Nucleon generalized polarizabilities within a relativistic constituent quark model

Nucleon generalized polarizabilities are investigated within a relativistic framework, defining such quantities through a Lorentz covariant multipole expansion of the amplitude for virtual Compton scattering. The key physical ingredients in the calculation of the nucleon polarizabilities are the Lorentz invariant reduced matrix elements of the electromagnetic transition current, which can be evaluated from off-energy-shell helicity amplitudes. The evolution of the proton paramagnetic polarizability β_para(q) as a function of the virtual-photon three-momentum transfer q is explicitly evaluated within a relativistic constituent quark model by adopting transition form factors obtained in the light-front formalism. The discussion is focused on the role played by the effects due to the relativistic approach and to the transition form factors, derived within different models.