The Nucleon Anapole Form Factor in Chiral Perturbation Theory to Sub-leading Order

Abstract

The anapole form factor of the nucleon is calculated in chiral perturbation theory to sub-leading order. This is the lowest order in which the isovector anapole form factor does not vanish. The anapole moment depends on counterterms that reflect short-range dynamics, but the momentum dependence or the form factor is determined by pion loops in terms of parameters that could in principle be fixed from other processes. If these parameters are assumed to have natural size, the sub-leading corrections do not exceed ~ 30% at momentum Q ~ 300 MeV.