Kaon Weak Decays in Chiral Theories

Abstract

The ten nonleptonic weak decays $K \to 2\pi$, $K \to 3\pi$, $K_L \to 2\gamma$, $K_S \to 2\gamma$, $K_L \to \pi^\circ 2\gamma$, are predicted for a chiral pole model based on the linear sigma model theory which automatically satisfies the partial conservation of axial current (PCAC) hypothesis. These predictions, agreeing with data to the 5% level and containing no or at most one free parameter, are compared with the results of chiral perturbation theory (ChPT). The latter ChPT approach to one-loop level is known to contain at least four free parameters and then predicts a $K_L \to \pi^\circ \gamma\gamma$ rate which is 60% shy of the experimental value. This suggests that ChPT is an unsatisfactory approach towards predicting kaon weak decays.