# 1 𝑔_{𝜌⁢𝜋⁢𝜋} calculation and contributions from meson covariants.

Contribution to the International Conference on Nuclear and Particle Physics with CEBAF at Jefferson Lab, November 1998, Dubrovnik, Croatia. Proceedings to be published.  KSUCNR-101-99 

ELECTROMAGNETIC FORM FACTORS OF MESON TRANSITIONS

PETER C. TANDY

Center for Nuclear Research, Department of Physics   
Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA 44242

Within the Dyson-Schwinger equation approach to modeling QCD for meson physics, we present new results for $`g_{\rho \pi \pi }`$ and the coupling constants and form factors for the transitions $`\gamma ^{}\pi \rho `$ and $`\gamma ^{}\pi ^0\gamma `$. We discuss the role of the sub-dominant covariants of the $`\pi `$ Bethe-Salpeter amplitude and investigate the asymptotic behavior of the $`\gamma ^{}\pi ^0\gamma `$ form factor.

PACS numbers: 12.38.Lg, 13.40.Gp, 14.40.Aq, 24.85.+p

Keywords: Nonperturbative modeling of QCD, Dyson-Schwinger Equations, Confinement, Meson coupling, Rho and pion electromagnetic transitions, Form factors

1. QCD Modeling of Mesons

The Dyson-Schwinger equation (DSE) approach  to non-perturbative QCD modeling of hadrons and their interactions  combines truncated QCD equations of motion for propagators and vertices with infrared phenomenology fitted to a few key low-energy observables. Parameter-free predictions for other hadron properties and observables are then used to develop and test our understanding of hadron physics at the quark-gluon level. The DSE for the fully-dressed and renormalized quark propagator in Euclidean metric is

$$S^1(p)=Z_2[i\gamma p+m_0(\mathrm{\Lambda })]+Z_1\frac{4}{3}^\mathrm{\Lambda }\frac{d^4k}{(2\pi )^4}g^2D_{\mu \nu }(pk)\gamma _\mu S(k)\mathrm{\Gamma }_\nu ^g(k,p),$$
(1)   
where $`m_0(\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ is the bare mass parameter and $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ characterizes the regularization mass scale. In the DSE approach the renormalized dressed gluon propagator $`D_{\mu \nu }(q)`$ and dressed quark-gluon vertex $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_\mu ^g(k,p)`$ are constrained in the UV by perturbative results and are representated by phenomenological IR forms with parameters fitted to selected pion and kaon observables.

Mesons are generated as bound states of a quark of flavor $`f_1`$ and an antiquark of flavor $`\overline{f}_2`$ via the Bethe-Salpeter (BS) equation

$$\mathrm{\Gamma }(p;P)=\frac{d^4q}{(2\pi )^4}K(p,q;P)S_{f_1}(q+\xi P)\mathrm{\Gamma }(q;P)S_{f_2}(q\overline{\xi }P),$$
(2)   
where $`\xi +\overline{\xi }=1`$ describes momentum sharing. The kernel $`K`$ is the renormalized, amputated $`\overline{q}q`$ scattering kernel that is irreducible with respect to a pair of $`\overline{q}q`$ lines. The present stage of QCD modeling truncates $`K(p,q;P)`$ at the ladder approximation and couples quark color currents with bare vertices and an effective gluon 2-point function in Landau gauge. The latter involves $`\alpha _{\mathrm{eff}}(q^2)`$ for interpolation between the 1-loop pQCD result in the UV and a phenomenological enhancement in the IR. The treatment of the quark DSE that is dynamically matched to this is the bare vertex or rainbow approximation; the axial vector Ward-Takahashi identity is then preserved, Goldstone’s theorem is manifest, and realistic pion and kaon solutions are ensured .

The general form of the pion BS amplitude is

$$\widehat{\mathrm{\Gamma }}_\pi ^j(k;P)=\tau ^j\gamma _5[iE_\pi (k;P)+\overline{)}PF_\pi (k;P)+\overline{)}kkPG_\pi (k;P)+\sigma _{\mu \nu }k_\mu P_\nu H_\pi (k;P)],$$
(3)   
and the first three terms are significant in realistic solutions . With $`S^1(p)=`$ $`i\overline{)}kA(k^2)+B(k^2)+m`$, the axial Ward-Takahashi identity in the chiral limit specifies the dominant amplitude as $`E_\pi (k;P=0)=`$ $`B_0(k^2)/f_\pi `$; the amplitudes $`F_\pi `$ and $`G_\pi `$ are related to $`A(k^2)`$ and its derivative in a less direct manner .

