Weak transition form factors of heavy-light pseudoscalar mesons for space- and timelike momentum transfers

Abstract

Weak $B^-\rightarrow D^0, π^0$ and $D^-\rightarrow {K}^0, π^0$ transition form factors are described in both the space- and time-like momentum transfer regions, within a constituent-quark model. Neutrino-meson scattering and semileptonic weak decays are formulated within the point form of relativistic quantum mechanics to end up with relativistic invariant process amplitudes from which meson transition currents and form factors are extracted in an unambiguous way. For space-like momentum transfers, form factors depend on the frame in which the $W M M^\prime$ vertex is considered. Such a frame dependence is expected from a pure valence-quark picture, since a complete, frame independent description of form factors is supposed to include non-valence contributions. The most important of such contributions are the $Z$-graphs, which are, however, suppressed in the infinite-momentum frame ($q^2<0$). On the other hand, they can play a significant role in the Breit frame ($q^2<0$) and in the direct decay calculation ($q^2>0$), as a comparison with the infinite-momentum-frame form factors (analytically continued to $q^2>0$) reveals. Numerical results for the analytically continued infinite-momentum-frame form factors agree very well with lattice data in the time-like momentum transfer region and the experimental value for the slope of the $F^+_{B\rightarrow D}$ transition form factor at zero recoil is reproduced satisfactorily. These predictions satisfy heavy-quark-symmetry constraints and their $q^2$ dependence is well approximated by a pole fit, reminiscent of a vector-meson-dominance-like decay mechanism. We discuss how such a decay mechanism can be accommodated within an extension of our constituent-quark model, by allowing for a non-valence component in the meson wave functions. We also address the question of wrong cluster properties inherent in the Bakamjian-Thomas formulation.