Counting inclusive b jets as an efficient probe of new flavor physics

We consider the inclusive reaction l(+)l(-)-->nb+X ( n = number of b jets) in lepton colliders for which we propose a useful approximately conserved quantum number b(P) = (-1)(n) that we call b parity ( b(P)). We make the observation that the standard model (SM) is essentially b(P) even since SM b(P)-violating signals are necessarily Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa suppressed. In contrast new flavor physics can produce b(P) = -1 signals whose only significant SM background is due to b-jet misidentification. Thus, we show that b-jet counting, that relies primarily on b tagging, becomes a very simple and sensitive probe of new flavor physics (i.e., of b(P) violation).