The masses and decay constants of the light vector mesons rho/omega, phi, a
nd K* are studied within a ladder-rainbow truncation of the coupled Dyson-S
chwinger and Bethe-Salpeter equations of QCD with a model two-point gluon f
unction. The approach is consistent with quark and gluon confinement, repro
duces the correct one-loop renormalization group behavior of QCD, generates
dynamical chiral symmetry breaking, and pre serves the relevant Ward ident
ities. The one phenomenological parameter and two current quark masses are
fixed by requiring that the calculated f(pi), m(pi), and m(K) are correct.
The resulting f(K) is within 3% of the experimental value. For the vector m
esons, all eight transverse covariants are included and the dominant ones a
re identified; the complete angle dependence of the amplitudes is also reta
ined. The calculated values for the masses m(rho), m(phi), and m(K*) are wi
thin 5%, while the decay constants f(rho), f(phi), and f(K*) for electromag
netic and leptonic decays are within 10% of the experimental values. [S0556
-2813(99)04511-2].