Analysis of the Low-Energy Theorem for \gamma p \to p \pi^0

The derivation of the `classical' low-energy theorem (LET) for \gamma p \rightarrow p\pi^0 is re-examined and compared to chiral perturbation theory. Both results are correct and are not contradictory; they differ because different expansions of the same quantity are involved. Possible modifications of the extended partially conserved axial-vector current relation, one of the starting points in the derivation of the LET, are discussed. An alternate, more transparent form of the LET is presented.Comment: 5 pages, Revtex, no figures, no table

The electron-nucleon cross section in (e,e′p)(e,e'p) reactions

We examine commonly used approaches to deal with the scattering of electrons from a bound nucleon. Several prescriptions are shown to be related by gauge transformations. Nevertheless, due to current non-conservation, they yield different results. These differences reflect the size of the uncertainty that persists in the interpretation of $(e,e'p)$ experiments.Comment: 6 pp (10 in preprint form), ReVTeX, (+ 4 figures, uuencoded

Local gauge invariance implies Siegert's hypothesis

The nonrelativistic Ward-Takahashi identity, a consequence of local gauge invariance in quantum mechanics, shows the necessity of exchange current contributions in case of nonlocal and/or isospin-dependent potentials. It also implies Siegert's hypothesis: in the nonrelativistic limit, two-body charge densities identically vanish. Neither current conservation, which follows from global gauge invariance, nor the constraints of (lowest order) relativity are sufficient to arrive at this result. Furthermore, a low-energy theorem for exchange contributions is established.Comment: 5 pages, REVTE

Analysis of the low-energy theorem for γp → pπ 0

The derivation of the 'classical' low-energy theorem (LET) forγp→pπ0 is re-examined and compared to chiral perturbation theory. Both results are correct and are not contradictory; they differ because different expansions of the same quantity are involved. Possible modifications of the extended partially conserved axial-vector current relation, one of the starting points in the derivation of the LET, are discussed. An alternate, more transparent form of the LET is presented