Searching for new physics with B-decay fake triple products

In pure-penguin (b) over bar -> (s) over bar B -> V1V2 decays (V-1,V-2 are vector mesons), f(T)/f(L) congruent to 1 has been observed (f(T) (f(L)) is the polarization fraction of transverse (longitudinal) decays). Explanations of this unexpectedly large result have been given within the standard model (SM) and with new physics (NP). In this Letter, we show that these two explanations can be partially distinguished through the triple products (TP's) in these transitions. In particular, the SM predicts one of the two fake, CP-conserving TP's to be small (vertical bar A(T)((2))vertical bar <= 9%), while NP often gives larger values for vertical bar A(T)((2))vertical bar. We discuss the implications of the measurements of both fake TP's in B -> phi K* - the present data prefer an SM explanation of f(T)/f(L)- and provide the SM predictions for B-S(0) -> phi phi. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.