Distinguishing among strong decay models

Two competing models for strong hadronic decays, the ³{P}₀$ and $³S₁ models, are currently in use. Attempts to rule out one or the other have been hindered by a poor understanding of final state interactions and by ambiguities in the treatment of relativistic effects. In this article we study meson decays in both models, focusing on certain amplitude ratios for which the relativistic uncertainties largely cancel out (notably the S/D ratios in b₁{→}{π}{ω} and a₁{→}{π}{ρ}), and using a quark Born formalism to estimate the final state interactions. We find that the ³{P}₀model is strongly favored. In addition, we predict a P/F amplitude ratio of 1.6±0.2 for the decay{{{π}}}₂${→}{π}{ρ}. We also study the parameter dependence of some individual amplitudes (as opposed to amplitude ratios) in an attempt to identify a ``best'' version of the ³{P}₀$ model.