Abstract: Using the entire sample of 467 x 10(6) Y(4S) -> B (B) over bar decays collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B factory at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, we perform an analysis of B-+/- -> DK +/- decays, using decay modes in which the neutral D meson decays to either CP-eigenstates or non-CP-eigenstates. We measure the partial decay rate charge asymmetries for CP-even and CP-odd D final states to be A(CP+) = 0.25 +/- 0.06 +/- 0.02 and A(CP-) = 0.09 +/- 0.07 +/- 0.02, respectively, where the first error is the statistical and the second is the systematic uncertainty. The parameter A(CP+) is different from zero with a significance of 3.6 standard deviations, constituting evidence for direct CP violation. We also measure the ratios of the charged-averaged B partial decay rates in CP and non-CP decays, RCP+ 1.18 +/- 0.09 +/- 0.05 and RCP- = 1.07 +/- 0.08 +/- 0.04. We infer frequentist confidence intervals for the angle gamma of the unitarity triangle, for the strong phase difference delta(B), and for the amplitude ratio r(B), which are related to the B- -> DK- decay amplitude by r(B)e(i(delta B-gamma)) = A(B- -> (D) over bar K-0(-)) = A(B- -> (D) over bar K-0(-))/A(B- -> (DK-)-K-0). Including statistical and systematic uncertainties, we obtain 0: 24 < rB < 0: 45 ( 0: 06 < rB < 0: 51) and, modulo 180 degrees, 11.3 degrees < gamma < 22.7 degrees or 80.8 degrees < gamma < 99.2 degrees or 157.3 degrees < gamma < 168.7 degrees (7.0 degrees < gamma < 173.0 degrees) at the 68% ( 95%) confidence level.

Abstract: We calculate the density matrix for the decay of a polarised top quark into a polarised W boson and a massive 17 quark, for the most general Wth vertex arising from dimension-six gauge-invariant effective operators. We show that, in addition to the well-known W helicity fractions, for polarised top decays it is worth defining and studying the transverse and normal W polarisation fractions, that is, the W polarisation alone two directions orthogonal to its momentum. In particular, a rather simple forward-backward asymmetry in the normal direction is found to be very sensitive to complex phases in one of the Wth anomalous couplings. This asymmetry, which indicates a normal W polarisation, can be generated for example by a P-odd. T-odd transition electric dipole moment. We also investigate the angular distribution of decay products in the top quark rest frame, calculating the spin analysing powers for a general Wth vertex. Finally we show that, using a combined fit to top decay observables and the t W cross section, at LHC it will be possible to obtain model-independent measurements of all the (complex) Wth couplings as well as the single top polarisation. Implications for spin correlations in top pair production are also discussed.

Abstract: We determine the helicity amplitudes A(1/2) and radiative decay widths in the transition Lambda(1670) -> gamma Y (Y = Lambda or Sigma(0)). The Lambda(1670) is treated as a dynamically generated resonance in meson-baryon chiral dynamics. We obtain the radiative decay widths of the Lambda(1670) to gamma Lambda as 2 +/- 1 keV and to -gamma Sigma(0) as 120 +/- 50 keV. Also, the Q(2)-dependence of the helicity amplitudes A(1/2) is calculated. We find that the K Xi component in the Lambda(1670) structure, mainly responsible for the dynamical generation of this resonance, is also responsible for the significant suppression of the decay ratio Gamma(gamma A)/Gamma(gamma Sigma 0). A measurement of the ratio would, thus, provide direct access to the nature of the Lambda(1670). To compare the result for the Lambda(1670), we calculate the helicity amplitudes Lambda(1/2) for the two states of the Lambda(1405). Also, the analytic continuation of Feynman parameterized integrals of more complicated loop amplitudes to the complex plane is developed which allows for an internally consistent evaluation of A(1/2).

Abstract: In the past decade, one of the major challenges of particle physics has been to gain an in-depth understanding of the role of quark flavor. In this time frame, measurements and the theoretical interpretation of their results have advanced tremendously. A much broader understanding of flavor particles has been achieved; apart from their masses and quantum numbers, there now exist detailed measurements of the characteristics of their interactions allowing stringent tests of Standard Model predictions. Among the most interesting phenomena of flavor physics is the violation of the CP symmetry that has been subtle and difficult to explore. In the past, observations of CP violation were confined to neutral K mesons, but since the early 1990s, a large number of CP-violating processes have been studied in detail in neutral B mesons. In parallel, measurements of the couplings of the heavy quarks and the dynamics for their decays in large samples of K, D, and B mesons have been greatly improved in accuracy and the results are being used as probes in the search for deviations from the Standard Model. In the near future, there will be a transition from the current to a new generation of experiments; thus a review of the status of quark flavor physics is timely. This report is the result of the work of physicists attending the 5th CKM workshop, hosted by the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, September 9-13, 2008. It summarizes the results of the current generation of experiments that are about to be completed and it confronts these results with the theoretical understanding of the field which has greatly improved in the past decade.

Abstract: We report the measurement of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa CP-violating angle gamma through a Dalitz plot analysis of neutral D-meson decays to K-S(0)pi(+) pi(-) and K-S(0) K+ K- produced in the processes B--/+ -> DK -/+, B--/+ -> D* K--/+ with D* -> D pi(0), D gamma and B -/+ DK*-/+ with K*(-/+) -> K-S(0)pi(-/+), using 468 million B (B) over bar pairs collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider at SLAC. We measure gamma = (68 +/- 14 +/- 4 +/- 3)degrees (modulo 180 degrees), where the first error is statistical, the second is the experimental systematic uncertainty, and the third reflects the uncertainty in the description of the neutral D decay amplitudes. This result is inconsistent with gamma = 0 ( no direct CP violation) with a significance of 3.5 standard deviations.