The fourth family: a simple explanation for the observed pattern of anomalies in B-CP asymmetries

Abstract

We show that a fourth family of quarks with $m_{t'}$ in the range of (400 - 600) GeV provides a rather simple explanation for the several indications of new physics that have been observed involving CP asymmetries of the b-quark. The built-in hierarchy of the 4$\times$4 mixing matrix is such that the $t'$ readily provides a needed {\it perturbation} ($\approx 15%$) to $\sin 2 β$ as measured in $B \to ψK_s$ and simultaneously is the dominant source of CP asymmetry in $B_s \to ψϕ$. The correlation between CP asymmetries in $B_s \toψϕ$ and $B_d\toϕK_s$ suggests $m_{t'} \approx$ (400 - 600) GeV. Such heavy masses point to the tantalizing possibility that the 4th family plays an important role in the electroweak symmetry breaking.

6 pages, 2 figures; v4: Updated version to appear in Phys LettB; minor changes (including the title) & few refs. added