We compute the axial and pseudoscalar form factors of the nucleon in the
Dyson-Schwinger approach. To this end, we solve a covariant three-body Faddeev
equation for the nucleon wave function and determine the matrix elements of the
axialvector and pseudoscalar isotriplet currents. Our only input is a
well-established and phenomenologically successful ansatz for the
nonperturbative quark-gluon interaction. As a consequence of the axial
Ward-Takahashi identity that is respected at the quark level, the
Goldberger-Treiman relation is reproduced for all current-quark masses. We
discuss the timelike pole structure of the quark-antiquark vertices that enters
the nucleon matrix elements and determines the momentum dependence of the form
factors. Our result for the axial charge underestimates the experimental value
by 20-25% which might be a signal of missing pion-cloud contributions. The
axial and pseudoscalar form factors agree with phenomenological and lattice
data in the momentum range above Q^2 ~ 1...2 GeV^2.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures, 1 tabl
