Sum rules in the heavy quark limit of QCD

In the leading order of the heavy quark expansion, we propose a method within the OPE and the trace formalism, that allows to obtain, in a systematic way, Bjorken-like sum rules for the derivatives of the elastic Isgur-Wise function $\xi(w)$ in terms of corresponding Isgur-Wise functions of transitions to excited states. A key element is the consideration of the non-forward amplitude, as introduced by Uraltsev. A simplifying feature of our method is to consider currents aligned along the initial and final four-velocities. As an illustration, we give a very simple derivation of Bjorken and Uraltsev sum rules. On the other hand, we obtain a new class of sum rules that involve the products of IW functions at zero recoil and IW functions at any $w$. Special care is given to the needed derivation of the projector on the polarization tensors of particles of arbitrary integer spin. The new sum rules give further information on the slope $\rho^2 = - \xi '(1)$ and also on the curvature $\sigma^2 = \xi '' (1)$, and imply, modulo a very natural assumption, the inequality $\sigma^2 \geq {5\over 4} \rho^2$, and therefore the absolute bound $\sigma^2 \geq {15 \over 16}$.