Electromagnetic form factors of hyperons ($Λ$, $Σ$, $Ξ$) in the timelike region, accessible in the reaction $e^+e^- \to \bar YY$, are studied. The focus is on energies close to the reaction thresholds, where the properties of these form factors are significantly influenced by the interaction in the final $\bar YY$ system. This interaction is taken into account in the calculation, utilizing $\bar YY$ potential models that have been constructed by the Jülich group for the analysis of data from the reaction $\bar pp \to \bar YY$ in the past. The enhancement of the effective form factor for energies close to the threshold, seen in experiments of $e^+e^- \to \bar ΛΛ$ and $e^+e^- \to \bar Σ^0Λ$, is reproduced. With regard to the reactions $e^+e^- \to \bar Σ^- Σ^+, \ \barΣ^0Σ^0, \ \barΣ^+Σ^-$ a delicate interplay between the three channels is observed in the results at low energies, caused by the $\barΣΣ$ interaction. Predictions for the electromagnetic form factors $G_M$ and $G_E$ in the timelike region are presented for the $Λ$, $Σ$, and $Ξ$ hyperons.
We present estimates of the hyperon elastic form factors for the baryon octet and the $Ω^-$ baryon for large four-momentum transfer squared, $q^2$, in the timelike region ($q^2>0$). Experimentally, those form factors can be extracted from the $e^+ e^- \to B \bar B$ and $p \bar p \to B \bar B$ processes, where $B$ stands for a general baryon. Our results are based on calculations of the elastic electromagnetic form factors in the spacelike region ($Q^2 = - q^2 > 0$) within a covariant quark model. To connect the results in the spacelike region to those in the timelike region, we use asymptotic …
A range of issues in the field of weak and electromagnetic interactions of hyperons is presented from the perspective of (broken) chiral symmetry, together with an assessment of where important challenges remain.
The electromagnetic form factors of the proton and the neutron in the timelike region are reviewed. In view of the forthcoming experimental projects devoted to investigate these observables, we present the current status of the field and we emphasize the relevant role, that accurate measurements, refined phenomenological analyses, as well as microscopic models will play with the goal of achieving deeper insights into the structure of the nucleon and its inner dynamics.
We present a calculation of the electric and magnetic form factors of ground-state octet and decuplet baryons including strange quarks. We work with a combination of Dyson-Schwinger equations for the quark propagator and covariant Bethe-Salpeter equations describing baryons as bound states of three (non-perturbative) quarks. Our form factors for the octet baryons are in good agreement with corresponding lattice data at finite $Q^2$; deviations in some isospin channels for the magnetic moments can be explained by missing meson cloud effects. At larger $Q^2$ our quark core calculation has predic…
The electromagnetic decay processes of excited hyperon states are a very sensitive probe of the structure of hyperons. We will argue that the recent measurements of electromagnetic decay rates indicate that the wave functions of the hyperon ground states should contain sizeable components of excited quark states (configuration mixing). Flavor-SU(3) is a broken symmetry and it appears that the hyperon wave functions should preferably be written in a $uds$-basis, where only the light $u$ and $d$ quarks are symmetrized, and not in the usual SU(6)-basis.
The measured electromagnetic form factors of $Λ$ hyperon in the time-like region are significantly deviated from pQCD prediction. We attribute the non-vanishing cross section near threshold to be the contribution of below-threshold $ϕ$(2170) state, supporting its exotic structure. Above the threshold, we find significant role of a wide vector meson with the mass of around 2.34 GeV, which would be the same state present in $p\bar{p}$ annihilation reactions. As a result, we give a satisfactory description of the behavior of existing data without modifying pQCD expectation.
