Light Front Formalism for Composite Systems and Some of Its Applications in Particle and Relativistic Nuclear Physics

Light front formalism for composite systems is presented. Derivation of equations for bound state and scattering problems are given. Methods of constructing of elastic form factors and scattering amplitudes of composite particles are reviewed. Elastic form factors in the impulse approximation are calculated. Scattering amplitudes for relativistic bound states are constructed. Some model cases for transition amplitudes are considered. Deep inelastic form factors (structure functions) are expressed through light front wave functions. It is shown that taking into account of transverse motion of partons leads to the violation of Bjorken scaling and structure functions become square of transverse momentum dependent. Possible explanation of the EMC-effect is given. Problem of light front relativization of wave functions of lightest nuclei is considered. Scaling properties of deuteron, ${}^3He$ and ${}^4He$ light front wave functions are checked in a rather wide energy range.Comment: Review paper, Submitted to Phys. Rep., 89 pages, 23 figure