Measurement of the space-like $\pi^0$ transition form factor

Abstract

Based on $2.93\,\text{fb}^{-1}$ of $e^+e^-$ collision data taken with the BESIII detector at a center-of-mass energy of $3.773\,\text{GeV}$, the two-photon fusion process $e^+e^-\to e^+e^-\pi^0$ is investigated using a single-tag approach. The differential Born cross section $\text{d}\sigma/\text{d}Q^2$ and the space-like transition form factor $|F(Q^2)|$ of the $\pi^0$ are measured as functions of the squared momentum transfer $Q^2$ of the tagged, scattered lepton. The measurement covers the range $0.2 < Q^2 < 3.5\,\text{GeV}^2$. The results are consistent with previous measurements, and provide a significant improvement for $Q^2<2\,\text{GeV}^2$.