Why Does the Vector Current Contribute to Pion Decay?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the contributions of vector and axial currents to pion decay processes, specifically the decay modes Pi+ -> mu+ + neutrino and Pi+ -> Pi0 + mu+ + neutrino. It is established that the vector current does not contribute to the first decay due to parity considerations, while it does contribute to the second decay as the axial current's contribution vanishes. The discussion also corrects a misconception regarding the type of neutrino involved in the decay processes, clarifying that a muon neutrino, not an anti-neutrino, is produced.

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plasmon
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I have studied that the hadronic matrix element of pion decay
(Pi+->mu+ anti muon neutrino) is given as
<0|ubar gamma[mu](1-gamma[5])d|pion>.
The vector current does not seem to contribute, because it cannot connect a state of unnatural parity to hadronic vacuum. Only the axial and pseudoscalar current seems to conribute.
Similarly for pion decay
(Pi+>Pi0 mu+ anti muon neutrino) is given as
<0|ubar gamma[mu](1-gamma[5])d|pion>.
Now The vector current does contribute. The axial current contribution seems to vanish now because a state of unnatural parity is going to unnatural parity!

I do not understand this abstract kind of reasoning.
 
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\pi^+ \rightarrow \pi^0 + \mu^+ + \nu

is not an allowed decay, check conservation of energy.

Correction: it should be a muon neutrino- not anti-neutrino. Negatively charged leptons are considered particles, positively charged leptons are anti-particles. Merely convention. Ah yes... latex does not update with the correction.
 
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