Electroproduction, photoproduction, and inverse electroproduction of pions in the first resonance region

Methods are set forth for determining the hadron electromagnetic structure in the sub-$N\bar{N}$-threshold timelike region of the virtual-photon ``mass'' and for investigating the nucleon weak structure in the spacelike region from experimental data on the process $\pi N\to e^+e^- N$ at low energies. These methods are formulated using the unified description of photoproduction, electroproduction, and inverse electroproduction of pions in the first resonance region in the framework of the dispersion-relation model and on the basis of the model-independent properties of inverse electroproduction. Applications of these methods are also shown.Comment: The revised published version; Revtex4, 18 pages, 6 figure

Induced pseudoscalar coupling of the proton weak interaction

The induced pseudoscalar coupling $g_p$ is the least well known of the weak coupling constants of the proton's charged--current interaction. Its size is dictated by chiral symmetry arguments, and its measurement represents an important test of quantum chromodynamics at low energies. During the past decade a large body of new data relevant to the coupling $g_p$ has been accumulated. This data includes measurements of radiative and non radiative muon capture on targets ranging from hydrogen and few--nucleon systems to complex nuclei. Herein the authors review the theoretical underpinnings of $g_p$, the experimental studies of $g_p$, and the procedures and uncertainties in extracting the coupling from data. Current puzzles are highlighted and future opportunities are discussed.Comment: 58 pages, Latex, Revtex4, prepared for Reviews of Modern Physic