Non-Standard Physics in Leptonic and Semileptonic Decays of Charmed Mesons

Recent measurements of the branching fraction for D_s -> l nu disagree with the Standard Model expectation, which relies on calculations of $f_{D_s}$ from lattice QCD. This paper uses recent preliminary measurements from CLEO and a new preliminary lattice-QCD result from this conference to update the significance of the discrepancy. The “f_{D_s} puzzle” stands now at 3.5sigma, with sigma predominantly from the statistical uncertainty of the experiments. New physics scenarios that could solve the puzzle would also lead to non-Standard amplitudes mediating the semileptonic decays D -> K l nu. This paper shows where the new amplitudes enter the differential rate and outlines where lattice QCD calculations are needed to confront recent and forthcoming measurements.