The Pion Form Factor. Where Does It Come From?

Abstract

We discuss the nonleading, ``soft" contribution to the pion form factor at intermediate momentum transfer within operator product expansion approach. We argue, that the corresponding contribution can temporarily {\bf simulate} the leading twist behavior in the extent region of $ Q^2:~~3 GeV^2\leq Q^2\leq 35 GeV^2 $, where $Q^2 F(Q^2)\sim const.$ Such a mechanism, if it is correct, would be an explanation of the phenomenological success of the dimensional counting rules (which theoretically correspond to the keeping of the asymptotically leading terms only) at available, very modest $Q^2$. The relation with quark model calculation is also discussed.