Vector meson dominance as a first step in a systematic approximation: The pion vector form factor

Padé approximants can be used to go beyond vector meson dominance in a systematic approximation. We illustrate this fact with the case of the pion vector form factor in the spacelike region and extract values for the first two coefficients of its Taylor expansion around Q2=0. Padé approximants are shown to be a useful and simple tool for incorporating information from higher energies, allowing in some cases an improved determination of these Taylor coefficients relative to other methods. © 2008 The American Physical Society.