We calculate the pion-pole term of the light-by-light contribution to the $g-2$ of the muon in the framework of an effective chiral quark model with instantonlike nonlocal quark–quark interaction. The full kinematic dependence of the pion-photon transition form factors is taken into account. The dependence of form factors on the pion virtuality decreases the result by about 15% in comparison to the calculation where this dependence is neglected. Further, it is demonstrated that the QCD constraints suggested by Melnikov and Vainshtein are satisfied within the model. The corresponding contributions originate from the box diagram as well from the pion-pole term. Our chiral nonlocal model result for the pion-pole light-by-light contribution to $(g-2)/2$ of the muon is $(6.3–6.7)\times {10}^{-10}$, which is in the ball park of other effective-model calculations.

The transversity generalized parton distributions (tGPDs) of the pion, involving matrix elements of the tensor bilocal quark current, are analyzed in chiral quark models. We apply the nonlocal chiral models involving a momentum-dependent quark mass, as well as the local Nambu–Jona-Lasinio with the Pauli-Villars regularization to calculate the pion tGPDs, as well as related quantities following from restrained kinematics, evaluation of moments, or taking the Fourier-Bessel transforms to the impact-parameter space. The obtained distributions satisfy the formal requirements, such as proper support and polynomiality, following from Lorentz covariance. We carry out the leading-order QCD evolution from the low quark-model scale to higher lattice scales, applying the method of Kivel and Mankiewicz. We evaluate several lowest-order generalized transversity form factors, accessible from the recent lattice QCD calculations. These form factors, after evolution, agree properly with the lattice data, in support of the fact that the spontaneously broken chiral symmetry is the key element also in the evaluation of the transversity observables.

The leading- and higher-twist distribution amplitudes and light-cone wave functions of real and virtual photons are analyzed in chiral quark models. The calculations are performed in the nonlocal quark model based on the instanton picture of the QCD vacuum, as well as in the spectral quark model and the Nambu–Jona-Lasinio model with the Pauli-Villars regulator, which both treat interaction of quarks with external fields locally. We find that in all considered models the leading-twist distribution amplitudes of the real photon defined at the quark-model momentum scale are constant or remarkably close to the constant in the $x$ variable, thus are far from the asymptotic limit form. The QCD evolution to higher momentum scales is necessary and we carry it out at the leading order of the perturbative theory for the leading-twist amplitudes. We provide estimates for the magnetic susceptibility of the quark condensate ${\chi }_{\mathrm{m}}$ and the coupling $f_{3\gamma }$, which in the nonlocal model turn out to be close to the estimates from QCD sum rules. We find the higher-twist distribution amplitudes at the quark model scale and compare them to the Wandzura-Wilczek estimates. In addition, in the spectral model we evaluate the distribution amplitudes and light-cone wave functions of the $\rho$-meson.