Implications of new physics in B → K ₁ μ ⁺ μ ⁻ decay processes

Abstract

Recently, several discrepancies at the level of (2–3)σ have been observed in the decay processes mediated by flavour changing neutral current (FCNC) transitions b → sℓ + ℓ −, which may be considered as the smoking-gun signal of new physics (NP). These intriguing hints of NP have attracted a lot of attention and many attempts are being made to find the possible NP signature in other related processes, which are mediated through the same quark-level transitions. In this work, we perform a comprehensive analysis of the FCNC decays of the B meson to axial vector mesons K 1(1270) and K 1(1400), which are an admixture of the 13 P 1 and 11 P 1 states K 1A and K 1B , in a model independent framework. Using the B → K 1 form factors evaluated in the light cone sum rule approach, we investigate the rare exclusive semileptonic decays B → K 1(1270)μ + μ − and B → K 1(1400)μ + μ −. Considering all the possible relevant operators for b → sℓ + ℓ − transitions, we study their effects on various observables such as branching fractions, the lepton flavor universality violating ratio , forward–backward asymmetries, and lepton polarization asymmetries of these processes. These results will not only enhance the theoretical understanding of the mixing angle but also serve as a good tool for probing NP.