^+\pi ^{}),`$ (33)
$`_0`$ $``$ $`(B^{}D_2^0\pi ^{}).`$ (34)
In Table I, we give the numerical results for various $`\xi `$, while it is reported that $`N_C^{\mathrm{eff}}(BD\pi )2`$ . As a comparison, results from the ISGW2 model  are also given. The QCD sum rule predicts about four-times larger branching ratios. Since the decay amplitude is proportional to $`a_1`$, the dependence of $``$ on $`\xi `$ is rather mild.

Figure 1 shows the transition form factors as functions of $`y`$ for both QCD sum rule and the ISGW2, where the form factors $`F^{BT}`$ are defined by

$`𝒯`$ $`=`$ $`i{\displaystyle \frac{G_F}{\sqrt{2}}}V_{cb}V_{ud}^{}f_Pϵ_{\mu \nu }^{}p_B^\mu p_B^\nu F^{BT}(m_P^2)a_1,`$ (36)
$`F^{BT}(m_P^2)`$ $`=`$ $`k(m_P^2)+(m_B^2m_T^2)b_+(m_P^2)+m_P^2b_{}(m_P^2).`$ (37)
With the linear approximation of (29) and (30), the ratio of the hadronic and semileptonic branching ratios is (with only central values of (30))

$$\frac{(BD_2^{}\pi )}{(BD_2^{}\mathrm{}\overline{\nu })}=0.23(\xi =0.1),0.20(\xi =0.3),0.18(\xi =0.5),$$
(38)
where the estimated total decay rate $`\mathrm{\Gamma }(BD_2^{}\mathrm{}\overline{\nu })=2.11\times 10^{15}\mathrm{GeV}`$  is used. In this fraction, common factor of $`|\tau (1)|^2`$ is canceled and only the slope parameter $`\rho ^2`$ remains at leading order. Near future experiments will check the ratio. One thing interesting is that the value is very close to that of $`BD_1`$ transition

$$\frac{(B^{}D_1^0\pi ^{})}{(B^{}D_1^0\mathrm{}^{}\overline{\nu })}=0.21\pm 0.08.$$
(39)
Another important ratio is

$`R_{21}^{\mathrm{had}}`$ $``$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{(BD_2^{}\pi )}{(BD_1\pi )}}`$ (40)
$`=`$ $`\left({\displaystyle \frac{r_1}{r_2^3}}\right)\left({\displaystyle \frac{p_2^5}{m_B^2p_1^3}}\right)\left[{\displaystyle \frac{\tau (y_2)}{\tau (y_1)}}\right]^2\left[{\displaystyle \frac{2r_2(1+y_2)(1r_2^2)+r_\pi ^2}{(1y_1^2)3(1r_1y_1)+(y_12)(y_1r_1)}}\right]^2,`$ (41)
where

$`p_{1,2}`$ $``$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2m_B}}\sqrt{[m_B^2(m_{D_1,D_2^{}}+m_\pi )^2][m_B^2(m_{D_1,D_2^{}}m_\pi )^2]},`$ (43)
$`y_{1,2}`$ $``$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{m_B^2+m_{D_1,D_2^{}}^2m_\pi ^2}{2m_Bm_{D_1,D_2^{}}}},`$ (44)
and $`r_{1,2,\pi }m_{D_1,D_2^{},\pi }/m_B`$. Charged decay modes of $`BD_1(D_2^{})\pi `$ are both highly dominated by tree amplitudes, and involve the same IW function at the heavy quark limit within the factorization scheme. We have, at the heavy quark limit,

$$R_{21}^{\mathrm{had}}=0.21\pm 0.01.$$
(45)
This value is rather small compared to the semileptonic decay ratio This leading order (at $`m_Q\mathrm{}`$) prediction is larger than experimental data. See .

$$R_{21}^{\mathrm{sl}}\frac{(BD_2^{}\mathrm{}\overline{\nu })}{(BD_1\mathrm{}\overline{\nu })}=1.55,$$
(46)
and experiments $`(B^{}D_2^0\pi ^{})/(B^{}D_1^0\pi ^{})=1.8\pm 1.0`$ (CLEO ), $`0.89\pm 0.14`$ (Belle ). Since the mass difference between $`D_1`$ and $`D_2^{}`$ is very small ($`m_{D_1}/m_{D_2^{}}0.99`$), (41) is quite insensitive to the structure of the leading IW function; $`\tau (y_2)/\tau (y_1)1`$. The ratio $`R_{21}^{\mathrm{had}}`$ depends on how the relevant form factors are described in HQET, so the subleading analysis might affect the ratio. The authors of  found that $`R_{21}^{\mathrm{had}}`$ depends on $`\tau `$ weakly but is very sensitive to the subleading IW functions, ranging from $`0`$ to $`1.5`$ while Neubert in  expects $`1/m_Q`$ corrections less than 20%, with the leading order prediction $`R_{21}^{\mathrm{had}}0.35`$. While the experimental errors are still large (much reduced in Belle), the discrepancy between theory and data is significant. More quantitative and reliable analysis at subleading order in theory and reduced errors in the future experiments will check this HQET framework as well as the factorization.

