QCD challenges in radiative B decays

TL;DR

This paper discusses the theoretical challenges in calculating radiative B meson decays, crucial for constraining new physics models like the MSSM, focusing on improving perturbative and non-perturbative QCD calculations.

Contribution

It summarizes the current status and challenges in achieving higher precision in theoretical predictions of B -> Xs gamma decays.

Findings

Current experimental accuracy is about 7%.

Theoretical calculations face significant perturbative and non-perturbative challenges.

Improving these calculations is essential for better constraints on new physics.

Abstract

Radiative decays of the B meson are known to provide important constraints on the MSSM and many other realistic new physics models in the sub-TeV range. The inclusive branching ratio BR(B -> Xs gamma) being the key observable is currently measured to about 7% accuracy. Reaching a better precision on the theory side is a challenge both for the perturbative QCD calculations and for analyses of non-perturbative hadronic effects. The current situation is briefly summarized here.