Model gluon propagator and pion and ρ-meson observables

Abstract
A one parameter, model confined-gluon propagator is employed in a phenomenological application of the Dyson-Schwinger and Bethe-Salpeter equations to the calculation of a range of π- and ρ-meson observables. Good agreement is obtained with the data. The calculated quark propagator does not have a singularity on the real-p2 axis. A mass formula for the pion, involving only the vacuum, dressed quark propagator, is presented and shown to provide an accurate estimate of the mass obtained via a direct solution of the Bethe-Salpeter equation. © 1996 The American Physical Society.