By the analysis of the world data base of elastic electron scattering on the proton and the neutron (for the latter, in fact, on $^2H$ and $^3He$) important experimental insights have recently been gained into the flavor compositions of nucleon electromagnetic form factors. We report on testing the Graz Goldstone-boson-exchange relativistic constituent-quark model in comparison to the flavor contents in low-energy nucleons, as revealed from electron-scattering phenomenology. It is found that a satisfactory agreement is achieved between theory and experiment for momentum transfers up to $Q^2\si…
We explore the structure of the spin-1/2 flavor-octet baryons (hyperons) through their electromagnetic transverse densities. The transverse densities describe the distribution of charge and magnetization at fixed light-front time and enable a spatial representation of the baryons as relativistic systems. At peripheral distances b~1/M_pi the transverse densities are computed using a new method that combines chiral effective field theory and dispersion analysis. The peripheral isovector densities arise from two-pion exchange, which includes the rho-meson resonance through elastic unitarity. The …
Dalitz decays of a hyperon resonance to a ground-state hyperon and an electron-positron pair can give access to some information about the composite structure of hyperons. We present expressions for the multi-differential decay rates in terms of general transition form factors for spin-parity combinations J^P = 1/2^+/-, 3/2^+/- of the hyperon resonance. Even if the spin of the initial hyperon resonance is not measured, the self-analyzing weak decay of the "final" ground-state hyperon contains information about the relative phase between combinations of transition form factors. This relative ph…
The pion mass dependence of hyperon electromagnetic properties is determined using two-flavor heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory. Specifically we compute chiral corrections to the charge radii, magnetic moments, and magnetic radii of the spin one-half hyperons, as well as the charge radii, magnetic moments, magnetic radii, electric quadrupole moments, and quadrupole radii of the spin three-half hyperons. Results for the nucleon and delta are also included. Efficacy of the two-flavor theory is investigated by analyzing the role played by virtual kaons. For the electromagnetic properties of…
The electromagnetic form factors of the $Λ$ hyperon in the time-like region are determined precisely through a dispersion-theoretical analysis of the world data for the cross section of the annihilation process $e^+e^-\to \barΛΛ$. The spectral function is represented by a superposition of narrow and broad vector meson poles. We test different scenarios for the spectral function and obtain a good description of the world data in the time-like region. The uncertainties in the extracted form factors are estimated by means of the bootstrap sampling method. The analytical continuation of the form f…
We present results for the helicity amplitudes of the lowest-lying hyperon resonances Y*, computed within the framework of the Bonn constituent-quark model, which is based on the Bethe-Salpeter approach. The seven parameters entering the model were fitted to the best known baryon masses. Accordingly, the results for the helicity amplitudes are genuine predictions. Some hyperon resonances are seen to couple more strongly to a virtual photon with finite Q^2 than to a real photon. Other Y*'s, such as the S_{01}(1670) Lambda resonance or the S_{11}(1620) Sigma resonance, couple very strongly to re…
Excited negative parity hyperon masses are calculated in a chiral bag model in which the pion and the kaon fields are treated as perturbations. We also calculate the hadronic widths of $\lama$ and $\lamb$ as well as the coupling constants of the lightest $I=0$ excited hyperon to the meson-baryon channels, and discuss how the dispersive effects of the hadronic meson-baryon decay channels affect the excited hyperon masses. Meson cloud corrections to the electromagnetic decay widths of the two lightest excited hyperons into ground states $\lamz$ and $\sigz$ are calculated within the same model an…
Using dispersion theory the low-energy electromagnetic form factors for the transition of a Sigma to a Lambda hyperon are related to the pion vector form factor. The additionally required input, i.e. the two-pion--Sigma--Lambda amplitudes are determined from relativistic next-to-leading-order (NLO) baryon chiral perturbation theory including the baryons from the octet and optionally from the decuplet. Pion rescattering is again taken into account by dispersion theory. It turns out that the inclusion of decuplet baryons is not an option but a necessity to obtain reasonable results. The electric…
Photo- and electroproduction processes of K+ on the deuteron are investigated theoretically. Modern hyperon-nucleon forces as well as an updated kaon production operator on the nucleon are used. Sizable effects of the hyperon-nucleon final state interaction are seen in various observables. Especially the photoproduction double polarization observable C_z is shown to provide a handle to distinguish different hyperon-nucleon force models.
The relativistically covariant constituent quark model developed by the Bonn group is used to compute the EM form factors of strange baryons. We present form-factor results for the ground-state and some excited hyperons. The computed magnetic moments agree well with the experimental values and the magnetic form factors follow a dipole $Q^2$ dependence.
Two-flavor chiral expansions provide a useful perturbative framework to study hadron properties. Such expansions should exhibit marked improvement over the conventional three-flavor chiral expansion. Although in principle one can formulate two-flavor theories for the various hyperon multiplets, the nearness of kaon thresholds can seriously undermine the effectiveness of such two-flavor theories in practice. We investigate the importance of virtual kaon thresholds on hyperon properties, specifically their isovector axial charges and electromagnetic observables. In particular we uncover the unde…
The three electromagnetic form factors for the transition from a 3/2+ Sigma* hyperon to the ground-state Lambda hyperon are studied. At low energies, combinations of the transition form factors can be deduced from Dalitz decays of the Sigma* hyperon to Lambda plus an electron-positron pair. It is pointed out how more information can be obtained with the help of the self-analyzing weak decay of the Lambda. In particular it is shown that these transition form factors are complex quantities already in this kinematical region. Such measurements are feasible at hyperon factories as for instance the…
Based on the recently precise measurements of the electron-positron annihilation reactions into a neutron and anti-neutron pair by BESIII collaboration, the effective form factor of neutron was determined in the time like region, and it was found that the effective form factor of neutron is smaller than the ones of proton. The effective form factors of neutron shows a periodic behaviour, similar to the case of proton. Here, a compared analysis for $Λ$, $Σ^0$ and $Ξ^0$ is performed. Fits of the available data on the effective form factors of $Λ$, $Σ^0$ and $Ξ^0$ with charge zero, allow to show …
We present complete calculations of the electromagnetic form factors of the $Ω^-$ in the spacelike region and in the timelike region. The four elastic form factors: electric charge ($G_{E0}$), magnetic dipole ($G_{M1}$), electric quadrupole ($G_{E2}$) and magnetic octupole ($G_{M3}$), are estimated within the covariant spectator quark model, in terms of the square momentum transfer $q^2$. The free parameters of the $Ω^-$ wave function, including a $S$-wave state and two independent $D$-wave states radial wave functions and the admixture coefficients are fixed by the comparison with the lattice…
In the reaction of the antiproton-deuteron electromagnetic annihilation pbar + d --> e+e-n the value of the invariant mass M of the (e+e-) pair can be near or below the (pbar p) mass even for enough high momentum of incident antiproton. This allows to access the proton electromagnetic form factors in the time-like region of q^2 near the (pbar p) threshold. We estimate the cross section dsigma(pbar + d --> e+e-n)/dM for an antiproton beam momentum of 1.5 GeV/c. We find that near the (pbar p) threshold this cross section is about 1 pb/MeV. The case of heavy nuclei target is also discussed. Eleme…
As well known, spacelike proton form factors expressed in the Breit frame may be interpreted as the Fourier transform of static space distributions of electric charge and current. In particular, the electric form factor is simply the Fourier transform of the charge distribution $F(q)=\int e^{i\vec q \cdot \vec r} ρ(r)d^3r$. We don't have an intuitive interpretation of the same level of simplicity for the proton timelike form factor appearing in the reactions $e^+e^-\leftrightarrow \bar{p}p$. However, one may suggest that in the center of mass (CM) frame, where $q_μx^μ=qt$, a timelike electric …
Some basic properties of isobar models are discussed using the Saclay-Lyon, Kaon-MAID, and H2 models and a comparison of their predictions with experimental data is given for photo- and electroproduction of $K^+$ on the proton and for photoproduction of $K^0$ on the deuteron in specific kinematical regions. Results of the isobar models are also compared with the Regge-isobar hybrid model, Regge-plus-resonance.
