Pion electromagnetic form factor at high precision with implications to $a_\mu^{\pi\pi}$ and the onset of perturbative QCD

TL;DR

This paper precisely determines the pion electromagnetic form factor across various kinematic regions using a model-independent approach based on analyticity and unitarity, with implications for muon g-2 calculations and QCD onset.

Contribution

It introduces a parametrization-free, analyticity-based method to determine the pion form factor with high precision, incorporating diverse experimental data and theoretical constraints.

Findings

More precise predictions near the origin than recent lattice QCD results.

Confirmation of the late onset of perturbative QCD for exclusive processes.

Accurate determination of the hadronic vacuum polarization contribution to muon g-2.

Abstract

We extend recently developed methods used for determining the electromagnetic charge radius and $a_\mu^{\pi\pi}$ to obtain a determination of the electromagnetic form factor of the pion, $F_\pi^V(t)$, in several significant kinematical regions, using a parametrization-free formalism based on analyticity and unitarity, and with the inclusion of precise inputs from both timelike and spacelike regions. On the unitarity cut, below the first inelastic threshold we use the precisely known phase of the form factor, known from $\pi\pi$ elastic scattering via the Fermi-Watson theorem, and above the inelastic threshold a conservative integral condition on the modulus. We also use as input the experimental values of the modulus at several energies in the elastic region, where the data from $e^+e^-\to \pi^+\pi^-$ and $\tau$ hadronic decays are mutually consistent, as well as the most recent measurements at spacelike momenta. The experimental uncertainties are implemented by Monte Carlo simulations. At spacelike values $Q^2=-t>0$ near the origin, our predictions are consistent and significantly more precise than the recent QCD lattice calculations. The determinations at larger $Q^2$ confirm the late onset of perturbative QCD for exclusive quantities. From the predictions of $|F_\pi^V(t)|^2$ on the timelike axis below 0.63 GeV, we obtain the hadronic vacuum polarization (HPV) contribution to the muon anomaly, $a_\mu^{\pi\pi}|_{\leq 0.63\gev} = (132.97\pm 0.70)\times 10^{-10}$, using input from both $e^+e^-$ annihilation and $\tau$ decay, and $a_\mu^{\pi\pi}|_{\leq 0.63 \gev} = (132.91\pm 0.76)\times 10^{-10}$ using only $e^+e^-$ input. Our determinations can be readily extended to obtain such contributions in any interval of interest lying between $2 m_\pi$ and 0.63 GeV.