Eur. Phys. J. C 26, 67-79 (2002)
DOI: 10.1140/epjc/s2002-01042-1

Exploring light-cone sum rules for pion and kaon form factors

J. Bijnens¹ and A. Khodjamirian<sup>2

1</sup>  Department of Theoretical Physics, Lund University, Sölvegatan 14A, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
²  Institut für Theoretische Teilchenphysik, Universität Karlsruhe, 76128 Karlsruhe, Germany

(Received: 30 June 2002 / Published online: 7 October 2002 )

Abstract
We analyze the higher-twist effects and the SU(3)-flavor symmetry breaking in the correlation functions used to calculate form factors of pseudoscalar mesons in the QCD light-cone sum rule approach. It is shown that the Ward identities for these correlation functions yield relations between twist-4 two- and three-particle distribution amplitudes. In addition to the relations already obtained from the QCD equations of motions, we have found a new one. With the help of these relations, the twist-4 contribution to the light-cone sum rule for the pion electromagnetic form factor is reduced to a very simple form. Simultaneously, we correct a sign error in an earlier calculation. The updated light-cone sum rule prediction for the pion form factor at intermediate momentum transfers is compared with the recent Jefferson Lab data. Furthermore, from the correlation functions with strange-quark currents the kaon electromagnetic form factor and the weak transition form factors are predicted with accuracy.

© Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2002