Theory Overview of Charm Physics

Abstract

Recent developments in charm physics within the standard model and beyond are reviewed. The precision study of leptonic charm meson decays accompanied with the constraints coming from K, B and τ physics enables to determine constraints on models of new physics. The standard model contributions in the D 0 −D 0 system are still under investigation including operators of higher dimensions. New physics models such as the Littlest Higgs model or warped extra-dimensional models might modify the amount of CP violation, although CP violating asymmetries are still predicted to be at most of the order 1%. The forward-backward asymmetry in the top anti-top pair production at the Tevatron is opening a new window in the study of new physics in the charm sector. A few of the models considered to explain the observed asymmetry might modify flavor changing neutral current mediated charm processes. New physics searches in rare charm decays are discussed. It is pointed out that in most models new physics effects in rare charm decays are insignificant.