A Dynamical Resolution of the Sigma Term Puzzle

Abstract

We propose a resolution of the puzzle posed by the discrepancy between the pion-nucleon sigma term inferred from pion-nucleon scattering, and that deduced from baryon mass splittings using the Zweig rule. We show that there is a significant hypercharge-dependent dynamical contribution to baryon masses, not hitherto included in the analysis, which may be estimated using the scale Ward identity, and computed by solution of the Schwinger-Dyson equation for the quark self-energy. We find that the discrepancy is completely resolved without the need for any Zweig rule violation.