Eur. Phys. J. C (2008) 55: 193-198
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-008-0590-x

Regular Article - Theoretical Physics

QED radiative corrections to the decay π⁰→e⁺e^-

Bogoliubov Laboratory of Theoretical Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 141980, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russian Federation

^* e-mail: dorokhov@theor.jinr.ru

Received: 19 January 2008
Published online: 24 April 2008

Abstract

We reconsider QED radiative corrections (RC) to the π⁰→e⁺e^- decay width. One kind of RC investigated earlier has a renormalization group origin and can be associated with the final state interaction of electron and positron. It determines the distribution of lepton pair invariant masses in the whole kinematic region. The other type of RC has a double-logarithmic character and is related to almost on-mass-shell behavior of the lepton form factors. The total effect of RC for π⁰→e⁺e^- decay is estimated to be 3.2%, and for η→e⁺e^- decay it is 4.3%.