On the Determination of \bar{d}/\bar{u} Ratios from Proton-Proton and Proton-Deuteron Drell-Yan Processes

Abstract

By using the convolution formula derived within the framework of relativistic quantum mechanics, we have examined the Fermi Motion effects on the ratios R_{pd/pp}= sigma^{pd}/(2 sigma^{pp}) between the proton-proton (p-p) and proton-deuteron (p-d) Drell-Yan cross sections. We have found that in the small x_2 < 0.3 region, the Fermi Motion effect is less than 1% and our results for the ratios R_{pd/pp} = sigma^{pd}/(2 sigma^{pp}) agree well with the data at 800 GeV. In the large Bjorken x_2 > about 0.4 region, the p-d Drell-Yan cross sections can be influenced strongly by the Fermi motion effect. At 120 GeV the predicted Fermi Motion effect can enhance the ratios R_{pd/pp} by about 20% at x_2 \sim 0.6 and about a factor of 2.5 at x_2 -> 1.0. Our results suggest that the Fermi motion effect, along with other possible nuclear effects, must be included, in extracting the \bar{d}/\bar{u} ratios in the proton from the experiments on p-p and p-d Drell-Yan processes at large x_2.