2017/03/27 by Wolfgang Altmannshofer, Christoph Niehoff, Peter Stangl +1 · 1 voice
Physics and Astronomy · #hep-ex #hep-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1140/epjc/s10052-017-4952-0
20 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables. v3: numerics updated using v2 of arXiv:1606.04731. Conclusions unchanged. Matches published version. Example script available at https://github.com/DavidMStraub/paper-bkstarmumu-anss
arxiv published 2017/03/27 · arxiv created 2017/06/02 · arxiv updated 2017/06/02
Motivated by recent results by the ATLAS and CMS collaborations on the angular distribution of the B → K^* μ+μ- decay, we perform a state-of-the-art analysis of rare B meson decays based on the b → s μμ transition. Using standard estimates of hadronic uncertainties, we confirm the presence of a sizable discrepancy between data and SM predictions. We do not find evidence for a q2 or helicity dependence of the discrepancy. The data can be consistently described by new physics in the form of a four-fermion contact interaction ( s γαPL b)( μγαμ). Assuming that the new physics affects decays with muons but not with electrons, we make predictions for a variety of theoretically clean observables sensitive to violation of lepton flavour universality.