SU(3) for Constituent and Current Quarks: How Different Are They?

Abstract

Algebraic properties of the transformation between constituent- and current-quark bases are discussed in the case when SU(3) is broken for the current quarks. In a simple model, it is shown that $\mathrm{SU}{\mathrm{}\left(4\right)\mathrm{}}_W$ may still be an exact symmetry in the constituent-quark basis. Still within the context of the model, the question of whether the transformation actually does distinguish two SU(3) algebras in nature, one for current and one for constituent quarks, is investigated. It is shown that the so-called $\sigma$ terms of meson-baryon scattering provide a means of determining if there is such a distinction.