Measurement of the Branching Ratio B(D+ --> rho^0 l nu)/B(D+ --> K*0 l nu)

TL;DR

This paper measures the ratio of branching fractions for D+ meson decays to rho^0 and K*0 mesons with leptons, providing experimental data to compare with theoretical models.

Contribution

First measurement of the branching ratio B(D+-->rho^0 l nu)/B(D+-->K*0 l nu) from Fermilab E791 data, combining electronic and muonic decay modes.

Findings

Measured ratio B(D+-->rho^0 l nu)/B(D+-->K*0 l nu) = 0.047+-0.013

Signals of 49+-17 and 54+-18 events in respective modes

Results compared with theoretical predictions

Abstract

We report a measurement of the branching ratio B(D+-->rho^0 l nu)/ B(D+-->K*0 l nu) from the Fermilab charm hadroproduction experiment E791. Based on signals of 49+-17 events in the D+--> rho^0 e nu mode and 54+-18 events in the D+--> rho^0 mu nu mode, we measure B(D+-->rho^0 e nu)/B(D+-->K*0 e nu) = 0.045+-0.014+-0.009, and B(D+-->rho^0 mu nu)/B(D+-->K*0 mu nu) = 0.051+-0.015+-0.009. Combining the results from both the electronic and muonic modes, we obtain B(D+-->rho^0 l nu)/B(D+-->K*0 l nu) = 0.047+-0.013. This result is compared to theoretical predictions.