The structure of light-front wavefunctions and constraints on hadronic form factors
We study the analytic structure of light-front wave functions (LFWFs) and its consequences for hadron form factors using an explicitly Lorentz-invariant formulation of the front form. The normal to the light front is specified by a general null vector {omega}{sup {mu}}. The LFWFs with definite total angular momentum are eigenstates of a kinematic angular momentum operator and satisfy all Lorentz symmetries. They are analytic functions of the invariant mass squared of the constituents M{sub 0}{sup 2} = ({Sigma}k{sup {mu}}){sup 2} and the light-cone momentum fractions x{sub i} = k{sub i}{omega}/p{omega} multiplied by invariants constructed from the spin matrices, polarization vectors, and {omega}{sup {mu}}. These properties are illustrated using known nonperturbative eigensolutions of the Wick-Cutkosky model. We analyze the LFWFs introduced by Chung and Coester to describe static and low momentum properties of the nucleons. They correspond to the spin-locking of a quark with the spin of its parent nucleon, together with a positive-energy projection constraint. These extra constraints lead to anomalous dependence of form factors on Q rather than Q{sup 2}. In contrast, the dependence of LFWFs on M{sub 0}{sup 2} implies that hadron form factors are analytic functions of Q{sup 2} in agreement with dispersion theory and perturbative QCD. We show that a model incorporating the leading-twist perturbative QCD prediction is consistent with recent data for the ratio of proton Pauli and Dirac form factors.
- Research Organization:
- SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00515
- OSTI ID:
- 826513
- Report Number(s):
- SLAC-PUB-10068; TRN: US200425%%746
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 19 Nov 2003
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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