Testing factorization in color-suppressed b-flavor decays with the B--> eta c+K(K*) modes.

Abstract

The discrepancy recently observed between B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}J/\ensuremath{\psi}+K(${\mathit{K}}^{\mathrm{*}}$) data and commonly used hadronic form factor models might be due to a breakdown of the factorization assumption. By showing that the B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\eta}}}_{\mathit{c}}$+K(${\mathit{K}}^{\mathrm{*}}$) rates can be calculated without using any particular form factor model, we propose a test of the factorization hypothesis. This test is free of possible uncertainties caused by W-exchange graph contributions. If factorization holds, the measurable ratio \ensuremath{\Gamma}(B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\eta}}}_{\mathit{c}}$+${\mathit{K}}^{\mathrm{*}}$)/\ensuremath{\Gamma}(B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\eta}}}_{\mathit{c}}$+K) is predicted to be in the range from 0.18 to 0.95 when the CLEO II data on B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}J/\ensuremath{\psi}+K(${\mathit{K}}^{\mathrm{*}}$) are used.