Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka-rule violation and B\to η^{(\prime)}K branching ratios

Abstract

We show that few-percent Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka-rule violating effects in the quark-flavor basis for the $η$-$η'$ mixing can enhance the chiral scale associated with the $η_q$ meson few times. This enhancement is sufficient for accommodating the dramatically different data of the $B\toη^{\prime} K$ and $B\toηK$ branching ratios. We comment on other proposals for resolving this problem, including flavor-singlet contributions, axial U(1) anomaly, and nonperturbative charming penguins. Discrimination of the above proposals by means of the $B\toη^{(\prime)}\ellν$ and $B_s\toη^{(\prime)}\ell\ell$ data is suggested.

7 pages, 2 figures, discussion on B\toη^{(\prime)}K* added, more references added