arXiv subjects

Alexei Prokudin

Publications and source records attributed to Alexei Prokudin.

52 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Pre-Town Meeting on Spin Physics at an Electron-Ion Collider

A polarized $ep/eA$ collider (Electron--Ion Collider, or EIC), with polarized proton and light-ion beams and unpolarized heavy-ion beams with a variable center--of--mass energy $\sqrt{s} \sim 20$ to $\sim100$~GeV (upgradable to $\sim 150$ GeV) and a luminosity up to $\sim 10^{34} \, \textrm{cm}^{-2} \textrm{s}^{-1}$, would be uniquely suited to address several outstanding questions of Quantum Chromodynamics, and thereby lead to new qualitative and quantitative information on the microscopic structure of hadrons and nuclei. During this meeting at Jefferson Lab we addressed recent theoretical and experimental developments in the spin and the three--dimensional structure of the nucleon (sea quark and gluon spatial distributions, orbital motion, polarization, and their correlations). This mini--review contains a short update on progress in these areas since the EIC White paper~\cite{Accardi:2012qut}.

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arXiv2014

$A_N$ in inclusive lepton-proton collisions: TMD and twist-3 approaches

We consider the inclusive production of hadrons in lepton-nucleon scattering. For a transversely polarized nucleon this reaction shows a left-right azimuthal asymmetry, which we compute this asymmetry in both TMD and in twist-3 collinear factorization formalisms. All non-perturbative parton correlators of the calculation are fixed through information from other hard processes. Our results for the left-right asymmetry agree in sign with recent data for charged pion production from the HERMES Collaboration and from Jefferson Lab. We discuss similarities and differences of two formalisms.

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arXiv2014

Left-right spin asymmetry in $\ell N^\uparrow \to h X$

We consider the inclusive production of hadrons in lepton-nucleon scattering. For a transversely polarized nucleon this reaction shows a left-right azimuthal asymmetry, which we compute in twist-3 collinear factorization at leading order in perturbation theory. All non-perturbative parton correlators of the calculation are fixed through information from other hard processes. Our results for the left-right asymmetry agree in sign with recent data for charged pion production from the HERMES Collaboration and from Jefferson Lab. However, the magnitude of the computed asymmetries tends to be larger than the data. Potential reasons for this outcome are identified. We also give predictions for future experiments and highlight in particular the unique opportunities at an Electron Ion Collider.

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arXiv2013

Indication on the process-dependence of the Sivers effect

We analyze the spin asymmetry for single inclusive jet production in proton-proton collisions collected by AnDY experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and the Sivers asymmetry data from semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering experiments. In particular, we consider the role color gauge invariance plays in determining the process-dependence of the Sivers effect. We find that after carefully taking into account the initial-state and final-state interactions between the active parton and the remnant of the polarized hadron, the calculated jet spin asymmetry based on the Sivers functions extracted from HERMES and COMPASS experiments is consistent with the AnDY experimental data. This provides a first indication for the process-dependence of the Sivers effect in these processes. We also make predictions for both direct photon and Drell-Yan spin asymmetry, to further test the process-dependence of the Sivers effect in future experiments.

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arXiv2013

Transversity Parton Distribution

Transversity distribution is one of the three fundamental parton distributions that completely describe polarized spin 1/2 nucleon. Its chiral odd nature prevented for many years its experimental exploration, however presently we have obtained great deal of information about this distribution. This includes experimental data from Semi Inclusive Deep Inelastic Scattering, knowledge of scale dependence and phenomenological extractions. I will discuss main features of this distribution and indicate the future improvements of our knowledge.

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arXiv2013

Evolution of the helicity and transversity Transverse-Momentum-Dependent parton distributions

We examine the QCD evolution of the helicity and transversity parton distribution functions when including also their dependence on transverse momentum. Using an appropriate definition of these polarized transverse momentum distributions (TMDs), we describe their dependence on the factorization scale and rapidity cutoff, which is essential for phenomenological applications.

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arXiv2012

QCD Evolution Workshop: Introduction

The introduction talk given at the beginning of QCD Evolution workshop held in Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) on May 14 -17, 2012.

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arXiv2012

Bessel-weighted asymmetries and the Sivers effect

We consider the cross section in Fourier space, conjugate to the outgoing hadron's transverse momentum, where convolutions of transverse momentum dependent parton distribution functions and fragmentation functions become simple products. Individual asymmetric terms in the cross section can be projected out by means of a generalized set of weights involving Bessel functions. Advantages of employing these Bessel weights are that they suppress (divergent) contributions from high transverse momentum and that soft factors cancel in (Bessel-) weighted asymmetries. Also, the resulting compact expressions immediately connect to previous work on evolution equations for transverse momentum dependent parton distribution and fragmentation functions and to quantities accessible in lattice QCD. Bessel-weighted asymmetries are thus model independent observables that augment the description and our understanding of correlations of spin and momentum in nucleon structure.

