B0 meson decays to ρ0K*0,f0K*0, and ρ−K*+, including higher K* resonances

Abstract

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