Strong decays of vector mesons to pseudoscalar mesons in the relativistic quark model

Abstract

Strong decays of vector ($^3S_1$) mesons to the pair of pseudoscalar ($^1S_0$) mesons are considered in the framework of the microscopic decay mechanism and the relativistic quark model based on the quasipotential approach. The quark-antiquark potential, which was previously used for the successful description of meson spectroscopy and electroweak decays, is employed as the source of the $q\bar q$ pair creation. The relativistic structure of the decay matrix element, relativistic contributions and boosts of the meson wave functions are comprehensively taken into account. The calculated rates of strong decays of light, heavy-light mesons and heavy quarkonia agree well with available experimental data.