Inelastic Final State Interactions in B Decays to Two Pseudoscalar Mesons

We present first results of an approach in which all contributions from Zweig-rule-satisfying SU(3)-breaking final-state interactions (FSIs) in B → PP decays are taken into account. We include the effects due to Pomeron exchange between the two outgoing pseudoscalar mesons, neglect charmed intermediate states, and express all of the other rescattering effects in terms of only three effective complex parameters. It is pointed out that the experimental bound on the B → K+K- branching ratio limits the value of only one of these parameters, thus permitting sizable FSI effects in other B decays. From the fits to the experimental B → PP branching ratios we determine the values of the FSI parameters and the weak angle γ. A broad range of around 60o -100o is admitted for the latter, which includes the region expected in the Standard Model. (author)