Abstract: A comprehensive overview of kaon decays is presented. The standard model predictions are discussed in detail, covering both the underlying short-distance electroweak dynamics and the important interplay of QCD at long distances. Chiral perturbation theory provides a universal framework for treating leptonic, semileptonic, and nonleptonic decays including rare and radiative modes. All allowed decay modes with branching ratios of at least 10 (11) are analyzed. Some decays with even smaller rates are also included. Decays that are strictly forbidden in the standard model are not considered in this review. The present experimental status and the prospects for future improvements are reviewed.

Abstract: We present a one-loop calculation of the oblique S parameter within Higgsless models of electroweak symmetry breaking and analyze the phenomenological implications of the available electroweak precision data. We use the most general effective Lagrangian with at most two derivatives, implementing the chiral symmetry breaking SU(2)(L) circle times SU(2)(R) -> SU(2)(L+R) with Goldstones, gauge bosons and one multiplet of vector and axial-vector massive resonance states. Using the dispersive representation of Peskin and Takeuchi and imposing the short-distance constraints dictated by the operator product expansion, we obtain S at the NLO in terms of a few resonance parameters. In asymptotically-free gauge theories, the final result only depends on the vector-resonance mass and requires M-V > 1.8TeV (3.8TeV) to satisfy the experimental limits at the 3 sigma (1 sigma) level; the axial state is always heavier, we obtain M-A > 2.5TeV (6.6TeV) at 3 sigma (1 sigma). In strongly-coupled models, such as walking or conformal technicolour, where the second Weinberg sum rule does not apply, the vector and axial couplings are not determined by the short-distance constraints; but one can still derive a lower bound on S, provided the hierarchy M-V < M-A remains valid. Even in this less constrained situation, we find that in order to satisfy the experimental limits at 3 sigma one needs M-V,M-A > 1.8TeV.

Abstract: We analyze the recent experimental evidence for an excess of tau-lepton production in several exclusive semileptonic B-meson decays in the context of two-Higgs-doublet models. These decay modes are sensitive to the exchange of charged scalars and constrain strongly their Yukawa interactions. While the usual Type-II scenario cannot accommodate the recent BaBar data, this is possible within more general models in which the charged-scalar couplings to up-type quarks are not as suppressed. Both the B -> D-(*)tau nu(tau) and the B -> tau nu(tau) data can be fitted within the framework of the Aligned Two-Higgs-Doublet Model, but the resulting parameter ranges are in conflict with the constraints from leptonic charm decays. This could indicate a departure from the family universality of the Yukawa couplings, beyond their characteristic fermion mass dependence. We discuss several new observables that are sensitive to a hypothetical charged-scalar contribution, demonstrating that they are well suited to distinguish between different scenarios of new physics in the scalar sector, and also between this group and models with different Dirac structures; their experimental study would therefore shed light on the relevance of scalar exchanges in semileptonic b -> c tau(-)(nu) over bar (tau) transitions.