B[superscript 0] meson decays to ρ[superscript 0]K[superscript *0], f[subscript 0]K[superscript *0], and ρ[superscript -]K[superscript *+], including higher K[superscript *] resonances

Abstract

We present branching fraction measurements for the decays B[superscript 0]→ρ[superscript 0]K[superscript *0], B[superscript 0]→f[subscript 0]K[superscript *0], and B[superscript 0]→ρ[superscript -]K[superscript *+], where K[superscript *] is an S-wave (Kπ)[subscript 0][superscript *] or a K[superscript *](892) meson; we also measure B[superscript 0]→f[subscript 0]K[subscript 2][superscript *](1430)[superscript 0]. For the K*(892) channels, we report measurements of longitudinal polarization fractions (for ρ final states) and direct CP violation asymmetries. These results are obtained from a sample of (471.0±2.8)×10[superscript 6] BB̅ pairs collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e[superscript +]e[superscript -] collider at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. We observe ρ[superscript 0]K*(892)[superscript 0], ρ[superscript 0](Kπ)[subscript 0][superscript *0], f[subscript 0]K*(892)[superscript 0], and ρ[superscript -]K*(892)[superscript +] with greater than 5σ significance, including systematics. We report first evidence for f[subscript 0](Kπ)[subscript 0]*[superscript 0] and f[subscript 0]K[subscript 2]*(1430)[superscript 0], and place an upper limit on ρ[superscript -](Kπ)[subscript 0]*[superscript +]. Our results in the K*(892) channels are consistent with no direct CP violation.