Constraints on hard spectator scattering and annihilation corrections in B_(u,d) {to} PV decays within QCD factorization

In this paper, we investigate the contributions of hard spectator scattering and annihilation in $B\to PV$ decays within the QCD factorization framework. With available experimental data on $B\to \pi K^{\ast}$, $\rho K$, $\pi \rho$ and $K\phi$ decays, comprehensive $\chi^2$ analyses of the parameters $X_{A,H}^{i,f}({\rho}_{A,H}^{i,f},{\phi}_{A,H}^{i,f})$ are performed, where $X_A^f$ ($X_A^i$) and $X_H$ are used to parameterize the endpoint divergences of the (non)factorizable annihilation and hard spectator scattering amplitudes, respectively. Based on $\chi^2$ analyses, it is observed that (1) The topology-dependent parameterization scheme is feasible for $B\to PV$ decays; (2) At the current accuracy of experimental measurements and theoretical evaluations, $X_H=X_A^i$ is allowed by $B\to PV$ decays, but $X_{H}\neq X_A^f$ at $68%$ C. L.; (3) With the simplification $X_H=X_A^i$, parameters $X_A^f$ and $X_A^i$ should be treated individually. The above-described findings are very similar to those obtained from $B\to PP$ decays. Numerically, for $B\to PV$ decays, we obtain $(\rho_{A,H}^i,\phi_{A,H}^i[^{\circ}]) =(2.87^{+0.66}_{-1.95}, -145^{+14}_{-21})$ and $(\rho_A^f,\phi_A^f[^{\circ}]) = (0.91^{+0.12}_{-0.13}, -37^{+10}_{-9})$ at $68%$ C. L.. With the best-fit values, most of the theoretical results are in good agreement with the experimental data within errors. However, significant corrections to the color-suppressed tree amplitude $\alpha_2$ related to a large $\rho_H$ result in the wrong sign for $A^{dir}_{CP}(B^- \to \pi^0 K^{{\ast}-})$ compared with the most recent BABAR data, which presents a new obstacle in solving "$\pi\pi$" and "$\pi K$" puzzles through $\alpha_2$. A crosscheck with measurements at Belle (or Belle II) and LHCb, which offer higher precision, is urgently expected to confirm or refute such possible mismatch.