Current quarks, constituent quarks, and symmetries of resonance decays

The transformation between ''current'' quarks and ''constituent'' quarks recently suggested by Melosh is examined with respect to its predictions for pionic decays of resonances. It implies the use of SU(6)/sub W/ for classifying particle states but not for describing decay processes. lnstead, pion emission proceeds via DELTA L/sub z/ = 0, plus or minus 1, where L is the internal (''quark'') orbital angular momentum. This decay symmetry is called SU(6)/sub W/ (DELTA L/sub z/ = 0, plus or minus 1). It is proven equivalent for any decay A yields B + pi (where A, B are arbitrary qq-bar or qqq hadrons) to the /sup 3/P/sub 0/ quark-pair creation model for such decays, as formulated by Micu, Colglazier, Petersen and Rosner. The roles of final orbital angular momenta l and of SU(3) x SU(3) subgroups of SU(6)w are also discussed, and some new predictions are made for decays of meson resonances below 1700 MeV. (auth