$\rho$ meson unpolarized generalized parton distributions with a light-front constituent quark model

TL;DR

This paper models the unpolarized generalized parton distributions of the rho meson using a light-front constituent quark approach, analyzing form factors, valence and nonvalence contributions, and comparing with lattice data.

Contribution

It introduces a symmetric loop momentum construction in a light-front quark model to compute rho meson GPDs and connects model predictions with lattice QCD results.

Findings

Model reasonably describes rho meson properties

Valence and nonvalence contributions analyzed in detail

Scale of the model estimated through evolution of structure functions

Abstract

We study $\rho$ meson unpolarized generalized parton distributions based on a light-front constituent quark model where the quark-antiquark-meson vertex is constructed under the symmetric loop momentum convention. The form factors and some other low-energy observables of the $\rho$ meson are calculated. Moreover, the contributions to the form factors and generalized parton distributions from the valence and nonvalence regimes are discussed and analyzed in detail. In the forward limit, the usual structure functions are estimated as well. In addition, by evolving the moments of the obtained structure functions to the scale of the lattice calculation, we give the factorization scale of our quark model. It is found that the present phenomenological model is reasonable to describe the general properties of $\rho$ meson.