Rare decay pi0 -> e+e-: theory confronts KTeV data

Within the dispersive approach to the amplitude of the rare decay pi0 -> e+e- the nontrivial dynamics is contained only in the subtraction constant. We express this constant, in the leading order in (m_e/\Lambda)^2 perturbative series, in terms of the inverse moment of the pion transition form factor given in symmetric kinematics. By using the CELLO and CLEO data on the pion transition form factor given in asymmetric kinematics the lower bound on the decay branching ratio is found. The restrictions following from QCD allow us to make a quantitative prediction for the branching B(pi0 -> e+e-) =(6.2\pm 0.1)*10^{-8} which is 3\sigma below the recent KTeV measurement. We confirm our prediction by using the quark models and phenomenological approaches based on the vector meson dominance. The decays \eta -> l^+l^- are also discussed.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figur

Photon distribution amplitudes and light-cone wave functions in chiral quark models

The leading- and higher-twist distribution amplitudes and light-cone wave functions of real and virtual photons are analyzed in chiral quark models. The calculations are performed in the nonlocal quark model based on the instanton picture of QCD vacuum, as well as in the spectral quark model and the Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model with the Pauli-Villars regulator, which both treat interaction of quarks with external fields locally. We find that in all considered models the leading-twist distribution amplitudes of the real photon defined at the quark-model momentum scale are constant or remarkably close to the constant in the $x$ variable, thus are far from the asymptotic limit form. The QCD evolution to higher momentum scales is necessary and we carry it out at the leading order of the perturbative theory for the leading-twist amplitudes. We provide estimates for the magnetic susceptibility of the quark condensate $\chi_m$ and the coupling $f_{3\gamma}$, which in the nonlocal model turn out to be close to the estimates from QCD sum rules. We find the higher-twist distribution amplitudes at the quark model scale and compare them to the Wandzura-Wilczek estimates. In addition, in the spectral model we evaluate the distribution amplitudes and light-cone wave functions of the $\rho$-meson.Comment: 24 pages, 15 figure

Pion pole light-by-light contribution to g-2 of the muon in a nonlocal chiral quark model

We calculate the pion pole term of the light-by-light contribution to the $g-2$ of the muon in the framework of an effective chiral quark model with instanton-like nonlocal quark--quark interaction. The full kinematic dependence of the pion-photon transition form factors is taken into account. The dependence of form factors on the pion virtuality decreases the result by about 15% in comparison to the calculation where this dependence is neglected. Further, it is demonstrated that the QCD constraints suggested by Melnikov and Vainshtein are satisfied within the model. The corresponding contributions originate from the box diagram as well from the pion-pole term. Our chiral nonlocal model result for the pion-pole light-by-light contribution to $(g-2)/2$ of the muon is $(6.3-6.7) \cdot10^{-10}$, which is in the ball park of other effective-model calculations.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figure

Instanton Contribution to the Quark Form Factor

The nonperturbative effects in the quark form factor are considered in the Wilson loop formalism. The properties of the Wilson loops with cusp singularities are studied taking into account the perturbative and nonperturbative contributions, where the latter are considered within the framework of the instanton liquid model. For the integration path corresponding to this form factor -- the angle with infinite sides -- the explicit expression for the vacuum expectation value of the Wilson operator is found to leading order. The calculations are performed in the weak-field limit for the instanton vacuum contribution and compared with the one- and two-loop order results for the perturbative part. It is shown that the instantons produce the powerlike corrections to the perturbative result, which are comparable in magnitude with the perturbative part at the scale of order of the inverse average instanton size. It is demonstrated that the instanton contributions to the quark form factor are exponentiated to high orders in the small instanton density parameter.Comment: Version coincident with the journal publication. LaTeX, 15 pages, 1 figur

Instanton Corrections to Quark Form Factor at Large Momentum Transfer

Within the Wilson integral formalism, we discuss the structure of nonperturbative corrections to the quark form factor at large momentum transfer analyzing the infrared renormalon and instanton effects. We show that the nonperturbative effects determine the initial value for the perturbative evolution of the quark form factor and attribute their general structure to the renormalon ambiguities of the perturbative series. It is demonstrated that the instanton contributions result in the finite renormalization of the next-to-leading perturbative result and numerically are characterized by a small factor reflecting the diluteness of the QCD vacuum within the instanton liquid model.Comment: Version coincident with the journal publication, 9 pages; REVTe

Generalized Quark Transversity Distribution of the Pion in Chiral Quark Models

The transversity generalized parton distributions (tGPDs) of the the pion, involving matrix elements of the tensor bilocal quark current, are analyzed in chiral quark models. We apply the nonlocal chiral models involving a momentum-dependent quark mass, as well as the local Nambu--Jona-Lasinio with the Pauli-Villars regularization to calculate the pion tGPDs, as well as related quantities following from restrained kinematics, evaluation of moments, or taking the Fourier-Bessel transforms to the impact-parameter space. The obtained distributions satisfy the formal requirements, such as proper support and polynomiality, following from Lorentz covariance. We carry out the leading-order QCD evolution from the low quark-model scale to higher lattice scales, applying the method of Kivel and Mankiewicz. We evaluate several lowest-order generalized transversity form factors, accessible from the recent lattice QCD calculations. These form factors, after evolution, agree properly with the lattice data, in support of the fact that the spontaneously broken chiral symmetry is the key element also in the evaluation of the transversity observables.Comment: 17 pages, 17 figures, regular pape

Transversity Form Factors and Generalized Parton Distributions of the pion in chiral quark models

The transversity Generalized Parton Distributions (tGPDs) and related transversity form factors of the pion are evaluated in chiral quark models, both local (Nambu--Jona-Lasinio) and nonlocal, involving a momentum-dependent quark mass. The obtained tGPDs satisfy all a priori formal requirements, such as the proper support, normalization, and polynomiality. We evaluate generalized transversity form factors accessible from the recent lattice QCD calculations. These form factors, after the necessary QCD evolution, agree very well with the lattice data, confirming the fact that the spontaneously broken chiral symmetry governs the structure of the pion also in the case of the transversity observables.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, presented by WB at LIGHTCONE 2011, 23 - 27 May, 2011, Dalla

Unbiased analysis of CLEO data at NLO and pion distribution amplitude

We discuss different QCD approaches to calculate the form factor F^{\gamma^*\gamma\pi}(Q^2) of the \gamma^*\gamma\to\pi^{0} transition giving preference to the light-cone QCD sum rules (LCSR) approach as being the most adequate. In this context we revise the previous analysis of the CLEO experimental data on F^{\gamma^*\gamma\pi}(Q^{2}) by Schmedding and Yakovlev. Special attention is paid to the sensitivity of the results to the (strong radiative) \alpha_s-corrections and to the value of the twist-four coupling \delta^2. We present a full analysis of the CLEO data at the NLO level of LCSRs, focusing particular attention to the extraction of the relevant parameters to determine the pion distribution amplitude, i.e., the Gegenbauer coefficients a_2 and a_4. Our analysis confirms our previous results and also the main findings of Schmedding and Yakovlev: both the asymptotic, as well as the Chernyak--Zhitnitsky pion distribution amplitudes are completely excluded by the CLEO data. A novelty of our approach is to use the CLEO data as a means of determining the value of the QCD vacuum non-locality parameter \lambda^2_q = / =0.4 GeV^2, which specifies the average virtuality of the vacuum quarks.Comment: 25 pages, 5 figures, 4 tables; format and margins corrected to fit page size; small changes in the text and correction of misprint