Valence Fock-state Research Articles

The Light-Front Schrödinger Equation and the Determination of the Perturbative QCD Scale from Color Confinement: A First Approximation to QCD

The valence Fock-state wavefunctions of the light-front QCD Hamiltonian satisfy a relativistic equation of motion with an effective confining potential $U$ which systematically incorporates the effects of higher quark and gluon Fock states. If one requires that the effective action which underlies the QCD Lagrangian remains conformally invariant and extends the formalism of de Alfaro, Fubini and Furlan to light front Hamiltonian theory, the potential $U$ has a unique form of a harmonic oscillator potential, and a mass gap arises. The result is a nonperturbative relativistic light-front quantum mechanical wave equation which incorporates color confinement and other essential spectroscopic and dynamical features of hadron physics, including a massless pion for zero quark mass and linear Regge trajectories with the same slope in the radial quantum number $n$ and orbital angular momentum $L$. Only one mass parameter $\kappa$ appears. Light-front holography thus provides a precise relation between the bound-state amplitudes in the fifth dimension of AdS space and the boost-invariant light-front wavefunctions describing the internal structure of hadrons in physical space-time. We also show how the mass scale $\kappa$ underlying confinement and hadron masses determines the scale $\Lambda_{\overline{MS}} $ controlling the evolution of the perturbative QCD coupling. The relation between scales is obtained by matching the nonperturbative dynamics, as described by an effective conformal theory mapped to the light-front and its embedding in AdS space, to the perturbative QCD regime computed to four-loop order. The result is an effective coupling defined at all momenta. The predicted value $\Lambda_{\overline{MS}} = 0.328 \pm 0.034$ GeV is in agreement with the world average $0.339 \pm 0.010$ GeV. The analysis applies to any renormalization scheme.

Light-Front Holographic QCD and the Confinement Potential

Light-Front Hamiltonian theory, derived from the quantization of the QCD Lagrangian at fixed light-front time τ=t+z/c, provides a rigorous frame-independent framework for solving nonperturbative QCD. The eigenvalues of the light-front QCD Hamiltonian predict the hadronic mass spectrum, and the corresponding eigensolutions provide the light-front wavefunctions which describe hadron structure. The valence Fock-state wavefunctions of the light-front QCD Hamiltonian satisfy a single-variable relativistic equation of motion, analogous to the nonrelativistic radial Schrödinger equation, with an effective confining potential U which systematically incorporates the effects of higher quark and gluon Fock states. In fact, the potential U has a unique form if one requires that the action for zero quark mass remains conformally invariant. We also show that the holographic mapping of gravity in AdS space to QCD with a specific soft-wall dilaton yields the same light-front Schrödinger equation. Light-front holography also leads to a precise relation between the bound-state amplitudes in the fifth dimension z of AdS space and the boost-invariant light-front wavefunctions describing the internal structure of hadrons in physical space-time. The elastic and transition form factors of the pion and the nucleons are found to be well described in this framework. The predictions of the LF equations of motion include a zero-mass pion in the chiral mq→0 limit, and linear Regge trajectories M2(n,L)∝n+L with the same slope in the radial quantum number n and orbital angular momentum L. The light-front AdS/QCD holographic approach thus gives a frame-independent representation of color-confining dynamics, Regge spectroscopy, and the excitation spectra of relativistic light-quark meson and baryon bound states in QCD in terms of a single mass parameter. We also briefly discuss the implications of the underlying conformal template of QCD for renormalization scale-setting and the implications of light-front quantization for the value of the cosmological constant.

