arXiv subjects

E. Voutier

Publications and source records attributed to E. Voutier.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Electro- and photoproduction of muon pairs with $\mu$CLAS12: Double Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering, Timelike Compton Scattering, and $J/\psi$ production

The CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer for operation at 12 GeV (CLAS12) at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility has played a central role in advancing the understanding of nucleon and nuclear structure. As increasingly precise data become available, new physics opportunities emerge that extend beyond the current capabilities of CLAS12. In this article, a program to explore the quark and gluon structure of the nucleon through di-muon electro- and photoproduction is presented. Its primary focus is the measurement of beam-spin asymmetries in Double Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering, $ep \rightarrow e^\prime \mu^+ \mu^-p^\prime $. By independently varying the incoming and outgoing photon virtualities and momentum transfer, the DDVCS measurement provides access to the Generalized Parton Distributions over their full three-dimensional phase space, extending beyond the kinematic constraints of Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering and Timelike Compton Scattering. In addition, the large acceptance and high luminosity of the $\mu$CLAS12 experiment will enable precision measurements of near-threshold $J/\psi$ production and high-statistics studies of Timelike Compton Scattering.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

d(e,e'p) Studies of Exclusive Deuteron Electro-Disintegration

The d(e,e'p) cross section was measured at momentum transfers $Q^2 = $ 0.8, 2.1 and 3.5 $(GeV/c)^2$ covering a wide range of proton kinematics at each $Q^2$ setting that made it possible to study this reaction as a function of missing momentum as well as a function of the neutron laboratory recoil angle $\theta_{nq}$. Missing momentum distributions were determined for fixed values of $\theta_{nq}$ up to missing momenta of 0.65 $GeV/c$. For the two larger momentum transfer settings, the characteristics of the experimental momentum distributions confirm the theoretical prediction that final state interactions (FSI) contribute maximally around a $\theta_{nq} \sim 70^\circ$, while for $\theta_{nq} < 45^\circ$ FSI are significantly reduced. The data at reduced FSI settings were best reproduced by calculations using the CD-Bonn potential wave functions.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2026

2025 EIC-France Workshop: Physics Highlights and Perspectives

This document presents a synthesis of the theory contributions and discussions from the 2nd EIC-France Workshop, held at IJCLab (Orsay) on 1-3 December 2025. The workshop brought together members of the French hadron-physics community to review recent theoretical developments relevant to the future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) and to coordinate national efforts in preparation for its early physics program. The report first summarizes the collider's initial running conditions and luminosity performance, as outlined in the EIC Early Science Matrix. It then provides concise overviews of the theoretical presentations on inclusive, semi-inclusive, exclusive, heavy-flavor, and small-x physics. Based on these discussions, two measurements emerged as especially well suited for early EIC operation and strongly aligned with areas of established French expertise: inclusive diffraction and inclusive quarkonium production. These channels offer clean signatures, robust theoretical interpretability, and direct sensitivity to fundamental QCD phenomena such as gluon saturation, heavy-quark dynamics, and the small-x structure of hadrons and nuclei. In addition, the workshop identified longer-term physics opportunities that will benefit from the full capabilities of the EIC after its ramp-up phase. These include accessing the three-dimensional structure of the pion through the Sullivan process and a broader program of exclusive three-body final states, both of which represent high-impact avenues for exploring hadronic structure and non-perturbative QCD. Together, the elements summarized in this report provide a coherent overview of the strategic priorities and scientific ambitions shaping the French community's contribution to the EIC physics program.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Three-dimensional imaging of hadrons with hard exclusive reactions: advances in experiment, theory, phenomenology, and lattice QCD

Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) have emerged as a powerful framework for exploring the internal structure of hadrons in terms of their partonic constituents. Over the past three decades, the field has witnessed significant theoretical and experimental advancements. The interpretation of GPDs in impact parameter space offers a vivid three-dimensional visualization of hadron structure, correlating longitudinal momentum and transverse spatial distributions, thereby enabling tomographic imaging of hadrons. Furthermore, the link between GPDs and the matrix elements of the QCD energy-momentum tensor provides access to fundamental properties of hadrons, including spin decomposition and internal pressure distributions. Notably, recent analyses of Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS) data have enabled the empirical extraction of the quark pressure profile inside the proton. Motivated by the rapidly evolving experimental landscape, this white paper provides a timely and focused overview of recent developments in GPD theory, phenomenology, and lattice QCD studies. Its scope is shaped by the needs and opportunities of forthcoming experimental programs, and it highlights advances that are particularly relevant for the next generation of dedicated measurements, including the extended Jefferson Lab 12 GeV program and its potential 22 GeV upgrade, J-PARC, COMPASS/AMBER, LHC ultra-peripheral collisions, and the future electron-ion colliders EIC and EicC.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Measurement of beam-polarized Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering observables with the CLAS12 detector at Jefferson Lab

