arXiv subjects

Abha Rajan

Publications and source records attributed to Abha Rajan.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Transverse Orbital Angular Momentum in the Proton

Using the equations of motion of QCD and Lorentz invariance relations, we show a new, more direct way of obtaining the decomposition of the proton's quark transverse angular momentum into its spin and orbital components. The new decomposition can be understood as a twist-three relation, with the quark transverse spin described by the parton distribution $g_T$. We find that the orbital component can be expressed in terms of a moment in the quark transverse momentum, $k_T$, of the generalized transverse momentum-dependent distribution $F_{12}$, or alternatively in terms of the twist-three generalized parton distributions $H_{2T}$ and $\widetilde{E}_{2T}$.

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arXiv2023

TMD Handbook

This handbook provides a comprehensive review of transverse-momentum-dependent parton distribution functions and fragmentation functions, commonly referred to as transverse momentum distributions (TMDs). TMDs describe the distribution of partons inside the proton and other hadrons with respect to both their longitudinal and transverse momenta. They provide unique insight into the internal momentum and spin structure of hadrons, and are a key ingredient in the description of many collider physics cross sections. Understanding TMDs requires a combination of theoretical techniques from quantum field theory, nonperturbative calculations using lattice QCD, and phenomenological analysis of experimental data. The handbook covers a wide range of topics, from theoretical foundations to experimental analyses, as well as recent developments and future directions. It is intended to provide an essential reference for researchers and graduate students interested in understanding the structure of hadrons and the dynamics of partons in high energy collisions.

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arXiv2020

Parton distributions and lattice QCD calculations: toward 3D structure

The strong force which binds hadrons is described by the theory of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). Determining the character and manifestations of QCD is one of the most important and challenging outstanding issues necessary for a comprehensive understanding of the structure of hadrons. Within the context of the QCD parton picture, the Parton Distribution Functions (PDFs) have been remarkably successful in describing a wide variety of processes. However, these PDFs have generally been confined to the description of collinear partons within the hadron. New experiments and facilities provide the opportunity to additionally explore the transverse structure of hadrons which is described by Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) and Transverse Momentum Dependent Parton Distribution Functions (TMD PDFs). In our previous review, we compared and contrasted the two main approaches used to determine the collinear PDFs: the first based on perturbative QCD factorization theorems, and the second based on lattice QCD calculations. In the present report, we provide an update of recent progress on the collinear PDFs, and also expand the scope to encompass the generalized PDFs (GPDs and TMD PDFs). We review the current state of the various calculations, and consider what new data might be available in the near future. We also examine how a shared effort can foster dialog between the PDF and Lattice QCD communities, and yield improvements for these generalized PDFs.

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arXiv2020

Probing Nucleons and Nuclei in High Energy Collisions

This volume is a collection of contributions for the 7-week program "Probing Nucleons and Nuclei in High Energy Collisions" that was held at the Institute for Nuclear Theory in Seattle, WA, USA, from October 1 until November 16, 2018. The program was dedicated to the physics of the Electron Ion Collider (EIC), the world's first polarized electron-nucleon (ep) and electron-nucleus (eA) collider to be constructed in the USA. These proceedings are organized by chapters, corresponding to the weeks of the program: Week I, Generalized parton distributions; Week II, Transverse spin and TMDs; Week III, Longitudinal spin; Week IV, Symposium week; Weeks V & VI, eA collisions; Week VII, pA and AA collisions. We hope these proceedings will be useful to readers as a compilation of EIC-related science at the end of the second decade of the XXI century.

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arXiv2019

Bounds on the Equation of State of Neutron Stars from High Energy Deeply Virtual Exclusive Experiments