In Euclidean metric, the BS meson mass-shell condition requires that $`S(p)`$ be evaluated in a certain domain of complex $`p^2`$. The required domain for meson decays and form factors can be quite demanding. To facilitate such studies, we make use of an analytic parametrization of the numerical solutions of the quark DSE to represent $`S(p)`$ as an entire function in the complex $`p^2`$-plane describing absolutely confined  dressed quarks. Typically five parameters are used to achieve a good description of pion and kaon observables: $`f_{\pi /K}`$; $`m_{\pi /K}`$; $`\overline{q}q`$; the $`\pi `$-$`\pi `$ scattering lengths; the charge radii $`r_\pi `$, $`r_{K^0}`$ and $`r_{K^\pm }`$; and the pion charge form factor . Current efforts along this line are concentrated upon vector and axial vector mesons and hadronic and semi-leptonic decays. Here we outline recent studies of several electromagnetic transitions and also the $`\rho \pi \pi `$ coupling.

2. The $`\rho \pi \pi `$ Coupling Constant

The first term in a skeleton graph expansion of the $`\rho \pi \pi `$ vertex  is

$`\mathrm{\Lambda }_\nu (P,Q)=P_\nu g_{\rho \pi \pi }F(Q^2)`$   
$`=2N_c\mathrm{tr}_s{\displaystyle \frac{d^4k}{(2\pi )^4}\mathrm{\Gamma }_\pi (k^{\prime \prime \prime };P_+)S(q^{})\mathrm{\Gamma }_\nu ^\rho (k^{};Q)S(q^{\prime \prime })\mathrm{\Gamma }_\pi (k^{\prime \prime };P_{})S(q^{\prime \prime \prime })},`$   
where $`P_\pm =P\pm Q/2`$ and both pions are on the mass-shell. The first argument of each BS amplitude is a relative $`\overline{q}q`$ momentum (we choose equal partitioning) and the second argument is the incoming meson momentum. After the loop momentum $`k`$ is specified in terms of one internal momentum, the others are easily deduced. By definition we have $`F(Q^2=m_\rho ^2)=1`$.

For this $`\rho \pi \pi `$ study, we employ approximate $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_\pi `$ and $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_\nu ^\rho `$ obtained from a rank-2 separable ansatz  for the ladder/rainbow kernel of the DSE and BSE. The $`\pi `$ is properly massless in the chiral limit as required by Goldstone’s theorem; but the full consequences of the axial Ward-Takahashi identity  are not preserved. Parameters are fit to $`m_{\pi /K}`$ and $`f_{\pi /K}`$. The results have the form 

$$\mathrm{\Gamma }_\pi (k;P)=i\gamma _5f(k^2)\lambda _1^\pi \gamma _5\overline{)}Pf(k^2)\lambda _2^\pi ,$$
(5)   
$$\mathrm{\Gamma }_\nu ^\rho (k;P)=k_\nu ^Tg(k^2)\lambda _1^\rho +i\gamma _\nu ^Tf(k^2)\lambda _2^\rho +i\gamma _5ϵ_{\mu \nu \lambda \rho }\gamma _\mu k_\lambda P_\rho g(k^2)\lambda _3^\rho .$$
(6)   
Here $`g(k^2)=[A(k^2)1]/a`$ and $`f(k^2)=B(k^2)/b`$ with $`a`$ and $`b`$ given in Ref.  from the quark DSE solution. The relative strength of the $`\lambda _i`$ is given by the separable BSE solution which requires a phenomenological UV suppression. In contrast to previous work , here we normalize the $`\lambda _i`$ in the canonical way  without such a suppression in any of the momentum dependent quantities.

