Combined Explanations of the $b \to s \mu^+ \mu^-$ and $b \to c \tau^- {\bar\nu}$ Anomalies: a General Model Analysis

TL;DR

This paper reanalyzes four new physics models explaining B-meson decay anomalies, finding most are excluded under general couplings, but a vector boson model remains viable only if future measurements change the anomalies' central values.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive, assumption-free analysis of four NP models, highlighting the importance of LFV constraints and updating their viability status.

Findings

S3 and U3 models are excluded.

U1 model remains viable but constrained by LFV processes.

VB model is excluded under certain assumptions, but a different coupling pattern could explain anomalies.

Abstract

There are four models of tree-level new physics (NP) that can potentially simultaneously explain the $b \to s \mu^+ \mu^-$ and $b \to c \tau^- {\bar\nu}$ anomalies. They are the S3, U3 and U1 leptoquarks (LQs), and a triplet of SM-like vector bosons (VBs). Under the theoretical assumption that the NP couples predominantly to the third generation, previous analyses found that, when constraints from other processes are taken into account, the S3, U3 and VB models cannot explain the B anomalies, but U1 is viable. In this paper, we reanalyze these models, but without any assumption about their couplings. We find that, even in this most general case, S3 and U3 are excluded. For the U1 model, constraints from the semileptonic lepton-flavour-violating (LFV) processes $B \to K^{(*)} \mu^\pm \tau^\mp$, $\tau \to \mu \phi$ and $\Upsilon \to \mu \tau$, which have been largely ignored previously, are found to be very important. Because of the LFV constraints, the pattern of couplings of the U1 LQ is similar to that obtained with the above theoretical assumption. Also, the LFV constraints render unimportant those constraints obtained using the renormalization group equations. As for the VB model, it is excluded if the above theoretical assumption is made due to the additional constraints from $B^0_s$-${\bar B}^0_s$ mixing, $\tau\to 3\mu$ and $\tau \to \mu \nu {\bar\nu}$. By contrast, we find a different set of NP couplings that both explains the $b \to s \mu^+ \mu^-$ anomaly and is compatible with all constraints. However, it does not reproduce the measured values of the $b \to c \tau^- {\bar\nu}$ anomalies -- it would be viable only if future measurements find that the central values of these anomalies are reduced. Even so, this VB model is excluded by the LHC bounds on high-mass resonant dimuon pairs. This conclusion is reached without any assumptions about the NP couplings.