Extrapolation techniques and the pion form factor

Abstract

The possibility of applying optimal extrapolation techniques to the determination of the pion form factor from charged-pion electroproduction is discussed. With the data available at present, the uncertainty in the pion form factor is very large. It is suggested that the use of some additional information in the unphysical region might be useful. As an example, a well-known kinematical constraint is used in conjunction with threshold electroproduction data to determine the pion form factor at a timelike momentum transfer of approximately one fm−2. Some implications of this model-independent determination of the form factor for the pion charge radius are discussed.