Nonlocal chiral anomaly and generalized parton distributions

Abstract

We discuss the nonlocal generalization of the QCD chiral anomaly along the light-cone and derive relations between twist-two, twist-three and twist-four generalized parton distributions (GPDs) mediated by the anomaly. We further establish the connection to the `anomaly pole' in the GPD $\tilde{E}$ recently identified in the perturbative calculation of the Compton scattering amplitudes, and demonstrate its cancellation at the GPD level. Our work helps elucidate the previously unexplored connection between GPDs, the chiral anomaly, and the mass generation of the $\eta'$ meson.