Inclusive<i>B</i>-meson decays into charm

Abstract

We have measured the B-meson decay fractions into ${D}^{0}$, ${D}^{+}$, and ${D}^{\mathrm{*}+}$ mesons to be 0.39\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04, 0.17\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04, and 0.22\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}${0.04}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}0.04}^{+0.07}$, respectively, if we use the ${D}^{0}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${K}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ and ${D}^{+}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${K}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ branching ratios determined by the Mark III Collaboration. These results suggest that B decay to noncharm final states is substantial. We also find that B decay to spin-1 ${D}^{\mathrm{*}}$ mesons dominates over direct decay to spin-0 D mesons and that the ratio (${D}^{0}$+${D}^{\mathrm{*}0}$)/(${D}^{+}$+${D}^{\mathrm{*}+}$) is consistent with unity.