The Nucleon ``Tensor Charges'' and the Skyrme Model

Abstract

The lowest moment of the twist-two, chiral-odd parton distribution $h_1(x)$ of the nucleon can be related to the so-called ``tensor charges'' of the nucleon. We consider the tensor charges in the Skyrme model, and find that in the large-$N_c$, SU(3)-symmetric limit, the model predicts that the octet isosinglet tensor charge, $g_T^8$, is of order $1/N_c$ with respect to the octet isovector tensor charge, $g_T^3$. The predicted $F/D$ ratio is then 1/3, in the large-$N_c$ limit. These predictions coincide with the Skyrme model predictions for the octet $axial$ charges, $g_A^8$ and $g_A^3$. (The prediction $F/D=1/3$ for the axial charges differs from the commonly quoted prediction of 5/9, which is based on an inconsistent treatment of the large-$N_c$ limit.) The model also predicts that the singlet tensor charge, $g_T^0$, is of order $1/N_c$ with respect to $g_T^3$.

Comments: 9 single-spaced pages, no figures, MIT-CTP-2122