In the context of nucleon structure studies, Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) are crucial for understanding the correlation between the longitudinal momentum and the transverse position of partons inside the nucleon. A privileged channel for GPD studies is the Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS) process, whose experimental observables can provide access to GPDs through spin-dependent asymmetries. Although detecting all final state particles is preferred for selecting DVCS events, DVCS identification can be ensured by requiring the detection of only two final state particles, as the missing particle can be reconstructed from conservation laws. In this work, we present preliminary Beam Spin Asymmetry and cross-section measurements of proton-DVCS in the $e\gamma$ topology from experimental data taken by the CLAS12 detector at Jefferson Lab. Moreover, we show that relying on $e\gamma$ detection and Machine Learning techniques boosts statistics and gives access to a wider phase space than the proton-detected topology, providing the first time CLAS12 measurement of this observable in the $-t$ range below $0.1$ GeV$^{2}$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Double Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering as a probe of Generalized Parton Distributions

Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) are multidimensional structure functions of hadrons, encoding mechanical and spin properties through the correlation of the momentum and transverse position of partons. While channels like Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS) access GPDs in a constrained kinematic domain, Double Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DDVCS) offers broader access to the GPD phase space, though it remains unmeasured. We present a feasibility study of DDVCS observables using polarized electron beams at Jefferson Lab and the EIC, focusing on their sensitivity to helicity-conserving GPDs and implications for Compton Form Factor (CFF) extraction. Moreover, we provide experimental projections supporting the feasibility of the measurements at both facilities.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Sensitivity of Double Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering observables to Generalized Parton Distributions

Double Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DDVCS) is a promising channel for Generalized Parton Distribution (GPD) studies as it is a generalization of the Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS) and Timelike Compton Scattering (TCS) processes. Contrary to DVCS and TCS, the GPD phase space accessed through DDVCS is not constrained by on-shell conditions on the incoming and outgoing photons thus allowing unrestricted GPD extraction from experimental observables. Considering polarized electron and positron beams directed to a polarized proton target, we study the sensitivity of the DDVCS cross-section asymmetries to the chiral-even proton GPDs from different model predictions. The feasibility of such measurements is further investigated in the context of the CLAS and SoLID spectrometers at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility and the future Electron-Ion Collider at the Brookhaven National Laboratory.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

Sensitivity of Double Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering observables to GPDs

Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) are multidimensonal structure functions that encode the information about the internal structure of hadrons. Using privileged channels such as Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS) or Timelike Compton Scattering (TCS), it is possible to make direct measurements at points where the momentum fraction of the parton equals the respective scaling variable. Double Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DDVCS) is a not yet measured and promising channel for GPD studies as it allows to perform more general measurements at independent momentum fraction and scaling variable values. GPDs are extracted from Compton Form Factors which arise naturally in experimental observables from different combinations of beam and target configurations. In the context of the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) and the Electron Ion Collider (EIC), we report the results of an exhaustive study of the DDVCS observables from polarized electron and positron beams directed to a polarized proton target. The study focuses on the sensitivity of the observables to the parton helicity conserving proton GPDs, particularly the consequences for GPDs measurements via DDVCS at CEBAF and EIC based on the VGG and GK19 model predictions.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2023

Beam Charge Asymmetries for Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering on the Proton at CLAS12

The parameterization of the nucleon structure through Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) shed a new light on the nucleon internal dynamics. For its direct interpretation, Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS) is the golden channel for GPDs investigation. The DVCS process interferes with the Bethe-Heitler (BH) mechanism to constitute the leading order amplitude of the $eN \to eNγ$ process. The study of the $epγ$ reaction with polarized positron and electron beams gives a complete set of unique observables to unravel the different contributions to the $ep γ$ cross section. This separates the different reaction amplitudes, providing a direct access to their real and imaginary parts which procures crucial constraints on the model dependences and associated systematic uncertainties on GPDs extraction. The real part of the BH-DVCS interference amplitude is particularly sensitive to the $D$-term which parameterizes the Gravitational Form Factors of the nucleon. The separation of the imaginary parts of the interference and DVCS amplitudes provides insights on possible higher-twist effects. We propose to measure the unpolarized and polarized Beam Charge Asymmetries (BCAs) of the $\vec{e}^{\pm}p \to e^{\pm}p γ$ process on an unpolarized hydrogen target with {\tt CLAS12}, using polarized positron and electron beams at 10.6 GeV. The azimuthal and $t$-dependences of the unpolarized and polarized BCAs will be measured over a large $(x_B,Q^2)$ phase space using a 100 day run with a luminosity of 0.66$\times 10^{35}$cm$^{-2}\cdot$s$^{-1}$.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2023

Determination of the moments of the proton charge density: is there a proton radius puzzle?

