We use loop induced processes like meson oscillations and rare b hadron decays to determine the absolute values of the CKM matrix elements |V ub | and |V cb | and compare our results to the standard determinations based on inclusive and exclusive semileptonic tree-level decays of B mesons. For many years there have been tensions between the inclusive and exclusive determinations. Assuming the absence of new physics, we find that meson oscillation data shows a slight preference for the inclusive value of |V cb | and the exclusive value for |V ub |. Rare b decay data prefers values for |V cb | far below the inclusive and exclusive determinations, offering a new perspective on some of the persistent rare b decay anomalies.
I. INTRODUCTIONThe elements V ub and V cb of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix [1, 2] are crucial input parameters for the theory predictions of many observables in the flavor sector.A standard strategy to determine the absolute values of V ub and V cb is to use tree level b → c ν and b → u ν decays, assuming no new physics at tree level. These values are then used to make Standard Model (SM) predictions for loop level flavor changing neutral current processes that are highly sensitive to new physics effects.Since many years, discrepancies exist between the tree level determinations using the inclusive B → X c ν and B → X u ν decays on the one side, and exclusive decays, like B → D ( * ) ν and B → π ν on the other [3-5] (also B → ππ ν decays can be used to