Electromagnetic form factors of the $\rho$ meson in a light-front constituent quark model

Abstract

The electromagnetic form factors of the $\rho$ meson are evaluated adopting a relativistic constituent quark model based on the light-front formalism, and using a meson wave function with the high-momentum tail generated by the one-gluon-exchange interaction. The breakdown of the rotational covariance for the one-body component of the current operator is investigated and the sensitivity of the ratio of the $\rho$-meson form factors to the pion (charge) form factor to the spin-dependent component of the effective $q \bar{q}$ interaction is illustrated.