Electromagnetic Pion Form Factor and Neutral Pion Decay Width

Abstract

The electromagnetic pion form factor, $F_\pi(q^2)$, is calculated for spacelike-$q^2$ in impulse approximation using a confining quark propagator, $S$, and a dressed quark-photon vertex, $\Gamma_\mu$, obtained from realistic, nonperturbative Dyson-Schwinger equation studies. Good agreement with the available data is obtained for $F_\pi(q^2)$ and other pion observables, including the decay $\pi^0 \rightarrow \gamma\,\gamma$. This calculation suggests that soft, nonperturbative contributions dominate $F_\pi(q^2)$ at presently accessible~$q^2$.