Direct CP Asymmetry in B->X_{s,d}+gamma Decays

Abstract

The CP asymmetry in inclusive B->X_{s,d}+gamma decays is an important probe of new physics. The theoretical prediction was thought to be of a perturbative origin, and in the standard model, to be about 0.5 percent. In a recent work with M. Benzke, S.J. Lee and M. Neubert, we have shown that the asymmetry is in fact dominated by non-perturbative effects. Since these are hard to estimate, it reduces the sensitivity to new physics effects. On the other hand, these new non-perturbative effects suggest a new test of new physics by looking at the difference of the CP asymmetries in charged versus neutral B-meson decays.

4 pages, invited talk at Rencontres de Moriond 2011, QCD and High Energy Interactions, La Thuile, Italy, 20-27 March 2011, to appear in the Proceedings, and eConf C110809 (2012)