Contrary to the reaction pbar + p --> e+ e- with a high momentum incident antiproton on a free target proton at rest, in which the invariant mass M of the (e+ e-) pair is necessarily much larger than the (pbar p) mass, in the reaction pbar + d --> n e+ e- the value of M can take values near or below the (pbar p) mass. In the antiproton-deuteron electromagnetic annihilation, this allows to access the proton electromagnetic form factors in the time-like region of q^2 near the (pbar p) threshold. We estimate the cross section dsigma(pbar +d --> e+ e- n)/dM for an antiproton beam momentum of 1.5 G…
The near-threshold $e^+e^- \to Λ\barΛ$ reaction is studied with the assumption that the production mechanism is due to a near-$Λ\barΛ$-threshold bound state. The cross section of $e^+e^- \to Λ\barΛ$ reaction is parametrized in terms of the electromagnetic form factors of $Λ$ hyperon, which are obtained with the vector meson dominance model. It is shown that the contribution to the $e^+e^- \to Λ\barΛ$ reaction from a new narrow state with quantum numbers $J^{PC}=1^{--}$ is dominant for energies very close to threshold. The mass of this new state is around 2231 MeV, which is very close to the ma…
The reaction $e^+e^- \to \bar ΛΛ$ is investigated for energies close to the threshold. Specific emphasis is put on the role played by the interaction in the final $\bar ΛΛ$ system which is taken into account rigorously. For that interaction a variety of $\bar ΛΛ$ potential models is employed that have been constructed for the analysis of the reaction $\bar p p \to \bar ΛΛ$ in the past. The enhancement of the effective form factor for energies close to the $\bar ΛΛ$ threshold, seen in pertinent experiments, is reproduced. Predictions for the $Λ$ electromagnetic form factors $G_M$ and $G_E$ in t…
The $Δ(1232) \to γ^\ast N$ magnetic dipole form factor ($G_M^\ast$) is described here within a new covariant model that combines the valence quark core together with the pion cloud contributions. The pion cloud term is parameterized by two terms: one connected to the pion electromagnetic form factor, the other to the photon interaction with intermediate baryon states. The model can be used in studies of pp and heavy ion collisions. In the timelike region this new model improves the results obtained with a constant form factor model fixed at its value at zero momentum transfer. At the same time…
The spin-averaged electromagnetic polarizabilities of the hyperons $Λ$ and $Σ$ are calculated within the one-loop approximation by use of the dispersion theory. The photon and meson couplings to hyperons are determined so as to satisfy the large N_c consistency condition. It is shown that in order for the large N_c consistency condition to hold exotic hyperon states such as $Σ^{**}$ with I=2 and J=3/2 are required in the calculation of the magnetic polarizability of the $Σ$ state.
A new formula for the pion form factor F_pi is proposed which takes into account the pseudoscalar meson loops and the mixing among rho(770), rho(1450), and rho(1700). The expression possesses correct analytical properties and can be used in both timelike and spacelike kinematical regions. The comparison is made with the existing experimental data on F_pi collected by the detectors SND, CMD-2, KLOE, and BaBaR restricted to energies below 1 GeV. A good description of all four data sets is obtained. In the spacelike region, upon substituting the resonance parameters found in the timelike one, the…
The covariant spectator quark model, tested before in a variety of electromagnetic baryon excitations, is applied here to the $γ^\ast N \to N^\ast(1520)$ reaction in the timelike regime. The transition form factors are first parametrized in the spacelike region in terms of a valence quark core model together with a parametrization of the meson cloud contribution. The form factor behavior in the timelike region is then predicted, as well as the $N^\ast(1520) \to γN$ decay width and the $N^\ast (1520)$ Dalitz decay, $N^\ast (1520) \to e^+ e^- N$. Our results may help in the interpretation of die…
The reactions ppbar -> e+e- and e+e- -> ppbar are analyzed in the near-threshold region. Specific emphasis is put on the role played by the interaction in the initial- or final antinucleon-nucleon state which is taken into account rigorously. For that purpose a recently published NNbar potential derived within chiral effective field theory and fitted to results of a new partial-wave analysis of ppbar scattering data is employed. Our results provide strong support for the conjecture that the pronounced energy dependence of the e+e- <-> ppbar cross section, seen in pertinent experiments, is prim…
The electromagnetic form factors of strange mesons and baryons are studied by means of kaon electroproduction on the nucleon. The response functions that are sensitive to the K0, Lambda, Sigma, and KK*γtransition form factors are systematically explored. The effects of these form factors on several response functions are discussed.
This paper summarizes our studies of the hypertriton and describes our findings on the hyperon-nucleon interaction, especially on the role of the $ΛN-ΣN$ coupling and the strengths of the $S$-wave $YN$ interactions. We briefly comment on our ongoing analyses with electromagnetic probes.
