arXiv · 1911.09742
Probing the linearly polarized gluons in unpolarized proton with heavy-quark pair production
Abstract
We consider the azimuthal $\cos \varphi$ and $\cos 2\varphi$ distributions and the Callan-Gross ratio $R={\rm d}\sigma_L/{\rm d}\sigma_T$ in heavy-quark pair electroproduction, $lN\rightarrow l^{\prime}Q\bar{Q}X$, as probes of linearly polarized gluons in unpolarized nucleons. Our analysis shows that the azimuthal asymmetries and Callan-Gross ratio are predicted to be large and very sensitive to the contribution of the gluonic counterpart of the Boer-Mulders function, $h_{1}^{\perp g}$, describing the linear polarization of gluons inside unpolarized nucleon. In particular, the maximum values of the azimuthal distributions vary from 0 to 1 depending on $h_{1}^{\perp g}$. We conclude that future measurements of these quantities at the proposed EIC and LHeC colliders could clarify in details the proton spin decomposition puzzle.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
N. Ya. Ivanov, A. V. Efremov, O. V. Teryaev. 2019-11-21. Probing the linearly polarized gluons in unpolarized proton with heavy-quark pair production. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596%2F1435%2F1%2F012011
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.