D(S) LIFETIME, M(B), M(C) AND VERTICAL-BAR-V(CB)VERTICAL-BAR IN THE HEAVY-QUARK EXPANSION

We present some straightforward applications of the QCD heavy quark expansion, stated in previous papers [1-3], to the inclusive widths of heavy flavour hadrons. We address the question of the D(s) lifetime and argue that - barring weak annihilation (WA) - tau(D(s)) is expected to exceed tau(D0) by several percent; on the other hand WA could provide a difference of up to 10 divided-by 20% of any sign. We extract m(c), m(b) and \V(cb)\ from GAMMA(SL)(D+) and GAMMA(SL)(B). The values of the quark masses are somewhat higher, but compatible with estimates from QCD sum rules; we obtain \V(cb)\ congruent-to 0.043 for tau(B) = 1.4 ps and BR(SL)(B) = 10.5%. We discuss the associated uncertainties in the 1/m(Q) expansion as well as some consequences for other electroweak decays.