QCD on the Light-Front

Light-Front Hamiltonian theory provides a rigorous frame-independent framework for solving nonperturbative QCD. The valence Fock-state wavefunctions of the light-front QCD Hamiltonian satisfy a single-variable relativistic equation of motion, analogous to the nonrelativistic radial Schr\"odinger equation, with an effective confining potential U which systematically incorporates the effects of higher quark and gluon Fock states. Remarkably, the potential U has a unique form of a harmonic oscillator potential if one requires that the chiral QCD action remains conformally invariant. A mass gap arises when one extends the formalism of de Alfaro, Fubini and Furlan to light-front Hamiltonian theory. The valence LF meson wavefunctions for zero quark mass satisfy a single-variable relativistic equation of motion in the invariant variable $\zeta^2=b^2_\perp x(1-x)$, which is conjugate to the invariant mass squared. The result is a nonperturbative relativistic light-front quantum mechanical wave equation which incorporates color confinement and other essential spectroscopic and dynamical features of hadron physics, including a massless pion for zero quark mass and linear Regge trajectories with the same slope in the radial quantum number n and orbital angular momentum L. The corresponding light-front Dirac equation provides a model of nucleons. The same light-front equations arise from the holographic mapping of the soft-wall model modification of AdS_5 space with a unique dilaton profile to QCD (3+1) at fixed light-front time. Light-front holography thus provides a precise relation between amplitudes in the fifth dimension of AdS space and light-front wavefunctions. We also discuss the implications of the underlying conformal template of QCD for renormalization scale-setting, and the implications of light-front quantization for the value of the cosmological constant.

LIGHT-FRONT HOLOGRAPHY AND THE LIGHT-FRONT SCHRÖDINGER EQUATION

One of the most important nonperturbative methods for solving QCD is quantization at fixed light-front time τ = t + z/c – Dirac's "Front Form". The eigenvalues of the light-front QCD Hamiltonian predict the hadron spectrum and the eigensolutions provide the light-front wavefunctions which describe hadron structure. More generally, we show that the valence Fock-state wavefunctions of the light-front QCD Hamiltonian satisfy a single-variable relativistic equation of motion, analogous to the nonrelativistic radial Schrödinger equation, with an effective confining potential U which systematically incorporates the effects of higher quark and gluon Fock states. We outline a method for computing the required potential from first principles in QCD. The holographic mapping of gravity in AdS space to QCD, quantized at fixed light-front time, yields the same light front Schrödinger equation; in fact, the soft-wall AdS/QCD approach provides a model for the light-front potential which is color-confining and reproduces well the light-hadron spectrum. One also derives via light-front holography a precise relation between the bound-state amplitudes in the fifth dimension of AdS space and the boost-invariant light-front wavefunctions describing the internal structure of hadrons in physical space-time. The elastic and transition form factors of the pion and the nucleons are found to be well described in this framework. The light-front AdS/QCD holographic approach thus gives a frame-independent first approximation of the color-confining dynamics, spectroscopy, and excitation spectra of relativistic light-quark bound states in QCD.

Advances in light-front quantization and new perspectives for QCD from AdS/CFT

The light-front quantization of gauge theories in light-cone gauge provides a frame-independent wavefunction representation of relativistic bound states, simple forms for current matrix elements, explicit unitarity, and a Fock space built on a trivial vacuum. The AdS/CFT correspondence has led to important insights into the properties of quantum chromodynamics even though QCD is a broken conformal theory. We have recently shown how a model based on a truncated AdS space can be used to obtain the hadronic spectrum of q q ¯ , qqq and gg bound states, as well as their respective light-front wavefunctions. Specific hadrons are identified by the correspondence of string modes with the dimension of the interpolating operator of the hadron's valence Fock state, including orbital angular momentum excitations. The predicted mass spectrum is linear M ∝ L at high orbital angular momentum, in contrast to the quadratic dependence M 2 ∝ L found in the description of spinning strings. Since only one parameter, the QCD scale Λ Q C D , is introduced, the agreement with the pattern of physical states is remarkable. In particular, the ratio of Δ to nucleon trajectories is determined by the ratio of zeros of Bessel functions. As a specific application of QCD dynamics from AdS/CFT duality, we describe a computation of the proton magnetic form factor in both the space-like and time-like regions. The extended AdS/CFT space-time theory also provides an analytic model for hadronic light-front wavefunctions, thus providing a relativistic description of hadrons in QCD at the amplitude level. The model wavefunctions display confinement at large inter-quark separation and conformal symmetry at short distances. In particular, the scaling and conformal properties of the LFWFs at high relative momenta agree with perturbative QCD. These AdS/CFT model wavefunctions could be used as an initial ansatz for a variational treatment of the light-front QCD Hamiltonian.

