Chiral expansion of the $\pi^0\rightarrow\gamma\gamma$ decay width

TL;DR

This paper uses a chiral meson field theory to calculate the impact of current quark masses on the neutral pion decay width, predicting a 2% enhancement without introducing new parameters.

Contribution

It provides a next-to-leading order calculation of the quark mass contribution to the decay width within a chiral framework, with no additional parameters needed.

Findings

Predicted 2% enhancement in decay width due to quark masses

No new parameters introduced in the calculation

Supports the validity of chiral theories in meson decay predictions

Abstract

A chiral field theory of mesons has been applied to study the contribution of the current quark masses to the $\pi^0\rightarrow\gamma\gamma$ decay width at the next leading order. $2\%$ enhancement has been predicted and there is no new parameter.