Novel algebraic consequences of chiral symmetry

Phenomenologically motivated Lie-algebraic sum rules determine the representations of unbroken SU(2)L x SU(2)R filled out by mesons containing a single heavy quark, in the limit that the heavy quark mass goes to infinity. This representation content determines the strong single-pion transition amplitudes of all heavy meson states in the chiral limit. Predictions are found to be in agreement with experiment, and provide insight into the spectroscopy of heavy mesons. (author)