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Alessandro Bacchetta

Publications and source records attributed to Alessandro Bacchetta.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Asymmetries involving dihadron fragmentation functions: from DIS to e+e- annihilation

Using a model calculation of dihadron fragmentation functions, we fit the spin asymmetry recently extracted by HERMES for the semi-inclusive pion pair production in deep-inelastic scattering on a transversely polarized proton target. By evolving the obtained dihadron fragmentation functions, we make predictions for the correlation of the angular distributions of two pion pairs produced in electron-positron annihilations at BELLE kinematics. Our study shows that the combination of two-hadron inclusive deep-inelastic scattering and electron-positron annihilation measurements can provide a valid alternative to Collins effect for the extraction of the quark transversity distribution in the nucleon.

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Semi-inclusive processes at low and high transverse momentum

This talk reports on recent work where we studied the connection between the description of semi-inclusive DIS at high transverse momentum (based on collinear factorization) and low transverse momentum (based on transverse-momentum-dependent factorization). We used power counting to determine the leading behavior of the structure functions at intermediate transverse momentum in the two descriptions. When the power behaviors are different, two distinct mechanisms are present and there can be no matching between them. When the power behavior is the same, the two descriptions must match. An explicit calculation however shows that for some observables this is not the case, suggesting that the transverse-momentum-dependent-factorization description beyond leading twist is incomplete.

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Matches and mismatches in the descriptions of semi-inclusive processes at low and high transverse momentum

We investigate the transverse-momentum-dependence in semi-inclusive deep inelastic leptoproduction of hadrons. There are two different theoretical approaches to study this dependence, one for low and one for high transverse momentum of the observed hadron. We systematically investigate their connection, paying special attention to azimuthal distributions and to polarization dependence. In the region of intermediate transverse momentum, where both approaches are applicable, we find that their results match for certain observables but not for others. Interpolating expressions are discussed for the case where one has no matching. We then use power counting to determine which mechanism is dominant in various azimuthal and spin asymmetries that are integrated over the transverse momentum. Our findings have consequences for the extension of transverse-momentum-dependent factorization beyond leading twist. They also shed light on the problem of resumming logarithms of transverse momentum for azimuthal distributions. Our results can be carried over to the Drell-Yan process and to two-hadron production in e+e- annihilation.

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The Sivers single-spin asymmetry in photon-jet production

We study a weighted asymmetry in the azimuthal distribution of photon-jet pairs produced in the process p^\uparrow p --> γjet X with a transversely polarized proton. We focus on the contribution of the Sivers effect only, considering experimental configurations accessible at RHIC-BNL. We show that predictions for the asymmetry, obtained in terms of gluonic-pole cross sections calculable in perturbative QCD, can be tested and clearly discriminated from those based on a generalized parton model, involving standard partonic cross sections. Experimental measurements of the asymmetry will therefore test our present understanding of single-spin asymmetries.

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Nucleon Spin Structure with hadronic collisions at COMPASS

In order to illustrate the capabilities of COMPASS using a hadronic beam, I review some of the azimuthal asymmetries in hadronic collisions, that allow for the extraction of transversity, Sivers and Boer-Mulders functions, necessary to explore the partonic spin structure of the nucleon. I also report on some Monte Carlo simulations of such asymmetries for the production of Drell-Yan lepton pairs from the collision of high-energy pions on a transversely polarized proton target.

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Collins fragmentation function for pions and kaons in a spectator model

We calculate the Collins fragmentation function in the framework of a spectator model with pseudoscalar pion-quark coupling and a Gaussian form factor at the vertex. We determine the model parameters by fitting the unpolarized fragmentation function for pions and kaons. We show that the Collins function for the pions in this model is in reasonable agreement with recent parametrizations obtained by fits of the available data. In addition, we compute for the first time the Collins function for the kaons.

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Evolution equations for extended dihadron fragmentation functions

We consider dihadron fragmentation functions, describing the fragmentation of a parton in two unpolarized hadrons, and in particular extended dihadron fragmentation functions, explicitly dependent on the invariant mass, $M_h$, of the hadron pair. We first rederive the known results on $M_h$-integrated functions using Jet Calculus techniques, and then we present the evolution equations for extended dihadron fragmentation functions. Our results are relevant for the analysis of experimental measurements of two-particle-inclusive processes at different energies.

