Search for the rare decays B+ -> mu(+)mu K--(+), B-0 -> mu(+)mu(-) K*(892)(0), and B-s(0) -> mu(+)mu(-)phi at CDF

Abstract

We search for b --> s mu(+)mu(-) transitions in B meson (B+, B-0, or B-s(0)) decays with 924 pb(-1) of p (p) over bar collisions at root s = 1.96 TeV collected with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. We find excesses with significances of 4.5, 2.9, and 2.4 standard deviations in the B+ --> mu(+)mu K--(+), B-0 --> mu(+)mu(-) K*(892)(0), and B-s(0) --> mu(+)mu(-)phi decay modes, respectively. Using B --> J/psi h (h = K+, K*(892)(0), phi) decays as normalization channels, we report branching fractions for the previously observed B+ and B-0 decays, B(B+ --> mu(+)mu K--(+)) = (0.59 +/- 0.15 +/- 0.04) x 10(-6), and B(B-0 --> mu(+)mu K-*(892)(0)) = (0.81 +/- 0.30 +/- 0.10) x 10(-6), where the first uncertainty is statistical, and the second is systematic. We set an upper limit on the relative branching fraction B(B-s(0) --> mu(+)mu(-)phi)/B(B-s(0) --> J/psi phi) < 2.6(2.3) x 10(-3) at the 95(90)% confidence level, which is the most stringent to date.