Abstract
We revisit the calculation of the strong couplings D (∗) Dπ and B (∗) Bπ from the QCD light-cone sum rules using the pion light-cone distribution amplitudes. The accuracy of the correlation function, calculated from the operator product expansion near the light-cone, is upgraded by taking into account the gluon radiative corrections to the twist-3 terms. The double spectral density of the correlation function, including the twist-2, 3 terms at O(αs) and the twist-4 LO terms, is presented in an analytical form for the first time. This form allows us to use various versions of the quark-hadron duality regions in the double dispersion relation underlying the sum rules. We predict gD∗Dπ = 14.1-1.2+1.3 and gB∗Bπ = 30.0-2.4+2.6 when the decay constants of heavy mesons entering the light-cone sum rule are taken from lattice QCD results. We compare our results with the experimental value for the charmed meson coupling and with the lattice QCD calculations.