Multi-Channel Bethe-Salpeter Equation

A general form of multi-channel Bethe-Salpeter equation is considered. In contradistinction to the hitherto applied approaches, our coupled system of equations leads to the simultaneous solutions for all relativistic four-point Green functions (elastic and inelastic) appearing in a given theory. A set of relations which may be helpful in approximate treatments is given. An example of extracting useful information from the equations is discussed: We consider the most general trilinear coupling of N different scalar fields and obtain - in the ladder approximation - closed expressions for the Regge trajectories and their couplings to different channels in the vicinity of ell = -1. Sum rules and an example containing non-obvious symmetry are discussed. (author)