We present a combined analysis of the electromagnetic form factors of the nucleon in the space- and timelike regions using dispersion theory. Our framework provides a consistent description of the experimental data over the full range of momentum transfer, in line with the strictures from analyticity and unitarity. The statistical uncertainties of the extracted form factors are estimated using the bootstrap method, while systematic errors are determined from variations of the spectral functions. We also perform a high-precision extraction of the nucleon radii and find good agreement with previ…
Cross-section, vector-polarization, and tensor-polarization distributions are calculated for the reactions $e^+ e^- \rightarrow \bar{p}p$ and $e^+ e^- \rightarrow \barΛ Λ$. Each reaction requires six characteristic functions that are bilinear in the, possibly complex, electromagnetic form factors, denoted $G_E(P^2)$ and $G_M(P^2)$, of $p$ and $Λ$. For the hyperon reaction also the joint-decay distributions of $Λ$ and $\barΛ$ are calculated. Their knowledge allow a complete determination of the hyperon electromagnetic form factors, without measuring hyperon spins. We explain how this is done in…
We present results for the helicity amplitudes of the lowest-lying hyperon resonances Y*, computed within the framework of the Bonn constituent-quark model, which is based on the Bethe-Salpeter approach. The seven parameters entering the model are fitted against the best known baryon masses. Accordingly, the results for the helicity amplitudes are genuine predictions. Some hyperon resonances are seen to couple more strongly to a virtual photon with finite Q^2 than to a real photon. Other Y*'s, such as the S_{01}(1670) Lambda resonance or the S_{11}(1620) Sigma resonance, have large electromagn…
A dynamical coupled-channel formalism for processes $πN \to KY$ and $γN \to KY$ is presented which provides a comprehensive investigation of recent data on the $γp \to K^+ Λ$ reaction. The non-resonant interactions within the subspace $KY\oplusπN$ are derived from effective Lagrangians, using a unitary transformation method. The calculations of photoproduction amplitudes are simplified by casting the coupled-channel equations into a form such that the empirical $γN \to πN$ amplitudes are input and only the parameters associated with the $KY$ channel are determined by performing $χ^2$-fits to a…
Properties of hypernuclei are studied in the context of a chiral Lagrangian which successfully describes ordinary nuclei. Lambda-Sigma^0 mixing arises from nondiagonal vertices in flavor space induced by the vector mesons and by the electromagnetic field. The set of Dirac equations for the coupled hyperon system is discussed. Results are presented for energy spectra and electromagnetic properties of hyperons in the nuclear environment. Simple estimates suggest that flavor mixing can lead to sizable changes in the lifetimes of Lambda hypernuclei.
A continuum approach to the kaon and pion bound-state problems is used to reveal their electromagnetic structure. For both systems, when used with parton distribution amplitudes appropriate to the scale of the experiment, Standard Model hard-scattering formulae are accurate to within 25% at momentum transfers $Q^2 \approx 8\,$GeV$^2$. There are measurable differences between the distribution of strange and normal matter within the kaons, e.g. the ratio of their separate contributions reaches a peak value of $1.5$ at $Q^2 \approx 6\,$GeV$^2$. Its subsequent $Q^2$-evolution is accurately describ…
I briefly summarize the application of the Dyson-Schwinger/Faddeev approach to baryon form factors. Recent results for nucleon electromagnetic and axial form factors as well as N-Delta-Gamma electromagnetic transition form factors are discussed. The calculation of the current diagrams from the quark-gluon level enables an analysis of common features, such as the implications of dynamical chiral symmetry breaking and quark orbital angular momentum, the timelike structure of the form factors, and their interpretation in terms of missing pion-cloud effects.
We study the nucleon electromagnetic form factors (EM FFs) using a recently developed method combining Chiral Effective Field Theory ($χ$EFT) and dispersion analysis. The spectral functions on the two-pion cut at $t > 4 M_π^2$ are constructed using the elastic unitarity relation and an $N/D$ representation. $χ$EFT is used to calculate the real functions $J_\pm^1 (t) = f_\pm^1(t)/F_π(t)$ (ratios of the complex $ππ\rightarrow N \bar N$ partial-wave amplitudes and the timelike pion FF), which are free of $ππ$ rescattering. Rescattering effects are included through the empirical timelike pion FF $…
We analyze the electromagnetic form factors of the ground state baryon octet to fourth order in relativistic baryon chiral perturbation theory. Predictions for the Σ^- charge radius and the Λ-Σ^0 transition moment are found to be in excellent agreement with the available experimental information. Furthermore, the convergence behavior of the hyperon charge radii is shown to be more than satisfactory.
We calculate the transition form factor between vector and pseudoscalar quarkonia in both the timelike and the spacelike region using light-front dynamics. We investigate the frame dependence of the form factors for heavy quarkonia with light-front wavefunctions calculated from the valence Fock sector. This dependence could serve as a measure for the Lorentz symmetry violation arising from the Fock-space truncation. We suggest using frames with minimal longitudinal momentum transfer for calculations in the valence Fock sector, namely the Drell-Yan frame for the space-like region and a specific…
