We give an update on the status of the hadronic light-by-light scattering contribution to the muon g-2. We review recent work by various groups, list some of the open problems and give an outlook on how to better control the uncertainty of this contr
ibution. This is necessary in order to fully profit from planned future muon g-2 experiments to test the Standard Model. Despite some recent developments, we think that the estimate a_{mu}^{HLbL} = (116 pm 40) x 10^{-11} still gives a fair description of the current situation.
The calculation of the hadronic light-by-light scattering contribution to the muon g-2 currently relies entirely on models. Measurements of the form factors which describe the interactions of hadrons with photons can help to constrain the models and
reduce the uncertainty in a_{mu}(had. LbyL) = (116 pm 40) x 10^{-11}. In the dominant pion-exchange contribution, the form factor F_{{pi^0}^*gamma^*gamma^*}((q_1 + q_2)^2, q_1^2, q_2^2) with an off-shell pion enters. In general, measurements of the transition form factor F(Q^2) = F_{{pi^0}^*gamma^*gamma^*}(m_{pi}^2, -Q^2, 0) are only sensitive to a subset of the model parameters. Thus, having a good description for F(Q^2) is only necessary, not sufficient, to determine a_{mu}(LbyL; pi^0). Simulations have shown that measurements at KLOE-2 should be able to determine the (pi^0 -> gamma gamma) decay width to 1% statistical precision and the transition form factor for small space-like momenta, 0.01 GeV^2 < Q^2 < 0.1 GeV^2, to 6% precision. In the two-loop integral for the pion-exchange contribution the relevant regions of momenta are in the range 0 - 1.5 GeV. With the (pi^0 -> gamma gamma) decay width from the PDG [PrimEx] and current data for the transition form factor, the error on a_{mu}(LbyL; pi^0) is (pm 4 x 10^{-11}) [pm 2 x 10^{-11}], not taking into account the uncertainty related to the off-shellness of the pion. Including the simulated KLOE-2 data reduces the error to (pm (0.7 - 1.1) x 10^{-11}). For models like VMD, which have only few parameters that are completely determined by measurements of F(Q^2), this represents the total error. But maybe such models are too simplistic. In other models, e.g. those based on large-N_c QCD, parameters describing the off-shell pion dominate the uncertainty in a_{mu; large-N_c}(LbyL; pi^0) = (72 pm 12) x 10^{-11}.
We discuss, how planned measurements at KLOE-2 of the (pi^0 -> gamma gamma) decay width and the (gamma^* gamma -> pi^0) transition form factor can improve estimates for the numerically dominant pion-exchange contribution to hadronic light-by-light sc
attering in the muon g-2 and what are the limitations related to the modelling of the off-shellness of the pion.
We review recent developments concerning the hadronic light-by-light scattering contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. We first discuss why fully off-shell hadronic form factors should be used for the evaluation of this contributi
on to the g-2. We then reevaluate the numerically dominant pion-exchange contribution in the framework of large-N_C QCD, using an off-shell pion-photon-photon form factor which fulfills all QCD short-distance constraints, in particular, a new short-distance constraint on the off-shell form factor at the external vertex in g-2, which relates the form factor to the quark condensate magnetic susceptibility in QCD. Combined with available evaluations of the other contributions to hadronic light-by-light scattering this leads to the new result a_{mu}(LbyL; had) = (116 pm 40) x 10^{-11}, with a conservative error estimate in view of the many still unsolved problems. Some potential ways for further improvements are briefly discussed as well. For the electron we obtain the new estimate a_{e}(LbyL; had) = (3.9 pm 1.3) x 10^{-14}.
We summarize our recent new evaluation of the pion-exchange contribution to hadronic light-by-light scattering in the muon g-2. We first derive a new short-distance constraint on the off-shell pion-photon-photon form factor at the external vertex in
a_mu which relates the form factor to the quark condensate magnetic susceptibility in QCD. We then evaluate the pion-exchange contribution in the framework of large-N_C QCD using an off-shell form factor which fulfills all short-distance constraints and obtain the new estimate a_{mu}(LbyL;pi^0) = (72 pm 12) x 10^{-11}. Updating our earlier results for the contributions from the exchanges of the eta and eta-prime using simple vector-meson dominance form factors, we get a_{mu}(LbyL; PS) = (99 pm 16) x 10^{-11} for the sum of all light pseudoscalars. Combined with available evaluations for the other contributions to hadronic light-by-light scattering this leads to the estimate a_{mu}(LbyL; had) = (116 pm 40) x 10^{-11}. The corresponding contributions to the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron are also given.
Recently it was pointed out that for the evaluation of the numerically dominant pion-exchange contribution to the hadronic light-by-light scattering correction in the muon g-2, a fully off-shell pion-photon-photon form factor should be used. Followin
g this proposal, we first derive a new short-distance constraint on the off-shell form factor which enters at the external vertex for the muon g-2 and show that it is related to the quark condensate magnetic susceptibility in QCD. We then evaluate the pion-exchange contribution in the framework of large-N_C QCD using an off-shell form factor which fulfills all short-distance constraints. With a value for the magnetic susceptibility as estimated in the same large-N_C framework, we obtain the result a_{mu}(LbyL; pi^0) = (72 pm 12) x 10^{-11}. Updating our earlier results for the contributions from the exchanges of the eta and eta-prime using simple vector-meson dominance form factors, we obtain a_{mu}(LbyL; PS) = (99 pm 16) x 10^{-11} for the sum of all light pseudoscalars. Combined with available evaluations for the other contributions to hadronic light-by-light scattering this leads to the new estimate a_{mu}(LbyL; had) = (116 pm 40) x 10^{-11}.
