General lower bounds for b → d penguin processes -: art. no. 051501

For the exploration of flavor physics, b -> d penguin processes are an important aspect, with the prominent example of (B) over bar (0)(d) -> K-0(K) over bar (0). We recently derived lower bounds for the CP-averaged branching ratio of this channel in the standard model; they were found to be very close to the corresponding experimental upper limits, thereby suggesting that (B) over bar -> K-0(K) over bar (0) should soon be observed. In fact, the BABAR Collaboration subsequently announced the first signals of this transition. Here we point out that it is also possible to derive lower bounds for (B) over bar -> rho gamma decays, which are again surprisingly close to the current experimental upper limits. We show that these bounds are realizations of a general bound that holds within the standard model for b -> d penguin processes, allowing further applications to decays of the kind B-+/- -> K-(*)+/- K(*) and B-+/- -> pi(+/-)l(+)l(-), rho(+/-)l(+)l(-).