B-factories: A perspective of β-physics and possible accelerator design approaches

Experiments studying B-meson decays have produced results that were unexpected five years ago: the B lifetime is long, and mixing or neutral B's has been observed. In addition, there is some evidence of the decay of the b-quark to the u-quark, but this result is in doubt. These measurements determine parameters of the Kobayashi-Maskawa (KM) matrix, the weak decay matrix in the Standard Model, and using those parameters, estimates can be made or CP violation asymmetries in B-meson decay. Based on these estimates, there is a prospect of observing CP violation in B-meson decay. B-mesons are produced prolifically in high energy hadron-hadron collisions; the rate at the SSC will be astronomical. However, at such machines identifying events with B's is a substantial experimental problem. In this case the challenge is one for the experimenters. The production rate is lower at e+ e- colliders, but the experimental problems are easier. Here the challenge is to the accelerator physicists to design a high luminosity collider suitable for study of CP violation. 33 refs., 3 figs., 5 tabs