PI-NN COUPLINGS, THE PI-NN FORM-FACTOR, AND THE GOLDBERGER-TREIMAN DISCREPANCY

We discuss the recent suggestion by Thomas and Holinde that the neutral NN coupling constant obtained in the Nijmegan phase-shift analysis of pp scattering data differs from the charged NN coupling constant because of a form-factor effect and therefore is not an indication of charge independence. We place this suggestion in the context of a more global understanding of the NN form factor, and specify carefully the distinction between the chiral limit and the q2=0 limit to clarify the role of the NN form factor in the Goldberger-Treiman relation. © 1990 The American Physical Society.