The pion light-cone distribution amplitude from the pion electromagnetic form factor

We suggest to probe the pion light-cone distribution amplitude, applying a dispersion relation for the pion electromagnetic form factor. Instead of the standard dispersion relation, we use the equation between the spacelike form factor $F_\pi(Q^2)$ and the integrated modulus of the timelike form factor. For $F_\pi(Q^2)$, the QCD light-cone sum rule with a dominant twist-2 term is used. Adopting for the pion twist-2 distribution amplitude a certain combination of the first few Gegenbauer polynomials, it is possible to fit their coefficients $a_{2,4,6,...}$ (Gegenbauer moments) from this equation, employing the measured pion timelike form factor. For the exploratory fit we use the data of the BaBar collaboration. The results definitely exclude the asymptotic twist-2 distribution amplitude. Also the model with a single $a_2\neq 0$ is disfavoured by the fit. Considering the models with $a_{n>2}\neq 0$, we find that the fitted values of the second and fourth Gegenbauer moments cover the intervals $a_2 (1 \mbox{GeV}) = (0.22 - 0.33) $, $a_4 (1 \mbox{GeV}) = (0.12 - 0.25) $. The higher moments starting from $a_{8}$ are consistent with zero, albeit with large uncertainties. The spacelike pion form factor obtained in two different ways, from the dispersion relation and from the light-cone sum rule, agrees, within uncertainties, with the measurement by the Jefferson Lab $F_\pi$ collaboration.