A Search for B+ -> tau+ nu Recoiling Against B- -> D0 l- nu X

TL;DR

This paper searches for rare leptonic B+ decays using data from the BABAR detector, measuring the branching fraction for B+ to tau+ nu and setting limits for electron and muon channels, providing insights into the B meson decay constant.

Contribution

First measurement of B+ to tau+ nu branching fraction using a recoil method with BABAR data, and setting new upper limits for B+ to e+ nu and mu+ nu decays.

Findings

Measured B+ to tau+ nu branching fraction as (1.7 ± 0.8 ± 0.2) × 10^{-4}.

Set upper limits for B+ to e+ nu and mu+ nu at 90% C.L.

Estimated B meson decay constant as (62 ± 31) × 10^3 MeV^2.

Abstract

We present a search for the decay $B^+ \to \ell^+ \nu_{\ell}$ ($\ell = e,\mu\tau$) in $(458.9 \pm 5.1) \times 10^6$ $B\bar{B}$ pairs recorded with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II B-Factory. We search for these B decays in a sample of $B^+B^-$ events where one $B$-meson is reconstructed as $B^- \to D^0 \ell^- \nu X$. Using the method of Feldman and Cousins, we obtain $\mathcal{B}(B^+ \to \tau^+ \nu) = (1.7 \pm 0.8 \pm 0.2) \times 10^{-4}$, which excludes zero at $2.3\sigma$. We interpret the central value in the context of the Standard Model and find the B meson decay constant to be $f^2_B = (62 \pm 31) \times 10^3 \mathrm{MeV}^2$. We find no evidence for $B^+ \to e^+ \nu_{e}$ and $B^+ \to \mu^+ \nu_{\mu}$ and set upper limits at the 90% C.L. $\mathcal{B}(B^+ \to e^+ \nu_{e}) < 0.8 \times 10^{-5}$ and $\mathcal{B}(B^+ \to \mu^+ \nu_{\mu}) < 1.1 \times 10^{-5}$.