$B$ Decays, Flavour Mixings and CP Violation in the Standard Model

Abstract

These lectures review the progress made in our present understanding of $B$ decays. The emphasis here is on applications of QCD to $B$ decays and the attendant perturbative and non-perturbative uncertainties, which limit present theoretical precision in some cases but the overall picture that emerges is consistent with the standard model (SM). This is illustrated by quantitatively analyzing some of the key measurements in $B$ physics.

87 pages, 15 figures (require epsf.sty, rotate, epsf bounding box macro embedded). Five lectures presented at the XX International Nathiagali Summer College on Physics and Contemporary Needs, Bhurban, Pakistan, June 24 - July 11, 1995; to be published in the Proceedings (Nova Science Publishers, New York). Dedicated to Professor Abdus Salam on his 70th Birthday. Report No. DESY 96-106, June 1996