Deciphering the Long-Distance Penguin Contribution to (B)over-bard,s → γγ Decays

We compute for the first time the long-distance penguin contribution to the double radiative B-meson decays by applying the perturbative factorization theorem. The numerically dominant penguin amplitude arises from the soft-gluon radiation off the light up-quark loop rather than the counterpart charm-loop effect. Importantly, the long-distance up-quark penguin contribution brings about the substantial cancellation of the known factorizable power correction, thus enabling B-d,B- s -> gamma gamma to become new benchmark probes of physics beyond the standard model.

Automated summary

For the first time, we calculated the long-distance penguin contribution to double radiative B-meson decays using the perturbative factorization theorem. The dominant penguin amplitude, numerically, is due to soft-gluon radiation off the light up-quark loop rather than the charm-loop effect. Importantly, the long-distance up-quark penguin contribution cancels out the known factorizable power correction, making B-d, B- s -> gamma gamma significant probes of physics beyond the standard model.