Chiral symmetry and the delta-nucleon transition form factors

The three complex form factors entering the Delta-->N gamma* vertex are calculated to O(epsilon(3)) in the framework of a chiral effective theory with explicit Delta(1232) degrees of freedom included. It is shown that the low q(2) behavior of the form factors is governed by pi N, pi Delta loop effects. Predictions are given for the q(2) dependence of the three transition multipoles M1(q(2)), E2(q(2)), C2(q(2)). Furthermore, the role of the presently unknown low energy constants that affect the values of the multipole ratios EMR(q(2)) and CMR(q(2)) is elucidated. [S0556-2821(99)04215-0].