Study of the Decays B- -> D(*)+ pi- pi-

TL;DR

This paper analyzes B- meson decays into D(*)+ pi- pi- final states, measuring branching fractions and ratios, providing insights into decay dynamics and contributing to understanding heavy meson decay mechanisms.

Contribution

It presents the first measurements of inclusive and exclusive branching fractions for specific B- decay channels involving D*+ and D+ mesons, including narrow P-wave states.

Findings

Measured inclusive branching fractions for B- decays to D*+ pi- pi- and D+ pi- pi-.

Determined exclusive branching fractions for B- decays to D1(2420)0 pi- and D2*(2460)0 pi-.

Found the ratio of branching fractions for D2* to D1* states as 0.80 ± 0.07 ± 0.16.

Abstract

We report on analyses of $B^-$ mesons decaying into $D^{*+}\pi^-\pi^-$ and $D^+\pi^-\pi^-$ final states using 89 million $B^-$ decays collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy $B$ Factory. Preliminary measurements are given for the inclusive branching fractions for $B^- \to D^{*+}\pi^-\pi^-$ and $B^- \to D^+\pi^-\pi^-$, and for the exclusive branching fractions for $B^- \to D_1(2420)^0\pi^-$ and $B^- \to D_2^{*}(2460)^0\pi^-$, where $D_1(2420)^0$ and $D_2^{*}(2460)^0$ are the two narrow $c\bar u$ $P$-wave states. The ratio ${\mathcal{B}}(B^- \to D_2^*(2460)^0\pi^-)/{\mathcal{B}}(B^- \to D_1(2420)^0\pi^-)$ is measured to be $0.80 \pm 0.07 \pm 0.16$.