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Joint resummation for pion wave function and pion transition form factor

We construct an evolution equation for the pion wave function in the $k_T$ factorization theorem, whose solution sums the mixed logarithm $\ln x\ln k_T$ to all orders, with $x$ ($k_T$) being a parton momentum fraction (transverse momentum). This joint resummation induces strong suppression of the pion wave function in the small $x$ and large $b$ regions, $b$ being the impact parameter conjugate to $k_T$, and improves the applicability of perturbative QCD to hard exclusive processes. The above effect is similar to those from the conventional threshold resummation for the double logarithm $\ln^2 x$ and the conventional $k_T$ resummation for $\ln^2 k_T$. Combining the evolution equation for the hard kernel, we are able to organize all large logarithms in the $γ^{\ast} π^{0} \to γ$ scattering, and to establish a scheme-independent $k_T$ factorization formula. It will be shown that the significance of next-to-leading-order contributions and saturation behaviors of this process at high energy differ from those under the conventional resummations. It implies that QCD logarithmic corrections to a process must be handled appropriately, before its data are used to extract a hadron wave function. Our predictions for the involved pion transition form factor, derived under the joint resummation and the input of a non-asymptotic pion wave function with the second Gegenbauer moment $a_2=0.05$, match reasonably well the CLEO, BaBar, and Belle data.