Constraints on the parameters of the $V_{CKM}$ matrix at the end of 1997

Abstract

A review of the current status of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix V_CKM is presented. This paper contains an update of the results published in hep-ph/9711261. Values of the parameters entering into the constraints, which restrict the range for rho and eta parameters, include recent measurements given at 1997 Summer Conferences and progress obtained by lattice QCD collaborations.Experimental constraints imposed by the measurements of epsilon_k,V_ub/V_cb, Delta m_d and by the limit on Delta m_s, are compatible and do not show evidence for New Physics inside measurements errors. Values for the angles alpha, beta and gamma of the C.K.M. triangle have been also obtained: rho=0.156 +- 0.090, eta=0.328 +- 0.054 sin 2alpha = -0.10+-0.40, sin 2beta = 0.68 +- 0.10, gamma= 64+-12 Angles theta,theta_u,theta_d and phi proposed in the parametrisation (Phys. Lett. B5353 (1995) 114.) of the C.K.M. matrix have been also determined. Finally, as there are more constraints than the fitted rho and eta parameters, several external measurements or theoretical inputs have been removed, in turn, from the constraints and their respective values have been fitted simultaneously with rho and eta.Central values and uncertainties on these quantities have been compared with actual measurements or theoretical evaluations. In this way it is possible to quantify the importance of the different measurements and the coherence of the Standard Model scenario for CP violation.