The recent detection of gravitational waves from merging neutron star events has opened a new window on the many unknown aspects of their internal dynamics. A key role in this context is played by the transition from baryon to quark matter described in the neutron star equation of state (EoS). In particular, the binary pulsar observation of heavy neutron stars requires appropriately stiff dense matter in order to counter gravitational collapse, at variance with the predictions of many phenomenological quark models. On the other side, the LIGO observations favor a softer EoS therefore providing a lower bound to the equation stiffness. We introduce a quantum chromodynamics (QCD) description of the neutron star's high baryon density regime where the pressure and energy density distributions are directly obtained from the matrix elements of the QCD energy momentum tensor. Recent ab initio calculations allow us to evaluate the energy-momentum tensor in a model independent way including both quark and gluon degrees of freedom. Our approach is a first effort to replace quark models and effective gluon interactions with a first principles, fully QCD-based description. Most importantly, the QCD energy momentum tensor matrix elements are connected to the Mellin moments of the generalized parton distributions which can be measured in deeply virtual exclusive scattering experiments. As a consequence, we establish a connection between observables from high energy experiments and from the analysis of gravitational wave events. Both can be used to mutually constrain the respective sets of data. In particular, the emerging QCD-based picture is consistent with the GW170817 neutron star merger event once we allow a first-order phase transition from a low-density nuclear matter EoS to the newly-constructed high-density quark-gluon one.

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arXiv2019

Near threshold $J/ψ$ and $Υ$ photo-production at JLab and RHIC

We update our previous calculation of $J/ψ$ photo-production near threshold \cite{Hatta:2018ina} by incorporating the recent developments in theory and the new experimental data from the GlueX collaboration at Jefferson Lab \cite{Ali:2019lzf}. We then propose to study the near threshold production of $Υ$ and $J/ψ$ in ultraperipheral $pA$ collisions at RHIC. These processes are sensitive to the gluon condensate in the proton which is related to the QCD trace anomaly. Our result emphasizes the role of gluons as the origin of the proton mass.

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arXiv2018

Quark and gluon contributions to the QCD trace anomaly

We show that, in dimensional reguralization in the minimal subtraction scheme, the QCD trace anomaly can be unambiguously decomposed into two parts coming from the renormalized quark and gluon energy momentum tensors. We carry out this decomposition at the two-loop level. The result can be used to constrain the renormalization group properties of the nucleon's twist-four gravitational form factor $\bar{C}_{q,g}$.

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arXiv2018

Generalized Wandzura Wilczek Relations and Orbital Angular Momentum

New Lorentz Invariance Relations (LIRs) were presented between twist-three Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) and transverse momentum, $k_T$, moments of twist-two Generalized Transverse Momentum-Dependent Distributions (GTMDs). By implementing both these LIRs and the QCD Equations of Motion in the quark quark correlation function, we generated a new series of Wandzura Wilczek (WW) relations in the off-forward sector. Two of these WW relations take on a particularly interesting physical meaning in that they provide a clear interpretation of the QCD structure of Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) in the nucleon. In particular, they provide a solution to the outstanding puzzle of how OAM could be simultaneously described by twist-two GTMDs and twist-three GPDs. Additional relations were discussed, in particular, for the helicity configurations that can be detected analyzing specific spin asymmetries: one corresponding to a longitudinally polarized quark in an unpolarized proton, associated with spin-orbit correlations, and one for transverse proton polarization, as a generalization of the relation obeyed by the $g_2$ structure function; finally, we defined a relation connecting the off-forward extension of the Sivers function to an off-forward Qiu-Sterman term.

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arXiv2017

Lorentz Invariance and QCD Equation of Motion Relations for Generalized Parton Distributions and the Dynamical Origin of Proton Orbital Angular Momentum

We derive new Lorentz Invariance and Equation of Motion Relations between twist-three Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) and moments in the parton transverse momentum, $k_T$, of twist-two Generalized Transverse Momentum-Dependent Distributions (GTMDs), as a function of the parton longitudinal momentum fraction $x$. Although GTMDs in principle define the observables for partonic orbital motion, experiments that can unambiguously detect them appear remote at present. The relations presented here provide a solution to this impasse in that, e.g., the orbital angular momentum density is connected to directly measurable twist-three GPDs. Out of 16 possible Equation of Motion relations that can be written in the T-even sector, we focus on three helicity configurations that can be detected analyzing specific spin asymmetries: two correspond to longitudinal proton polarization and are associated with quark orbital angular momentum and spin-orbit correlations; the third, obtained for transverse proton polarization, is a generalization of the relation obeyed by the $g_2$ structure function. We also exhibit an additional relation connecting the off-forward extension of the Sivers function to an off-forward Qiu-Sterman term.

