Pion distribution in the nucleon

A model is presented for calculating the pion wave function inside the nucleon. By assuming that all pions around a core of the nucleon are in the lowest eigenstate of the system, it is shown that both the bound state and πN scattering amplitude can be consistently described by an exactly soluble model defined in the subspace spanned by the core state and the physical πN state. The parameters of the model are determined by fitting the data of the nucleon mass, πNN coupling constant and low energy πN scattering phase shifts. The model predicts that the probability of finding the pion component inside the nucleon is about 20%. The calculated πNN form factor differs significantly from the conventional monopole form. The dynamical consequences of the differences are demonstrated in a calculation of electromagnetic production of pions from the nucleon and the deuteron. 7 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab