Search for the highly suppressed decays B−→K+π−π− and B−→K−K−π+

Abstract

We report a search for the decays B − → K + π − π − and B − → K − K − π + , which are highly suppressed in the standard model. Using a sample of ( 467 ± 5 ) × 10 6 B ¯¯¯ B pairs collected with the BABAR detector, we do not see any evidence of these decays and determine 90% confidence level upper limits of B ( B − → K + π − π − ) < 9.5 × 10 − 7 and B ( B − → K − K − π + ) < 1.6 × 10 − 7 on the corresponding branching fractions, including systematic uncertainties.