B+, B0d and b-baryon Lifetimes

Abstract

We review recent B+, B0d and b-baryon lifetime measurements performed by the LEP, SLD and CDF collaborations. Lifetime ratios of tau(B+) / tau(B0d) = 1.070 +/- 0.027 and tau(b baryon) / tau(B0d) = 0.77 +/- 0.04 are obtained using all existing measurements. The ratio between charged and neutral B meson lifetimes is in good agreement with theory but the ratio between b-baryon and B meson lifetimes remains somewhat lower than expected.

6 pages, 8 figures, review talk presented at the 29th International Conference on High Energy Physics, 23-29 July 1998, Vancouver, Canada