Factorization in color-favored B-meson decays to charm -: art. no. 094001

Improved B meson decay data have permitted more incisive tests of factorization predictions. A concurrent benefit is the ability to constrain the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element \V-eb\. Using a simultaneous fit to differential distributions d Gamma((B) over bar (0)-->D((*)+)l-<()over bar>(1))/dq(2) and the rates for the color-favored decays (B) over bar (0) -->D(*)+(pi (-), rho (-), a(1)(-)), we find \V-eb\ =0.0415 +/-0.0022. The slope of the universal Isgur-Wise form factor is described by a parameter found to be rho (2) = 1.52 +/-0.11. Taking the D-s meson decay constant from the world average of direct measurements, we predict satisfactorily the branching ratios for (B) over bar (0)--> D(*)+Ds(*)-. Ratios of helicity amplitudes for color-favored processes are also found to be in accord with predictions.