On the other hand, conversely, the experimental bounds on the branching ratios can constrain $`\tau (1)`$ and $`\rho ^2`$. Figure 2 shows the allowed region (shaded) of these two parameters from the given branching ratios. Note that the central value of QCD sum rule result $`(\tau (1),\rho ^2)=(0.74,0.90)`$ resides very near to the boundary. In addition, measured value of the ratio (38) will determine $`\rho ^2`$ regardless of $`\tau (1)`$. More precise measurements will thus provide a simple test of leading order description of $`BD_2^{}`$.

Now consider the next-to-leading order (NLO) corrections to the above analysis. The NLO contributions come from both $`\mathrm{\Lambda }_{\mathrm{QCD}}/m_Q`$ and $`\alpha _s`$. In HQET, $`\mathrm{\Lambda }_{\mathrm{QCD}}/m_Q`$ corrections appear in a two-fold way. At the Lagrangian level, subleading terms are summarized in $`\lambda _1`$ and $`\lambda _2`$. In a usual convention, $`\lambda _1`$ parametrizes the kinetic term of higher order derivative, while $`\lambda _2`$ represents the chromomagnetic interaction which explicitly breaks the heavy quark spin symmetry. Their effects are known to be small . At the current level, $`\mathrm{\Lambda }_{\mathrm{QCD}}/m_Q`$ corrections come from the current matching procedure onto the effective theory. The correction terms originate from the small portion of the heavy quark fields which corresponds to the virtual motion of the heavy quark. During the current matching, eight subleading IW functions are newly introduced and two of them are independent.

Compared with the $`BD_1`$ transition, $`\mathrm{\Lambda }_{\mathrm{QCD}}/m_Q`$ corrections to $`BD_2^{}`$ would be rather small. This is due to the tensor structure in the final state. At zero recoil (properties at this point is very important because kinematically allowed region is quite narrow around it), the transition matrix is proportional to

$$D_2^{}(v,ϵ)|j^\mu |B(v)ϵ^{\mu \nu }v_\nu =0.$$
(47)
As argued briefly in the Introduction, vanishing matrix element is well explained by the HQS at the heavy quark limit. On the other hand, for $`BD_1`$ transition at zero recoil,

$$D_1(v,ϵ)|j^\mu |B(v)ϵ^\mu ,$$
(48)
which can be nonzero in general. That’s the reason why NLO corrections are more important in $`BD_1`$.

Another NLO contribution from $`𝒪(\alpha _s)`$ corrections is studied in $`BD_0^{},D_1^{}`$ decays in ; it remains a good challenge in $`BD_2^{}`$ process.

Finally, if there observed a sizable value of $`_{00}(\overline{B}^0D_2^0\pi ^0)`$, it should come from the nonfactorizable effects. Or indirectly, the measurement of $`(\kappa _+_0)`$ where $`\kappa \tau _{B^+}/\tau _{\overline{B}^0}1.07`$ is the $`B`$ life-time ratio, would test the validity of the isospin relation (13) and the general factorization scheme. The values in Table I, of course, satisfy the relation $`_0/_+=\kappa `$.

## IV Summary

Using the QCD sum rule results for the leading IW function of $`BD_2^{}`$, we investigated the nonleponic two-body decays $`BD_2^{}\pi `$ within the framework of factorization. The predicted branching ratios are about four times larger than the recent calculations based on the ISGW2. Study of tensor meson is very advantageous because the decay amplitudes are simple, and some of the decay modes are directly related to the nonfactorizable effects. Present $`B`$ factories show a big optimism of producing copious tensor mesons, and more precise and reliable theoretical works are on the request. The NLO analysis of both $`𝒪(\mathrm{\Lambda }_{\mathrm{QCD}}/m_Q)`$ and $`𝒪(\alpha _s)`$, in this respect, is challenging and will improve the theoretical reliability.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the BK21 Program of the Korea Ministry of Education.

FIGURE CAPTIONS

Fig. 1
Form factors $`F^{BD_2^{}}(y)`$ from QCD sum rule and ISGW2.

Fig. 2
Allowed regions (shaded) of $`(\tau (1),\rho ^2)`$ from the experimental bounds for (a) $`B^{}D_2^0\pi ^{}`$ and (b) $`\overline{B}^0D_2^+\pi ^{}`$.