Tensor form factors of P→ P, S, V and A transitions within standard and covariant light-front approaches *

Abstract

Abstract We investigate the tensor form factors of , and A transitions within the standard light-front (SLF) and the covariant light-front (CLF) quark models (QMs). The self-consistency and Lorentz covariance of CLF QM are analyzed via these quantities, and the effects of zero-mode are discussed. For the and A transitions, besides the inconsistency between the results extracted via longitudinal and transverse polarization states, which is caused by the residual -dependent spurious contributions, we find and analyze a “novel” self-consistence problem of the traditional CLF QM, caused by different strategies for dealing with the trace term in CLF matrix element. A possible solution to the problems of traditional CLF QM is discussed and confirmed numerically. Finally, the theoretical predictions for the tensor form factors of some and ( ) induced and A transitions are updated within the CLF QM with a self-consistent scheme.