Anomalous Thresholds and the Isgur-Wise Function

Abstract

The original de Rafael-Taron bound on the slope of the Isgur-Wise function at zero recoil is known to be violated in QCD by singularities appearing in an unphysical region. To be consistent, quark models must have corresponding singularity structures. In an existing relativistic quark-loop model, the meson-quark-antiquark vertex is such that the required singularity is an anomalous threshold. We also discuss the implications of another anomalous threshold, whose location is determined by quark masses alone.