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arXiv2012

Calculation of TMD Evolution for Transverse Single Spin Asymmetry Measurements

The Sivers transverse single spin asymmetry (TSSA) is calculated and compared at different scales using the TMD evolution equations applied to previously existing extractions. We apply the Collins-Soper-Sterman (CSS) formalism, using the version recently developed by Collins. Our calculations rely on the universality properties of TMD-functions that follow from the TMD-factorization theorem. Accordingly, the non-perturbative input is fixed by earlier experimental measurements, including both polarized semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering (SIDIS) and unpolarized Drell-Yan (DY) scattering. It is shown that recent COMPASS measurements are consistent with the suppression prescribed by TMD evolution.

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arXiv2012

Global fitting of single spin asymmetry: an attempt

We present an attempt of global analysis of Semi-Inclusive Deep Inelastic Scattering (SIDIS) $\ell p^\uparrow \to \ell' πX$ data on single spin asymmetries and data on left-right asymmetry $A_N$ in $p^\uparrow p \to πX$ in order to simultaneously extract information on Sivers function and twist-three quark-gluon Efremov-Teryaev-Qiu-Sterman (ETQS) function. We explore different possibilities such as node of Sivers function in $x$ or $k_\perp$ in order to explain "sign mismatch" between these functions. We show that $π^\pm$ SIDIS data and $π^0$ STAR data can be well described in a combined TMD and twist-3 fit, however $π^\pm$ BRAHMS data are not described in a satisfactory way. This leaves open a question to the solution of the "sign mismatch". Possible explanations are then discussed.

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arXiv2011

Bessel-Weighted Asymmetries in Semi Inclusive Deep Inelastic Scattering

The concept of weighted asymmetries is revisited for semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering. We consider the cross section in Fourier space, conjugate to the outgoing hadron's transverse momentum, where convolutions of transverse momentum dependent parton distribution functions and fragmentation functions become simple products. Individual asymmetric terms in the cross section can be projected out by means of a generalized set of weights involving Bessel functions. Advantages of employing these Bessel weights are that they suppress (divergent) contributions from high transverse momentum and that soft factors cancel in (Bessel-) weighted asymmetries. Also, the resulting compact expressions immediately connect to previous work on evolution equations for transverse momentum dependent parton distribution and fragmentation functions and to quantities accessible in lattice QCD. Bessel weighted asymmetries are thus model independent observables that augment the description and our understanding of correlations of spin and momentum in nucleon structure.

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arXiv2011

Semi-Inclusive Deep Inelastic Scattering and Bessel-Weighted Asymmetries

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arXiv2010

Electron Ion Collider transverse spin physics

Electron Ion Collider is a future high energy facility for studies of the structure of the nucleon. Three-dimensional parton structure is one of the main goals of EIC. In momentum space Transverse Momentum Dependent Distributions (TMDs) are the key ingredients to map such a structure. At leading twist spin structure of spin-1/2 hadron can be described by 8 TMDs. Experimentally these functions can be studied in polarised SIDIS experiments. We discuss Sivers distribution function that describes distribution of unpolarised quarks in a transversely polarised nucleon and transversity that measures distribution of transversely polarised quarks in a transversely polarised nucleon.

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arXiv2010

Azimuthal asymmetries in unpolarized Drell-Yan processes and the Boer-Mulders distributions of antiquarks

Using a previous extraction of the quark Boer-Mulders distributions from semiinclusive deep inelastic scattering data, we fit the unpolarized Drell-Yan data on the $\cos 2 ϕ$ asymmetry, determining the antiquark Boer-Mulders distributions. A good agreement with the data is found in the region of low $q_T$, where the transverse-momentum factorization approach applies.

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arXiv2010

The Boer-Mulders effect in unpolarized SIDIS: an analysis of the COMPASS and HERMES data on the $\cos 2 ϕ$ asymmetry

We present a phenomenological analysis of the $\cos 2 ϕ$ asymmetry recently measured by the COMPASS and HERMES collaborations in unpolarized semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering. In the kinematical regimes explored by these experiments the asymmetry arises from transverse-spin and intrinsic transverse-momentum effects. We consider the leading-twist contribution, related to the so-called Boer-Mulders transverse-polarization distribution $h_1^{\perp}(x, k_T^2)$, and the twist-4 Cahn contribution, involving unpolarized transverse-momentum distribution functions. We show that a reasonably good fit of the data is achieved with a Boer-Mulders function consistent with the main theoretical expectations. Our conclusion is that the COMPASS and HERMES measurements represent the first experimental evidence of the Boer-Mulders effect in SIDIS.

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arXiv2008

A systematic phenomenological study of the $\cos 2 ϕ$ asymmetry in unpolarized semi--inclusive DIS

We study the $\cos 2 ϕ$ azimuthal asymmetry in unpolarized semi-inclusive DIS, taking into account both the perturbative contribution (gluon emission and splitting) and the non perturbative effects arising from intrinsic transverse motion and transverse spin of quarks. In particular we explore the possibility to extract from $<\cos 2 ϕ>$ some information about the Boer--Mulders function $h_1^{\perp}$, which represents a transverse--polarization asymmetry of quarks inside an unpolarized hadron. Predictions are presented for the HERMES, COMPASS and JLab kinematics, where $<\cos 2 ϕ>$ is dominated by the kinematical higher--twist contribution, and turns to be of order of few percent. We show that a larger asymmetry in $π^-$ production, compared to $π^+$ production, would represent a signature of the Boer--Mulders effect.

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