Standard Model predictions for $B\to K\ell^+\ell^-$, $B\to K\ell_1^- \ell_2^+$ and $B\to Kν\barν$ using form factors from $N_f=2+1+1$ lattice QCD

Abstract

We use HPQCD's recent lattice QCD determination of $B \to K$ scalar, vector and tensor form factors to determine Standard Model differential branching fractions for $B \to K \ell^+\ell^-$, $B\to K \ell_1^+\ell_2^-$ and $B \to Kν\overlineν$. These form factors are calculated across the full $q^2$ range of the decay and have smaller uncertainties than previous work, particularly at low $q^2$. For $B \to K \ell^+ \ell^-$ we find the Standard Model branching fraction in the $q^2$ region below the squared $J/ψ$ mass to exceed the LHCb results, with tensions as high as $4.2σ$ for $B^+\to K^+μ^+μ^-$. For the high $q^2$ region we see $2.7σ$ tensions. The tensions are much reduced by applying shifts to Wilson coefficients $C_9$ and $C_{10}$ in the effective weak Hamiltonian, moving them away from their Standard Model values consistent with those indicated by other $B$ phenomenology. We also update results for lepton-flavour ratios $R^μ_e$ and $R^τ_μ$ and the `flat term', $F_H^{\ell}$ in the differential branching fraction for $\ell\in\{e,μ,τ\}$. Our results for the form-factor-dependent contributions needed for searches for lepton-flavour-violating decays $B\to K\ell^-_1\ell^+_2$ achieve uncertainties of 7%. We also compute the branching fraction $\mathcal{B}(B\to Kν\barν)$ with an uncertainty below 10%, for comparison with future experimental results.