Tau properties in B → Dτν from visible final-state kinematics

In semileptonic B decays with a tau lepton, features of the production process are imprinted on the tau helicity states. Since the tau momentum cannot be fully reconstructed experimentally, the available information on the tau properties is encoded in its visible decay products. Focusing on the process B -> D tau nu, we find explicit relations between the tau properties and the kinematics of the charged particles in the decays tau -> pi nu , tau -> rho nu, and tau -> l nu(nu) over bar. In particular, we show that the perpendicular polarization P-vertical bar and the forward-backward asymmetry A(tau) of the tau lepton can simultaneously be extracted from an angular asymmetry of the charged particle against the D meson. For the most sensitive decay channel, tau -> pi nu, we expect a relative statistical precision of about 10% for P-perpendicular to and A(tau) in a measurement based on 50 ab(-1) of data at Belle II.