Time-reversal asymmetries in $\Lambda_b \to \Lambda(\to p \pi^-)\ell^+\ell^-$

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the decay processes of Lambda_b baryons, focusing on angular distributions and T-odd asymmetries, to identify potential signals of new physics beyond the Standard Model.

Contribution

It provides detailed predictions of decay rates, asymmetries, and T-odd observables in Lambda_b decays, highlighting their sensitivity to new physics models like extra Z-bosons.

Findings

Decay branching fractions are consistent with experimental data.

Forward-backward asymmetries are quantified and match observations.

T-odd observables suggest possible new physics signals.

Abstract

We study the decays of $\Lambda_b \to \Lambda(\to p \pi^-) \ell ^+ \ell^-$ with $\ell = (e, \mu, \tau)$. In particular, we examine the full angular distributions with polarized $\Lambda_b$ and identify the time-reversal asymmetries or T-odd observables. By using the homogeneous bag model, we find that the decay branching fractions of $\Lambda_b \to \Lambda \ell^+\ell^-$ are $(9.1\pm 2.5,7.9\pm 1.8, 2.1\pm 0.2)\times 10^{-7}$ for $\ell =(e, \mu ,\tau)$, respectively. In addition, we obtain that $A_{FB}^{\ell} = -0.369\pm 0.007$ and $A_{FB}^{h}=-0.333\pm 0.004$, averaged in the range of $15 \leq q^2 \leq 20~ \text{GeV}^2$. These results are well consistent with the current experimental data. We also explore the T-odd observables in $\Lambda_b \to \Lambda(\to p \pi^-) \mu^+ \mu^-$, which are sensitive to new physics~(NP). Explicitly, we illustrate that the current experimental measurement from one of the T-odd observables favors the existence of NP, such as the extra $Z$-boson model.