Possibility of large final state interaction phases in light of B --> kpi and pipi data

Difference in B+ and B0 direct CP asymmetry as an effect of a fourth generation

Direct CP violation in B0 --> K+ pi- decay has emerged at the -10% level, but the asymmetry in B+ --> K+ pi0 mode is consistent with zero. This difference points towards possible new physics in the electroweak penguin operator. We point out that a sequential fourth generation, with sizable V(t' s)* V(t' b) and near maximal phase, could be a natural cause. We use the perturbative QCD factorization approach for B --> Kpi amplitudes. While the B0 --> K+ pi- mode is insensitive to t', we critically compare t' effects on direct CP violation in B+ --> K+ pi0 with b --> sl+ l- and B(s) mixing. If the K+ pi0 - K+ pi- asymmetry difference persists, we predict sin2phi(Bs) to be negative.

Observation of B0-->pi0pi0

We report the observation of the decay B0-->pi(0)pi(0), using a 253 fb(-1) data sample collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) collider. The measured branching fraction is B(B0-->pi(0)pi(0))=(2.3(+0.4+0.2)(-0.5-0.3))x10(-6), with a significance of 5.8 standard deviations including systematic uncertainties. We also make a measurement of the direct CP violating asymmetry in this mode.