The results for $`g_{\rho \pi \pi }`$ are given in Table 1 where an error in our previous work  is corrected. The empirical value associated with the $`\rho \pi \pi `$ decay width is overestimated by 21%. The integral for $`g_{\rho \pi \pi }`$ is significantly influenced by the normalization of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_\pi `$; the form of the separable amplitude Eq. (5) may be too primitive to generate a realistic norm. Improved BS amplitudes  are available for future work. The pseudovector $`\pi `$ component is much more important here (-84%) than for it is for $`m_\pi `$ and $`f_\pi `$ (25-35%). The sub-dominant $`\rho `$ amplitudes make only a minor correction.

3. The $`\gamma ^{}\pi \rho `$ Form Factor

The isoscalar $`\gamma ^{}\pi \rho `$ meson-exchange current contributes significantly to electron scattering from light nuclei. Our understanding of the deuteron EM structure functions for $`Q^226\mathrm{GeV}^2`$ requires knowledge of this form factor . The general form of the vertex, and the explicit quark loop that arises in the impulse approximation generalized to include the dressing of the propagators and vertices, is

$`\mathrm{\Lambda }_{\mu \nu }(P,Q)=i{\displaystyle \frac{e}{m_\rho }}ϵ_{\mu \nu \alpha \beta }P_\alpha Q_\beta g_{\gamma \pi \rho }F(Q^2)`$   
$`={\displaystyle \frac{2N_c}{3}}\mathrm{tr}_s{\displaystyle \frac{d^4k}{(2\pi )^4}\overline{\mathrm{\Gamma }}_\pi (k^{\prime \prime \prime };P_+)S(q^{})\mathrm{\Gamma }_\nu (k^{};Q)S(q^{\prime \prime })\mathrm{\Gamma }_\mu ^\rho (k^{\prime \prime };P_{})S(q^{\prime \prime \prime })}.`$   
The momentum notation is the same as for the previous $`\rho \pi \pi `$ case. The dressed photon-quark vertex is taken to be the Ball-Chiu  ansatz

$$\mathrm{\Gamma }_\nu (k;Q)=\frac{i\gamma _\nu }{2}(A_++A_{})+\frac{k_\nu }{kQ}\left[i\overline{)}k(A_{}A_+)+B_{}B_+\right],$$
(8)   
where $`f_\pm =f(k_\pm )`$ and $`k_\pm =k\pm \frac{Q}{2}`$. This form obeys the Ward-Takahashi identity (WTI) and the relevant symmetries and is conveniently determined completely in terms of the quark propagator. It then follows that $`Q_\nu \mathrm{\Lambda }_{\mu \nu }=0`$; the $`\gamma \pi \rho `$ current is conserved. With the above separable model $`\pi `$ and $`\rho `$ BS amplitudes, along with the associated quark propagator parameterization , we obtain $`g_{\gamma \pi \rho }=0.45`$ in reasonable agreement with the empirical value $`g_{\gamma \pi \rho }^{\mathrm{expt}}=0.54\pm 0.03`$ from $`\rho `$ decay.

The pseudovector $`\pi `$ amplitudes $`F_\pi `$ and $`G_\pi `$ defined in Eq. (3) generate the correct asymptotic behavior of the pion charge form factor . Also their UV relationship $`k^2G_\pi (k^2)`$ $`2F_\pi (k^2)`$ implements convergence for the $`f_\pi `$ integral . It is impossible to generate these properties in the previous separable ansatz approach; we use here the approximating forms  of a numerical solution 

$$E_\pi (k^2)\frac{B_0(k^2)}{N_\pi },F_\pi (k^2)\frac{E_\pi (k^2)}{110f_\pi },G_\pi (k^2)\frac{2F_\pi (k^2)}{k^2+M_{UV}^2},H_\pi (k^2)0,$$
(9)   
where $`N_\pi `$ is fixed by the standard BS normalization condition . We use the quark propagator parameterization (set A)  associated with Eq. (9). There is no dynamically matched $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_\mu ^\rho `$ available so we simply take Eq. (6). We then obtain $`g_{\gamma \pi \rho }=0.708`$. Since the canonical $`\rho `$ covariant is so dominant, we expect that the mismatch is simply one of normalization and that the produced $`F(Q^2)`$ should be quite realistic. The result in Fig. 1 is much softer than the vector meson dominance (VDM) prediction. The available data for elastic EM deuteron form factors $`A(Q^2)`$ and $`B(Q^2)`$ in the range $`26\mathrm{GeV}^2`$ has been shown  to strongly favor our previous $`\gamma ^{}\pi \rho `$ vertex result . The present work is less phenomenological, employs more realistic representations of the $`\pi `$ and $`\rho `$, and produces a harder form factor. The influence on the deuteron form factors remains to be determined.

