Determination of the pion distribution amplitude

TL;DR

This paper proposes a method to determine the pion distribution amplitude by combining multiple experimental data and a revised light-cone harmonic oscillator model, aiming to resolve current uncertainties and predict high-energy behavior.

Contribution

It introduces a new combined analysis approach and a revised DA model to better constrain the pion DA using existing experimental data.

Findings

The parameter B of the DA model is constrained to [0.01, 0.14].

The pion DA shows a slight deviation from the asymptotic form.

Predictions for the pion-photon TFF at high Q^2 are provided.

Abstract

Right now, we have not enough knowledge to determine the hadron distribution amplitudes (DAs) which are universal physical quantities in the high energy processes involving hadron for applying pQCD to exclusive processes. Even for the simplest pion, one can't discriminate from different DA models. Inversely, one expects that processes involving pion can in principle provide strong constraints on the pion DA. For example, the pion-photon transition form factor (TFF) can get accurate information of the pion wave function or DA, due to the single pion in this process. However, the data from Belle and BABAR have a big difference on TFF in high $Q^2$ regions, at present, they are helpless for determining the pion DA. At the present paper, we think it is still possible to determine the pion DA as long as we perform a combined analysis of the most existing data of the processes involving pion such as $\pi \to \mu \bar{\nu}$, $\pi^0 \to \gamma \gamma$, $B\to \pi l \nu$, $D \to \pi l \nu$, and etc. Based on the revised light-cone harmonic oscillator model, a convenient DA model has been suggested, whose parameter $B$ which dominates its longitudinal behavior for $\phi_{\pi}(x,\mu^2)$ can be determined in a definite range by those processes. A light-cone sum rule analysis of the semi-leptonic processes $B \to \pi l \nu$ and $D \to \pi l \nu$ leads to a narrow region $B = [0.01,0.14]$, which indicate a slight deviation from the asymptotic DA. Then, one can predict the behavior of the pion-photon TFF in high $Q^2$ regions which can be tested in the future experiments. Following this way it provides the possibility that the pion DA will be determined by the global fit finally.