Electromagnetic structure and weak decay of pseudoscalar mesons in a light-front QCD-inspired model

We study the scaling of the ³S₁-¹S₀ meson mass splitting and the pseudoscalar weak-decay constants with the mass of the meson, as seen in the available experimental data. We use an effective light-front QCD-inspired dynamical model regulated at short distances to describe the valence component of the pseudoscalar mesons. The experimentally known values of the mass splitting, decay constants (from global lattice-QCD averages) and the pion charge form factor up to 4 [GeV/c]² are reasonably described by the model.     

Weak decays of heavy baryons in the light-front approach

In this work, we analyse semi-leptonic and non-leptonic weak decays of the heavy baryons: Λ_b,Ξ_b,?_b and Λ_c,Ξ_c,?_c. For non-leptonic decay modes, we study only the factorizable channels induced by the external Wemission. The two spectator quarks in the baryonic transitions are treated as a diquark and form factors are calculated in the light-front approach. Using the results for form factors, we also calculate some corresponding semi-leptonic and non-leptonic decay widths. We find that our results are comparable with the available experimental data and other theoretical predictions. Decay branching fractions for many channels are found to reach the level 10~(-3)~10~(-2),which is promising for discovery in future measurements at BESIII, LHCb and Belle II. The SU(3) symmetry in semi-leptonic decays is examined and sources of symmetry breaking are discussed.     

Deuteron electromagnetic form factors with the light-front approach

The electromagnetic form factors and low-energy observables of the deuteron are studied with the help of the light-front approach, where the deuteron is regarded as a weakly bound state of a proton and a neutron. Both the S and D wave interacting vertexes among the deuteron, proton, and neutron are taken into account. Moreover,the regularization functions are also introduced. In our calculations, the vertex and the regularization functions are employed to simulate the momentum distribution inside the deuteron. Our numerical results show that the lightfront approach can roughly reproduce the deuteron electromagnetic form factors, like charge G_0, magnetic G_1, and quadrupole G_2, in the low Q~2 region. The important effect of the D wave vertex on G_2 is also addressed.     

Fragmentation functions of mesons in the Field-Feynman model

The fragmentation functions of the pion with distinction between , , and are studied in the Field-Feynman recursive model, by taking into account the flavor structure in the excitation of quark-antiquark pairs by the initial quarks. The obtained analytical results are compatible with the available empirical results. The framework is also extended to predict the fragmentation functions of the kaon with distinction between , , , and . This work gives a significant modification of the original model, and the predictions can be tested by future experiments on the fragmentation functions of the kaon.Received: 30 January 2003, Revised: 12 June 2003, Published online: 15 August 2003Bo-Qiang Ma: Corresponding author     

Bethe-Salpeter wave functions and transition amplitudes for heavy mesons

The most general form of covariant B-S wave functions and the corresponding integral equations for heavy mesons with arbitrary spin and parity are obtained in the infinite mass limit. A general formula for the I-W functions for transitions between states with arbitrary spin-parity and the ground state is given in terms of these wave functions. Using the covariant instantaneous approximation we apply this formulism to calculate I-W functionsr _1/2,r _3/2 and rates of processes in which a or is emitted in the transitions 1^–0^–, 0⁺0^–, 1⁺1^–.     

Vertex functions from the Mandelstam string path integrals

As a pedagogical exercise we derive the vertex functions in the light-cone gauge for an arbitrary string state by direct integration of the Mandelstam path integral formula.     

Valence and nonvalence vertex functions for timelike and spacelike nucleon form factors within light-front dynamics

A unified model for spacelike and timelike hadron form factors within light-front dynamics successfully applied to the pion is extended to the nucleon to study the role of valence and nonvalence vertex functions. Preliminary results for ?10(GeV/c)² ≤ q ² ≤ 10(GeV/c)² are presented.