4. The $`\gamma ^{}\pi ^0\gamma `$ Transition

The coupling constant for the $`\pi ^0\gamma \gamma `$ decay is given by the axial anomaly and its value is a consequence of only gauge invariance and chiral symmetry in quantum field theory. The form factor of this anomalous transition is not dictated by symmetries; it is of interest as a test of our ability to model nonperturbative QCD because of the relatively simple hadronic dynamics that is involved. In the asymptotic UV region, one expects a simple result dictated by the known electromagnetic coupling to current quarks and the intrinsic properties of the pion.

The general form of the vertex allowed by CPT symmetry, and the explicit quark loop that arises in the impulse approximation generalized to include the dressing of the propagators and vertices, are

$`\mathrm{\Lambda }_{\mu \nu }(P,Q)=i{\displaystyle \frac{\alpha }{\pi f_\pi }}ϵ_{\mu \nu \alpha \beta }P_\alpha Q_\beta g_{\pi \gamma \gamma }F(Q^2)`$   
$`={\displaystyle \frac{N_c}{3}}\mathrm{tr}_s{\displaystyle \frac{d^4k}{(2\pi )^4}S(q^{})\mathrm{\Gamma }_\nu (k^{};Q)S(q^{\prime \prime })\mathrm{\Gamma }_\mu (k^{\prime \prime };PQ)S(q^{\prime \prime \prime })\mathrm{\Gamma }_\pi (k^{\prime \prime \prime };P)}.`$   
The $`\gamma ^{}`$ momentum is $`Q`$, and the other photon and the pion are on the mass-shell. With the convenient choice $`k^{\prime \prime \prime }=k`$, the other internal momenta can be determined. The Ball-Chiu ansatz Eq. (8) is used for the dressed-quark-photon vertices $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_\nu `$ and $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_\mu `$. The chiral limit anomalous decay $`\pi ^0\gamma \gamma `$ gives $`g_{\pi \gamma \gamma }^0=1/2`$ providing an excellent account of the $`7.7\mathrm{eV}`$ width. The form factor defined by Eq. (S0.Ex3) satisfies $`F(0)=1`$; it should not be confused with a different quantity $`\stackrel{~}{F}(Q^2)=F(Q^2)/4\pi ^2f_\pi `$ which contains the non-tensor strength of the transition matrix element $`M_{\mu \nu }=2\mathrm{\Lambda }_{\mu \nu }`$ and in terms of which the CLEO  data and some theoretical works are expressed.

Here we update an earlier study  by using the more realistic $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_\pi `$ in Eq. (9) along with the associated quark propagator (set A) . We obtain $`g_{\pi \gamma \gamma }=0.4996`$ at the physical $`m_\pi `$ value. The form factor is displayed in Fig. 2. Although the anomalous coupling strength is correct, the calculation does not fall off fast enough in the infrared and significantly overestimates the data. It is unlikely that our description of the pion is responsible for this; the sub-dominant amplitudes $`F_\pi `$, $`G_\pi `$ give a negligible contribution here while the closely related dynamical quantities, $`r_\pi `$ and $`f_\pi `$, are well described . The removal of dressing at the virtual photon vertex produces the dashed line. The better agreement with the data is rather fortuitous since the coupling constant is reduced to 70% of the former correct value. The pion transition radius from the impulse approximation ($`0.48\mathrm{fm}`$) is clearly less than that suggested by the data ($`0.65\mathrm{fm}`$); a similar underestimate also occurs for the pion charge radius in this approach.

