Form factors in the 'point form' of relativistic quantum mechanics : single and two-particle currents

2004

Electromagnetic and Lorentz-scalar form factors are calculated for a bound system of two spin-less particles exchanging a zero-mass scalar particle. Different approaches are considered including solutions of a Bethe-Salpeter equation, a ``point form'' approach to relativistic quantum mechanics and a non-relativistic one. The comparison of the Bethe-Salpeter results, which play the role of an ``experiment'' here, with the ones obtained in ``point form'' in single-particle approximation, evidences sizable discrepancies, pointing to large contributions from two-body currents in the latter approach. These ones are constructed using two constraints: ensuring current conservation and reproducing …