The Golden Modes B^0 -> J/psi K_{S,L} in the Era of Precision Flavour Physics

Abstract

The B^0 -> J/\psi K_{S,L} channels are outstanding probes of CP violation. We have a detailed look at the associated Standard-Model uncertainties, which are related to doubly Cabibbo-suppressed penguin contributions, and point out that these usually neglected effects can actually be taken into account unambiguously through the CP asymmetries and the branching ratio of the B^0 -> J/\psi pi^0 decay. Using the most recent B-factory measurements, we find a negative shift of the extracted value of beta, which softens the tension in the fits of the unitarity triangle. In addition, this strategy can be used to constrain a possible new-physics phase in B^0-\bar B^0 mixing. The proposed strategy is crucial to fully exploit the tremendous accuracies for the search for this kind of new physics that can be achieved at the LHC and future super-flavour factories.

Comments: 4+1 pages, 4 figures