CP violating phase γ from a global fit of rare charmless hadronic B decays -: art. no. 034002

We study the constraints on the CP violating phase gamma in the Kobayashi-Maskawa model using available experimental data. We first follow the conventional method to update the constraint on gamma by performing a chi (2) analysis using data from \epsilon (K)\, Deltam(Bd,s), and \V-ub\V-cb\. We also include the recent information on sin 2 beta in the analysis. We obtain the best fit for gamma to be 66 degrees and the 95% C.L. allowed range to be 42 degrees -87 degrees. We then develop a method to carry out a chi (2) analysis based on SU(3) symmetry using data from B-->pi pi and B -->K pi. We also discuss SU(3) breaking effects from a model estimate. We find that the present data on B -->pi pi ,K pi can also give some constraint on gamma although weaker than the earlier method limited by the present experimental errors. Future improved data will provide a more stringent constraint. Finally we perform a combined fit using data from \epsilon (K)/, Delta mB(d,s)' \V-ub/V-cb\, sin 2 beta, and rare charmless hadronic B decays. The combined analysis gives gamma =67 degrees for the best-fit value and 43 degrees -87 degrees as the 95% C.L. allowed range. Several comments on other methods to determine gamma based on SU(3) symmetry are also provided.