B Mixing

Abstract

▪ Abstract  The neutral B mesons, B0 and Bs0, can oscillate between their particle and antiparticle states owing to flavor-changing weak interactions. In recent years, techniques to detect these oscillations as a function of the meson's decay time have been developed. This article reviews the physics of flavor oscillations and summarizes theoretical predictions. The many observations that demonstrate the time dependence of [Formula: see text] oscillations are presented along with a combined measurement of its frequency, Δ md = 0.484 ± 0.015 ps−1. The attempts to measure the Bs0 oscillation frequency, both directly and indirectly, are then summarized, currently resulting in a limit of Δ ms > 14.6 ps−1 (95% CL). Finally, values for the CKM elements |Vtd| = (3.6 ± 0.4) × 10−3 and |Vts/Vtd| > 4.7 (95% CL) are extracted.