Hadronic Spectrum of a Holographic Dual of QCD

We compute the spectrum of light hadrons in a holographic dual of QCD defined on AdS5 x S5 which has conformal behavior at short distances and confinement at large interquark separation. Specific hadrons are identified by the correspondence of string modes with the dimension of the interpolating operator of the hadron's valence Fock state. Higher orbital excitations are matched quanta to quanta with fluctuations about the AdS background. Since only one parameter, the QCD scale Lambda(QCD), is used, the agreement with the pattern of physical states is remarkable. In particular, the ratio of delta to nucleon trajectories is determined by the ratio of zeros of Bessel functions.

TRANSVERSE MOMENTUM DISTRIBUTION IN THE B MESONS IN THE HEAVY-QUARK LIMIT: THE WANDZURA–WILCZEK PART

In the heavy-quark limit, the valence Fock-state components in the B mesons are described by a set of two light-cone wave functions. We show that these two wave functions obey simple coupled differential equations, which are based on the equations of motion in the Heavy Quark Effective Theory (HQET), and the analytic solutions for them are obtained. The results generalize the recently obtained longitudinal-momentum distribution in the Wandzura–Wilczek approximation by including the transverse momenta. We find that the transverse momentum distribution depends on the longitudinal momentum of the constituents, and that the wave functions damp very slowly for large transverse separation between quark and antiquark.

The interplay of soft and hard contributions in the electromagnetic pion form factor

We consider various relativistic models for the valence Fock-state wave function of the pion. These models are obtained from simple instant-form wave functions by applying a Melosh rotation to the spin part and by imposing physical constraints on the parameters. We discuss how the soft and the hard (perturbative) parts of the electromagnetic form factor are affected by the choice of the model and by the Melosh rotation.

A Phenomenological Analysis of Higher Fock State Contributions to the χcJ Decays**The project supported in part by National Natural Science Foundation of China

We present a phenomenological analysis of higher Fock state contributions to the χcJ decays by using the recent BES experimental data.It is found that the higher Fock state makes an important contribution to the inclusive and exclusive processes with respect to that from the valence Fock state of the χcJ and some constraints of these contributions are obtained for the χc0 and χc2 states in order to fit the experimental data.

Exclusive charmonium decays

The role of power corrections and higher Fock-state contributions to exclusive charmonium decays will be discussed. It will be argued that the J ψ (ψ′) decays in to baryon-antibaryon pairs are dominated by the valence Fock-state contributions. P-wave charmonium decays, on the other hand, receive strong contributions from the c c g Fock states since the valence Fock-state contributions are suppressed in these reactions. Numerical results for J ψ (ψ′) → B B decay widths will be also presented and compared to data.

Phenomenological Connection Between Hadronic Wavefunction and Its Radius11The project supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China

A picture for the hadronic structure is discussed based on previous work. The radius contributed from the valence Fock-state wavefunction (i.e., component) is calculated in the light-cone framework. We propose a concept of the characteristic length to represent the contributions of higher Fock states to hadronic radii phenomenologically and calculate its value. Using an equivalence between the “intrinsic” radii of constituent quarks and the radii coming from higher Fock states we put forward a constraint on the hadronic wavefunctions of mesons. It is found that these wavefunctions lead to consistency between theories and experiments for D and B exclusive decays. We also give the radii for K, D and B mesons. The results show that the radius of K meson is in good agreement with experimental data.

Exclusive Processes and Hadron Dynamics at Short Distances

The predictions of perturbative QCD for a number of areas of hadron dynamics are discussed, including exclusive processes at large momentum transfer, the endpoint behavior of hadronic structure functions, and the Fock state structure of hadron wavefunctions-especially their behavior at short-distance. New results for exclusive two-photon processes, the normalization of higher twist contributions to the meson structure function, and the calculation of the valence Fock state probability of the pion are presented. We also review the contrasting features of QCD and parton model dynamics.