Our results for $`Q^2F(Q^2)`$ are displayed in Fig. 3. The approach to the asymptotic limit of the present dressed quark loop Eq. (S0.Ex3) is quite slow and is governed by the following considerations. After the mass-shell conditions for the pion and the real photon are realized, one finds that in the domain $`k^2<1\mathrm{GeV}^2Q^2`$ of integral support dictated by $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_\pi (k^2)`$, the leading behavior of the momenta for each quark propagator is: $`(q^{})^2,(q^{\prime \prime \prime })^2𝒪(kQ)`$, and $`(q^{\prime \prime })^2=\frac{Q^2}{2}[1+𝒪(k/Q)]`$. Using $`A(p^2)=1+𝒪(1/p^2)`$ and $`B(p^2)𝒪(1/p^2)`$, one finds from Eq. (8) that the leading behavior of each of the photon vertices is $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_\nu =`$ $`i\gamma _\nu [1+𝒪(1/kQ)]`$. The photon insertions of the diagram effectively collapse to a point axial vector with the $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_\nu S(q^{\prime \prime })\mathrm{\Gamma }_\mu `$ leg of the loop having the leading form

$$\frac{2i}{Q^2}\gamma _\nu \overline{)}q^{\prime \prime }\gamma _\mu =\frac{2i}{Q^2}ϵ_{\mu \nu \alpha \beta }\gamma _5\gamma _\alpha Q_\beta +\mathrm{},$$
(11)   
where the current mass is ignored and the terms not shown do not survive the spin trace. The loop integral coupling the $`\pi `$ to $`\gamma _5\gamma _\alpha `$ gives exactly $`f_\pi P_\alpha /3`$ by definition . This gives the asymptotic limit $`\mathrm{\Lambda }_{\mu \nu }(Q^2)`$ $`\frac{2f_\pi }{Q^2}iϵ_{\mu \nu \alpha \beta }P_\alpha Q_\beta [1+𝒪(1/Q)]`$ or the form factor limit $`\frac{16}{3}\pi ^2f_\pi ^2+𝒪(1/Q)`$, in agreement with Refs. . The limit marked by $`8\pi ^2f_\pi ^2`$ is from pQCD factorization . It is evident that the sub-dominant amplitudes $`F_\pi `$ and $`G_\pi `$ make a minor contribution although the integrated effect via the produced $`f_\pi `$ value is some 30%.

With the hard leg $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_\nu S(q^{\prime \prime })\mathrm{\Gamma }_\mu `$ taken to be bare the result is the dot-dashed line in Fig. 3. This is consistent with the evident sub-leading correction in the propagator denominator being $`k/Q30\%`$ at $`Q^210\mathrm{GeV}^2`$. The dressing of the hard propagator $`S(q^{\prime \prime })`$ contributes little to the dot-dashed curve; thus the difference between the three relevant curves illustrates the persistent contribution from photon vertex dressing. Since the Ball-Chiu vertex is exact at both $`Q^2=0`$ and the UV limit, and only the longitudinal component is correct for all $`Q^2`$, it is possibly the deficiencies of this ansatz at infrared and intermediate momenta that are being exposed in the present study. This is also the preliminary finding from a study of the ladder Bethe-Salpeter solution for the vector vertex .

5. Summary

The results presented here suggest that the present approach to modeling low-energy QCD can capture the mechanisms that dominate infrared physics. The sub-dominant pseudovector terms in the pion BS amplitude make a much stronger contribution to $`g_{\rho \pi \pi }`$ than they do to $`m_\pi `$, $`f_\pi `$; the contributions to the $`\gamma ^{}\pi ^0\gamma `$ and $`\gamma ^{}\pi \rho `$ transition form factors are minor at low and intermediate momenta. The new result here for the $`\gamma ^{}\pi \rho `$ form factor should be applied to the deuteron electromagnetic form factors where this meson exchange current is still a serious ambiguity. Our examination of the pion axial anomaly form factor with the Ball-Chiu ansatz for the dressed photon-quark vertex clarifies the slow approach to asymptotic behavior and suggests that deficiencies in this ansatz at low momenta may be evident. A study of electromagnetic radii should be made from this perspective.

Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to the conference organizers, especially Dubravko Klabucar, for the excellent hospitality and enjoyable atmosphere provided at this conference. Helpful discussions with D. Klabucar, C. D. Roberts, P. Maris and M. Pichowsky are gratefuly acknowledged. This work is partly supported by the US National Science Foundation under grants No. PHY97-22429 and INT96-03385.

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