CLEO RESULTS: B DECAYS

Abstract

Measurements of many Standard Model constants are clouded by uncertainties in nonperturbative QCD parameters that relate measurable quantities to the underlying parton-level processes. Generally these QCD parameters have been obtained from model calculations with large uncertainties that are difficult to quantify. The CLEO Collaboration has taken a major step towards reducing these uncertainties in determining the CKM matrix elements |Vcb| and |Vub| using new measurements of the branching fraction and photon energy spectrum of b → s γ decays. This report includes: the new CLEO measurements of b → s γ decays, |Vcb|, and |Vub|; the first results from CLEO III data - studies of B → Kπ, ππ, and [Formula: see text] decays; mention of some other recent CLEO B decay results; and plans for operating CESR and CLEO in the charm threshold region.