THE POLARIZED PHOTON STRUCTURE FUNCTION $g_1^\gamma $ AS A PROBE OF CHIRAL SYMMETRY REALIZATIONS

Abstract

The first moment of the polarized photon structure function [Formula: see text] is determined by the anomalous three-current axial-vector-vector (AVV) correlation function. Its dependence on the off-shell momentum κ2 of the target photon is a direct probe of the way chiral symmetry is realized in the AVV function. A careful account is given of the effect of different realizations of chiral symmetry on the AVV correlation function with special emphasis on the delicate chiral limit, where the occurrence of singularities in the invariant amplitudes makes the relation with the first moment of [Formula: see text] more subtle. The behavior of [Formula: see text] as κ2 is increased through the thresholds associated with the different quarks and leptons is described.