2007/03/13 by I. I. Bigi, Bigi, I. I.
Physics and Astronomy · Social Sciences · #FOS: Physical sciences #High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph) #International Science and Diplomacy #Quantum and Classical Electrodynamics #Relativity and Gravitational Theory #hep-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.hep-ph/0703132
57 pages, 6 figures, preliminary version of a review to be published in Chinese Journal of Physics; main difference is an update of the section on charm dynamics reflecting and commenting on the new findings on D oscillations announced by BABAR and BELLE
openalex publication_date 2007/03/13 · arxiv created 2007/05/10 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Our knowledge of flavour dynamics has undergone a `quantum jump' since just before the turn of the millenium: direct CP violation has been firmly established in KL → ππ decays in 1999; the first CP asymmetry outside KL decays has been discovered in 2001 in Bd → ψKS, followed by Bd → π+π-, η′KS and B → K±π∓ establishing direct CP violation also in the beauty sector. Counterintuitive, yet central features of quantum mechanics like meson-antimeson oscillations and EPR correlations have been crucial in making such effects observable. The CKM dynamics of the Standard Model (SM) of HEP allow a description of CP insensitive and sensitive B, K and D transitions that is impressively consistent even on the quantitative level. We know now that at least the lion's share of the observed CP violation is provided by the SM. Yet these novel successes do not invalidate the theoretical arguments for it being incomplete. We have also more direct evidence for New Physics, namely neutrino oscillations, the observed baryon number of the Universe, dark matter and dark energy. While the New Physics anticipated at the TeV scale is not likely to shed any light on the SM's mysteries of flavour, detailed and comprehensive studies of heavy flavour transitions will be essential in diagnosing salient features of that New Physics. Strategic principles for such studies are outlined.