Search for $B \to π\ell^+\ell^-$ Decays at Belle

Abstract

We present a search for the B-> pi e^+ e^- and B-> pi μ^+ μ^- decays, with a data sample of 657 million BBbar pairs collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB $e^+e^-$ collider. Signal events are reconstructed from a charged or a neutral pion candidate and a pair of oppositely charged electrons or muons. No significant signal is observed and we set the upper limit on the isospin-averaged branching fraction BF(B -> π\ell^+\ell^-) < 6.2x10^-8 at the 90% confidence level.

8 pages, 3 figures, accepted by PRD(RC)