Project C2a: Hadronic matrix elements and exclusive semi-leptonic decays

The goal of this project is the detailed investigation of hadronic matrix elements relevant for exclusive b-decays. This includes mesonic and baryonic transition form factors which will be calculated in the framework of QCD light-cone sum rules. Moreover, we will improve our understanding of light-cone distribution amplitudes for light and heavy hadrons on the basis of model-independent parameterisations. In this way, we will increase the precision of the theoretical predictions for various heavy hadron decays.

1. NNLO QCD corrections: two loop corrections to scalar penguin amplitude in non-leptonic decays; higher-order corrections to annihilation topologies
2. QED corrections in the factorization framework: Semi-leptonic operators in $B \to K^{(*)}\ell^+\ell^-$; hadronic operators in $B \to K^{(*)} \ell^+\ell^-$ and non-leptonic decays; QED corrections to heavy-to-light form factors; isospin-violating observables and violation of lepton-flavour universality.
3. Power corrections in exclusive $B$-meson decays: factorization of endpoint divergencies in $B \to \pi$ form factor; extension to non-leptonic and rare decays
4. Phenomenology of Non-leptonic Decays: comprehensive NNLO analysis of $B \to PP,PV,VV$ decays; combination of QCDF with flavour-symmetries of the light quarks; two-body decays beyond the quasi-particle approximation;
5. Phenomenology of rare semi-leptonic and radiative decays: precision phenomenology for $B\to K^{(*)}\ell^+\ell^-$ at large hadronic recoil realistic parametrization of hadronic resonances beyond factorization, rare radiative decays of $B_s$, $B_c$ and $\Lambda_b$.