Eur. Phys. J. A (2005) 25: 97-105
https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/i2004-10276-4

Original Article

Spectator-model operators in point-form relativistic quantum mechanics

¹ Theoretische Physik, Institut für Physik, Universität Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, A-8010, Graz, Austria
² INFN, Sezione di Padova, and Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Padova, Via Marzolo 8, I-35131, Padova, Italy

^* e-mail: thomas.melde@uni-graz.at

Received: 24 November 2004
Accepted: 19 May 2005
Published online: 11 July 2005

Abstract

We address the construction of transition operators for electromagnetic, weak, and hadronic reactions of relativistic few-quark systems along the spectator model. While the problem is of relevance for all forms of relativistic quantum mechanics, we specifically adhere to the point form, since it preserves the spectator character of the corresponding transition operators in any reference frame. The conditions imposed on the construction of point-form spectator-model operators are discussed and their implications are exemplified for mesonic decays of baryon resonances within a relativistic constituent-quark model.