Decay constants in the heavy quark limit in models \`a la Bakamjian and Thomas

In quark models \`a la Bakamjian and Thomas, that yield covariance and Isgur-Wise scaling of form factors in the heavy quark limit, we compute the decay constants $f^{(n)}$ and $f^{(n)}_{1/2}$ of S-wave and P-wave mesons composed of heavy and light quarks. Heavy quark limit scaling $\sqrt{M} f = Cst$ is obtained, and it is shown that this class of models satisfies the sum rules involving decay constants and Isgur-Wise functions recently formulated by us in the heavy quark limit of QCD. Moreover, the model also satisfies the selection rules of the type $f^{(n)}_{3/2} = 0$ that must hold in this limit. We discuss different Ans\"atze for the dynamics of the mass operator at rest. For non-relativistic kinetic energies ${p^2 \over 2m}$ the decay constants are finite even if the potential $V(r)$ has a Coulomb part. For the relativistic form $\sqrt{p^2 + m^2}$, the S-wave decay constants diverge if there is a Coulomb singularity. Using phenomenological models of the spectrum with relativistic kinetic energy and regularized short distance part (Godfrey-Isgur model or Richardson potential of Colangelo et al.), that yield $\rho^2 \simeq 1$ for the elastic Isgur-Wise function, we compute the decay constants in the heavy quark limit, and obtain $f_B \simeq$ 300 MeV, of the same order although slightly smaller than in the static limit of lattice QCD. We find the decay constants of $D^{**}$ with $j =1/2$ of the same order of magnitude. The convergence of the heavy quark limit sum rules is also studied.