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arXiv2016

Twist Three Generalized Parton Distributions for Orbital Angular Momentum

We study the orbital angular momentum contribution to the spin structure of the proton. It is well known that the quark and gluon spin contributions do not add up to the proton spin. We motivate the connection between the Generalized Transverse Momentum Distribution (GTMD) $F_{14}$, and orbital angular momentum by exploring the underlying quark proton helicity amplitude structure. The twist three Generalized Parton Distribution (GPD) $\tilde{E}_{2T}$, was shown to connect to OAM. We study these functions using a diquark model calculation. The GTMD $F_{14}$ is unique in that it can describe both Jaffe-Manohar and Ji OAM depending on choice of gauge link, i.e. whether final state interactions are included or not. We perform a calculation of $F_{14}$ in both scenarios.

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arXiv2016

Parton Transverse Momentum and Orbital Angular Momentum Distributions

The quark orbital angular momentum component of proton spin, $L_q$, can be defined in QCD as the integral of a Wigner phase space distribution weighting the cross product of the quark's transverse position and momentum. It can also be independently defined from the operator product expansion for the off-forward Compton amplitude in terms of a twist-three generalized parton distribution. We provide an explicit link between the two definitions, connecting them through their dependence on partonic intrinsic transverse momentum. Connecting the definitions provides the key for correlating direct experimental determinations of $L_q$, and evaluations through Lattice QCD calculations. The direct observation of quark orbital angular momentum does not require transverse spin polarization, but can occur using longitudinally polarized targets.

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arXiv2015

Towards a Direct Measurement of the Quark Orbital Angular Momentum Distribution

We discuss two different definitions of partonic orbital angular momentum given in the literature in terms of the Fourier transform of a Wigner distribution, $F_{14}$, and a twist three generalized parton distribution, $\tilde{E}_{2T}$, respectively. We derive a relation between the two definitions which reflects their specific spin and intrinsic transverse momentum/transverse space correlations as well as their gauge link structure.

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arXiv2014

Identification of Observables for Quark and Gluon Orbital Angular Momentum

A new debate has recently arisen on the subject of orbital angular momentum in QCD, in particular on its observability and on its partonic interpretation. Orbital momentum can be defined in QCD using two different decomposition schemes that yield a kinetic and a canonical definition, respectively. We argue that kinetic orbital angular momentum is intrinsically associated with twist three generalized parton distributions, and it is therefore more readily observable, while, due to parity constraints, canonical angular momentum, if defined as suggested in the literature in terms of generalized transverse momentum distributions, cannot be observed in scattering processes involving a single hadronic reaction plane.

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arXiv2014

On the Observability of the Quark Orbital Angular Momentum Distribution

We argue that due to Parity constraints, the helicity combination of the purely momentum space counterparts of the Wigner distributions -- the generalized transverse momentum distributions -- that describes the configuration of an unpolarized quark in a longitudinally polarized nucleon, can enter the deeply virtual Compton scattering amplitude only through matrix elements involving a final state interaction. The relevant matrix elements in turn involve light cone operators projections in the transverse direction, or they appear in the deeply virtual Compton scattering amplitude at twist three. Orbital angular momentum or the spin structure of the nucleon was a major reason for these various distributions and amplitudes to have been introduced. We show that the twist three contributions associated to orbital angular momentum %to deeply virtual Compton scattering provide observables related to orbital angular momentum and are related to the target-spin asymmetry in deeply virtual Compton scattering, already measured at HERMES.

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arXiv2013

Partonic Picture of Generalized Transverse Momentum Distributions

We argue that due to parity constraints, the helicity combination of the purely momentum space counterparts of the Wigner distributions -- the generalized transverse momentum distributions -- that describes the configuration of an unpolarized quark in a longitudinally polarized nucleon, can enter the deeply virtual Compton scattering amplitude only through matrix elements involving a final state interaction. The relevant matrix elements in turn involve light cone operators projections in the transverse direction, or they appear in the deeply virtual Compton scattering amplitude at twist three. Orbital angular momentum or the spin structure of the nucleon was a major reason for these various distributions and amplitudes to have been introduced. We show that twist three contributions to deeply virtual Compton scattering provide observables related to orbital angular momentum.

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