Short- vs long-distance dynamics in b->sll decays and connection to other flavor anomalies

by Arianna Tinari (Zurich U.)

Wednesday 19 Nov 2025, 14:30 → 16:30 Europe/Rome

1/1-2 - Aula "C. Voci" (Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia - Edificio Marzolo)

Rare flavor-changing processes offer very sensitive probes of physics beyond the Standard Model. The persistent discrepancies between theory and experiment in $b \to s \ell \ell$ decays, both in branching ratios and angular observables, can be explained by a 20-25\% shift in the Wilson coefficient $C_9$, potentially signaling new short-distance physics or underestimated long-distance effects from non-local hadronic contributions. We discuss the non-local effects associated with rescattering through $D^{(*)} D_s^{(*)}$ intermediate states.  $b \to s \ell\ell$ anomalies, together with other small deviations in flavor observables, can be simultaneously explained in models of new physics at the TeV scale mostly coupled to third-generation fermions, featuring an approximate $U(2)^5$ flavor symmetry acting on the light families. We discuss the constraints on these models from current data.