Parton content of the nucleon from distribution amplitudes and transition distribution amplitudes

Abstract

The nucleon distribution amplitudes and the nucleon-to-pion transition distribution amplitudes are investigated at leading twist within the frame of a light-cone quark model. The distribution amplitudes probe the three-quark component of the nucleon light-cone wave function, while higher order components in the Fock-space expansion of the nucleon state are essential to describe the nucleon-to-pion transition distribution amplitudes. Adopting a meson-cloud model of the nucleon the nucleon-to-pion transition distribution amplitudes are calculated for the first time.