Minkowski space pion model inspired by lattice QCD running quark mass

The pion structure in Minkowski space is described in terms of an analytic model of the Bethe-Salpeter amplitude combined with Euclidean Lattice QCD results. The model is physically motivated to take into account the running quark mass, which is fitted to Lattice QCD data. The pion pseudoscalar vertex is associated to the quark mass function, as dictated by dynamical chiral symmetry breaking requirements in the limit of vanishing current quark mass. The quark propagator is analyzedin terms of a spectral representation, and it shows a violation of the positivity constraints. The integral representation of the pion Bethe-Salpeter amplitude is also built. The pion space-like electromagnetic form factor is calculated with a quark electromagnetic current, which satisfies the Ward-Takahashi identity to ensure current conservation. The results for the form factor and weak decay constant are found to be consistent with the experimental data. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V. (AU)