Nucleon form factors to next-to-leading order with light-cone sum rules

We have calculated the leading-twist next-to-leading order (NLO), i.e., O(αs), correction to the light-cone sum rules prediction for the electromagnetic form factors of the nucleon. We have used the Ioffe nucleon interpolation current and worked in MN=0 approximation, with MN being the mass of the nucleon. In this approximation, only the Pauli form factor F2 receives a correction and the calculated correction is quite sizable (ca. 60%). The numerical results for the proton form factors show the improved agreement with the experimental data. We also discuss the problems encountered when going away from MN=0 approximation at NLO, as well as gauge invariance of the perturbative results. This work presents the first step towards the NLO accuracy in the light-cone sum rules for baryon form factors.