EWP, rescattering and color suppression effects

A general analysis for B decays to two pseudoscalars, involving ten modes, is presented. A simple model for final state interactions and rescattering effects is proposed. We show how the data can be used to deduce important information on electroweak penguins (EWP), rescattering and color suppression effects and on the CKM parameters in a largely model independent way by using χ-minimization. We find that the current data suggests the presence of EWP and color-suppressed tree both at levels somewhat larger than theoretical estimates. However, rescattering effects appear quite small. Implication for direct CP violation, for the tests of the unitarity triangle, and for new physics are also briefly discussed. An interesting aspect of the recent CLEO result [1] is the rather large ratio of the branching ratios: R− K = Br(B − → Kπ)/Br(B → Kπ) (1) with a central value close to unity [R− K ≃ 1.1± .4]. Although, at present, the errors are rather large this is noteworthy as naively one expects this ratio to be around 0.5. These recent experimental findings are attracting considerable theoretical attention [2]–[5]. The electroweak penguins (EWP), which have not been seen so far in purely hadronic modes, provide an exciting interpretation of this aspect of the data. The point is that EWP make a color allowed