$B_c \to J/\psi$ helicity form factors and the $B_c^+ \to J/\psi+(P, V, \ell^+ \nu_\ell)$ decays

TL;DR

This paper calculates helicity form factors for the $B_c o J/ar{psi}$ transition using light-cone sum rules, then applies these to predict decay rates and ratios, finding consistency with experimental data and potential hints of new physics.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel application of LCSR to compute $B_c o J/ar{psi}$ HFFs up to twist-4 and uses them to analyze various decay modes and ratios, suggesting possible new physics signals.

Findings

Branching ratios for various $B_c^+$ decay modes are predicted.

Ratios of decay rates are consistent with LHCb measurements.

HFFs from LCSR are applicable to $B_c^+$ decays, indicating potential new physics.

Abstract

In this paper, we calculate the $B_c\to J/\psi$ helicity form factors (HFFs) up to twist-4 accuracy by using the light-cone sum rules (LCSR) approach. After extrapolating those HFFs to the physically allowable $q^2$ region, we investigate the $B^+_c$-meson two-body decays and semi-leptonic decays $B_c^+ \to J/\psi+(P, V, \ell^+ \nu_\ell)$ with $P/V$ stands for light pseudoscalar/vector meson, respectively. The branching fractions can be derived by using the CKM matrix element and the $B_c$ lifetime from the Particle Data Group, and we obtain ${\cal B}(B_c^+ \to J/\psi \pi^+)=(0.136^{+0.002}_{-0.002})\%$, ${\cal B}(B_c^+ \to J/\psi K^+)=(0.010^{+0.000}_{-0.000})\%$, ${\cal B}(B_c^+ \to J/\psi \rho^+) =(0.768^{+0.029}_{-0.033})\%$, ${\cal B}(B_c^+ \to J/\psi K^{\ast +})=(0.043^{+0.001}_{-0.001})\%$, ${\cal B}(B_c^+ \to J/\psi \mu^+\nu_\mu)=(2.802^{+0.526}_{-0.675})\%$ and ${\cal B}(B_c^+ \to J/\psi \tau^+\nu_\tau)=(0.559^{+0.131}_{-0.170})\%$. We then obtain ${\cal R}_{\pi^+/\mu^+\nu_\mu} = 0.048^{+ 0.009}_{-0.012}$ and ${\cal R}_{K^+ / \pi^+} = 0.075^{+0.005}_{-0.005}$, which agree with the LHCb measured value within $1\sigma$-error. We also obtain ${\cal R}_{J/\psi}=0.199^{+ 0.060}_{-0.077}$, which like other theoretical predictions, is consistent with the LHCb measured value within $2\sigma$-error. Those imply that the HFFs under the LCSR approach are also applicable to the $B^+_c$ meson two-body decays and semi-leptonic decays $B_c^+ \to J/\psi+(P, V, \ell^+ \nu_\ell)$, and the HFFs obtained by using LCSR in a new way implies that there may be new physics in the $B_c\to J/\psi \ell^+ \nu_\ell$ semi-leptonic decays.