The $\rho NN$ coupling with direct coupling and loops

Abstract

Starting from a gauge formalism of $\rho$ mesons, pions and baryons we evaluate the $\rho$ coupling to the nucleon, including the direct coupling provided by the Lagrangians, plus contributions from loops with the virtual pion cloud. We find a contribution to the magnetic $\rho$ coupling to the nucleon from pionic loops of the same size as the direct coupling, which is, however, still small compared to the empirical values. This finding goes in line with chiral formulations of the strong interaction of mesons at low energies where, unlike the scalar mesons which are mostly built of a pion (kaon) cloud, the $\rho$ meson stands as a genuine QCD state with intrinsic properties not tied to those of the pion cloud.