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Semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering at small transverse momentum

We study the cross section for one-particle inclusive deep inelastic scattering off the nucleon for low transverse momentum of the detected hadron. We decompose the cross section in terms of structure functions and calculate them at tree level in terms of transverse-momentum-dependent parton distribution and fragmentation functions. Our results are complete in the one-photon exchange approximation at leading and first subleading twist accuracy, with both beam and target polarization.

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Transverse-momentum dependent functions in semi-inclusive DIS

The cross section for semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering can be decomposed in terms of 18 structure functions. At low transverse momentum of the detected hadron, the structure functions can be expressed in terms of transverse-momentum-dependent parton distribution and fragmentation functions. Here, a few selected examples are illustrated and discussed.

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Modeling dihadron fragmentation functions

We present a model for dihadron fragmentation functions, describing the fragmentation of a quark into two unpolarized hadrons. We tune the parameters of our model to the output of the PYTHIA event generator for two-hadron semi-inclusive production in deep inelastic scattering at HERMES. Once the parameters of the model are fixed, we make predictions for other unknown fragmentation functions and for a single-spin asymmetry in the azimuthal distribution of pi+ pi- pairs in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering on a transversely polarized target at HERMES and COMPASS. Such asymmetry could be used to measure the quark transversity distribution function.

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Single-spin asymmetries and Qiu-Sterman effect(s)

I discuss the relation between the Qiu-Sterman effects on one hand and the Collins, Sivers and Boer-Mulders effects on the other hand. It was suggested before that some of these effects are in fact the same, thus providing interesting connections between transverse-momentum dependent twist-2 functions and collinear twist-3 functions. Here I propose an alternative way to reach similar conclusions.

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Reviewing model calculations of the Collins fragmentation function

The Collins fragmentation function describes a left/right asymmetry in the fragmentation of a transversely polarized quark into a hadron in a jet. Four different model calculations of the Collins function have been presented in the literature. While based on the same concepts, they lead to different results and in particular to different signs for the Collins function. The purpose of the present work is to review the features of these models and correct some errors made in previous calculations. A full study of the parameter dependence and the possible modifications to these models is beyond the scope of the paper. However, some general conclusions are drawn.

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Transversity and dihadron fragmentation functions

The observation of the quark transversity distribution requires another soft object sensitive to the quark's transverse spin. Dihadron fragmentation functions represent a convenient tool to analyze partonic spin, which can influence the angular distribution of the two hadrons. In particular, the so-called interference fragmentation functions can be used to probe transversity both in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering as well as proton-proton collisions. We discuss two single-spin asymmetries sensitive to transversity in the these two processes, at leading twist and leading order in alpha_S.

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Single-spin asymmetries: the Trento conventions

During the workshop "Transversity: New Developments in Nucleon Spin Structure" (ECT*, Trento, Italy, 14-18 June 2004), a series of recommendations was put forward by the participants concerning definitions and notations for describing effects of intrinsic transverse momentum of partons in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering.

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Dihadron interference fragmentation functions in proton-proton collisions

We study the production of hadron pairs in proton-proton collisions, selecting pairs with large total transverse momentum with respect to the beam, and small relative transverse momentum, i.e., belonging to a single jet with large transverse momentum. We describe the process in terms of dihadron fragmentation functions. We consider the production of one pair in polarized collisions (with one transversely polarized proton) and the production of two pairs in unpolarized collisions. In the first case, we discuss how to observe the quark transversity distribution in connection with a specific class of dihadron fragmentation functions, named interference fragmentation functions. In the second case, we suggest how to determine the latter and also how to observe linearly polarized gluons.

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New observables in longitudinal single-spin asymmetries in semi-inclusive DIS

We analyze longitudinal beam and target single-spin asymmetries in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering and in jet deep inelastic scattering, including all possible twist-3 contributions as well as quark mass corrections. We take into account the path-ordered exponential in the soft correlators and show that it leads to the introduction of a new distribution and a new fragmentation function contributing to the asymmetries.

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Two-hadron semi-inclusive production including subleading twist

We extend the analysis of two-hadron fragmentation functions to the subleading twist, discussing also the issue of color gauge invariance. Our results can be used anywhere two unpolarized hadrons are semi-inclusively produced in the same fragmentation region, also at moderate values of the hard scale Q. Here, we consider the example of polarized deep-inelastic production of two hadrons and we give a complete list of cross sections and spin asymmetries up to subleading twist. Among the results, we highlight the possibility of extracting the transversity distribution with longitudinally polarized targets and also the twist-3 distribution e(x), which is related to the pion-nucleon sigma term and to the strangeness content of the nucleon.

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