Transition form factors and light-cone distribution amplitudes of pseudoscalar mesons in the chiral quark model

It is shown that a chiral quark model of the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio type can be used to describe “soft”-momentum parts of the amplitudes with large momentum transfer. As a sample, the processes γ* → γ(π, η, η′), where one of the photons, γ*, has large spacelike virtuality, are investigated. The γ* → γ(π, η, η′) transition form factors are calculated for a wide region of the momentum transfer. The results are consistent with the calculations performed in the instanton-induced chiral quark model and agree with experimental data. The distribution amplitudes of pseudoscalar mesons are derived.