Comparing relativistic and non-relativistic quark pair creation models

TL;DR

This paper compares relativistic and non-relativistic quark pair creation models for meson decay properties, finding similar overall accuracy but noting relativistic effects become significant at high energies.

Contribution

It introduces a relativistic QPC model and compares its predictions with the traditional non-relativistic approach, highlighting differences in decay amplitude suppression at high energies.

Findings

Relativistic QPC yields decay widths comparable to non-relativistic models.

Relativistic effects include stronger suppression of decay amplitudes at high energies.

Both models are similarly effective within current uncertainties.

Abstract

We investigate the strong decay properties of light unflavored and strange mesons within a relativistic quark-pair-creation (QPC) framework, and compare the results with those obtained in the conventional non-relativistic QPC model. Our analysis shows that, within the present theoretical and experimental uncertainties, the relativistic QPC model yields predictions for strong decay widths of comparable overall quality to those of the non-relativistic QPC model. This indicates that the non-relativistic QPC approach remains adequate for estimating decay widths in most practical applications. Nevertheless, owing to the inclusion of Lorentz boosts and Wigner rotations, the relativistic QPC model exhibits a stronger suppression of decay amplitudes in the high-energy region. This feature may be useful in studies based on unquenched quark models, where the relativistic QPC coupling could lead to more controlled meson-loop effects and mass shifts.