The annihilation of virtual photons into pseudoscalar mesons

We investigate the possibility to constrain the pion distribution amplitude from the gamma* gamma* -> pi transition. For a surprisingly large range in the two photon virtualities we find that the transition form factor is essentially independent of the distribution amplitude. This in turn entails a parameter-free prediction of QCD. The gamma* gamma* -> eta, eta' form factors are also briefly discussed. We estimate that experimental studies might be feasible at the existing e+ e- experiments BaBar, Belle, and CLEO.Comment: 22 pages latex, 9 figure

Two-Photon Annihilation into Baryon-Antibaryon Pairs

We study the handbag contribution to two-photon annihilation into baryon-antibaryon pairs at large energy and momentum transfer. We derive factorization of the process amplitude into a hard gamma gamma -> q qbar subprocess and form factors describing the soft q qbar -> B Bbar transition, assuming that the process is dominated by configurations where the (anti)quark approximately carries the full momentum of the (anti)baryon. The form factors represent moments of time-like generalized parton distributions, so-called B Bbar distribution amplitudes. A characteristic feature of the handbag mechanism is the absence of isospin-two components in the final state, which in combination with flavor symmetry provides relations among the form factors for the members of the lowest-lying baryon octet. Assuming dominance of the handbag contribution, we can describe current experimental data with form factors of plausible size, and predict the cross sections of presently unmeasured B Bbar channels.Comment: 20 pages latex, 4 figures. v2: minor clarifications, references update

Generalized parton distributions and wide-angle exclusive scattering

The handbag mechanism for wide-angle exlusive scattering reactions is discussed and compared with other theoretical approaches. Its application to Compton scattering, meson photoproduction and two-photon annihilations into pairs of hadrons is reviewed.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures using LATEX with npb.st

Ions at the air-water interface: An end to one hundred year old mystery?

Availability of highly reactive halogen ions at the surface of aerosols has tremendous implications for the atmospheric chemistry. Yet neither simulations, experiments, nor existing theories are able to provide a fully consistent description of the electrolyte-air interface. In this paper a new theory is proposed which allows us to explicitly calculate the ionic density profiles, the surface tension, and the electrostatic potential difference across the solution-air interface. Predictions of the theory are compared to experiments and are found to be in excellent agreement. The theory also sheds new light on one of the oldest puzzles of physical chemistry -- the Hofmeister effect

Solutions of the motion of synchronous satellites with arbitrary eccentricity and inclination

A first order, semianalytical theory for the long term motion of resonant satellites is presented. The theory is valid for all eccentricities and inclinations and for all commensurability ratios. The method allows the inclusion of all the zonal and tesseral harmonics as well as luni solar perturbations and radiation pressure. The method is applied to a synchronous satellite including only the J sub 2 and J sub 22 harmonics. Global, long term solutions for this problem, eccentricity, argument of perigee, and inclination are obtained

The Overlap Representation of Skewed Quark and Gluon Distributions

Within the framework of light-cone quantisation we derive the complete and exact overlap representation of skewed parton distributions for unpolarised and polarised quarks and gluons. Symmetry properties and phenomenological applications are discussed.Comment: LaTex, 36 pages. v2: incorrect paper attached originally. v3: erratum adde

The target asymmetry in hard vector-meson electroproduction and parton angular momenta

The target asymmetry for electroproduction of vector mesons is investigated within the handbag approach. While the generalized parton distribution (GPD) H is taken from a previous analysis of the elctroproduction cross section, we here construct the GPD E from double distributions and constrain it by the Pauli form factors of the nucleon, positivity bounds and sum rules. Predictions for the target asymmetry are given for various vector mesons and discussed how experimental data on the asymmetry will further constrain E and what we may learn about the angular momenta the partons carry.Comment: 24 pages, 11 figures, late