The charge radius of the proton can be determined using two different kinds of experiments: the spectroscopy technique, measuring the hyperfine structure of hydrogen atoms, and the scattering technique, deducing the radius from elastic lepton scattering off a proton target. These two methods lead to quite different results, a discrepancy known as the "proton radius puzzle ". To shed light on this problem, we have proposed a novel method for the determination of spatial moments from densities expressed in the momentum space. This method provides a direct access not only to the second order moment, directly related to the proton radius, but to all moments of any real order larger than -3. The method is applied to the global analysis of proton electric form factor experimental data from Rosenbluth separation and low-$Q^2$ experiments, paying specific attention to the evaluation of the systematic errors. Within this analysis, the integer order moments of the proton charge density are evaluated, the moment of second order leading to a new determination of the proton charge radius.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2023

Positron Beams At Ce$^+$BAF

We present a scheme for the generation of a high polarization positron beam with continous wave (CW) bunch structure for the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) at Jefferson Laboratory (JLab). The positrons are created in a high average power conversion target and collected by a CW capture linac and DC solenoid.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2023

Evaluation of a High-Power Target Design for Positron Production at CEBAF

A source for polarized positron beams at the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) at Jefferson Lab is being designed. The Polarized Electrons for Polarized Positrons (PEPPo) concept is used to produce polarized e$^+$e$^-$-pairs from the bremsstrahlung radiation of a longitudinally polarized electron beam interacting within a high-$Z$ conversion target. The scheme under consideration includes a 4 mm thick tungsten target that absorbs 17 kW deposited by a 1 mA continuous-wave electron beam with an energy of 120 MeV. The concept of a rotating tungsten rim mounted on a water-cooled copper disk was explored. The results of ANSYS thermal and mechanical analyses are discussed together with FLUKA evaluations of the radiation damages.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2023

A Direct Measurement of Hard Two-Photon Exchange with Electrons and Positrons at CLAS12

One of the most surprising discoveries made at Jefferson Lab has been the discrepancy in the determinations of the proton's form factor ratio $μ_p G_E^p/G_M^p$ between unpolarized cross section measurements and the polarization transfer technique. Over two decades later, the discrepancy not only persists but has been confirmed at higher momentum transfers now accessible in the 12-GeV era. The leading hypothesis for the cause of this discrepancy, a non-negligible contribution from hard two-photon exchange, has neither been conclusively proven or disproven. This state of uncertainty not only clouds our knowledge of one-dimensional nucleon structure but also poses a major concern for our field's efforts to map out the three-dimensional nuclear structure. A better understanding of multi-photon exchange over a wide phase space is needed. We propose making comprehensive measurements of two-photon exchange over a wide range in momentum transfer and scattering angle using the CLAS12 detector. Specifically, we will measure the ratio of positron-proton to electron-proton elastic scattering cross sections, using the proposed positron beam upgrade for CEBAF. The experiment will use 2.2, 4.4, and 6.6 GeV lepton beams incident on the standard CLAS12 unpolarized hydrogen target. Data will be collected by the CLAS12 detector in its standard configuration, except for a modified trigger to allow the recording of events with beam leptons scattered into the CLAS12 central detector. The sign of the beam charge, as well as the polarity of the CLAS12 solenoid and toroid, will be reversed several times in order to suppress systematics associated with local detector efficiency and time-dependent detector performance. The proposed high-precision determination of two-photon effects will be...

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2023

Determination of the moments of the proton charge density

A global analysis of proton electric form factor experimental data from Rosenbluth separation and low squared four-momentum transfer experiments is discussed for the evaluation of the spatial moments of the proton charge density based on the recently published integral method. Specific attention is paid to the evaluation of the systematic errors of the method, particularly the sensitivity to the choice of the mathematical expression of the form factor fitting function. Within this comprehensive analysis of proton electric form factor data, the moments of the proton charge density are determined for integer order moments, particularly: $\langle r^2 \rangle$=0.694(09)$_{Sta.}$(16)$_{Sys.}$~fm$^2$, $\langle r^3 \rangle$=0.870(46)$_{Sta.}$(80)$_{Sys.}$~fm$^3$, and $\langle r^4 \rangle$=1.47(25)$_{Sta.}$(45)$_{Sys.}$~fm$^4$.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2022

CORE -- a COmpact detectoR for the EIC

The COmpact detectoR for the Eic (CORE) Proposal was submitted to the EIC "Call for Collaboration Proposals for Detectors". CORE comprehensively covers the physics scope of the EIC Community White Paper and the National Academies of Science 2018 report. The design exploits advances in detector precision and granularity to minimize size. The central detector includes a 3Tesla, 2.5m solenoid. Tracking is primarily silicon. Electromagnetic calorimetry is based on the high performance crystals. Ring-imaging Cherenkov detectors provide hadronic particle identification.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

Measurement of the generalized spin polarizabilities of the neutron in the low $Q^2$ region

Understanding the nucleon spin structure in the regime where the strong interaction becomes truly strong poses a challenge to both experiment and theory. At energy scales below the nucleon mass of about 1 GeV, the intense interaction among the quarks and gluons inside the nucleon makes them highly correlated. Their coherent behaviour causes the emergence of effective degrees of freedom, requiring the application of non-perturbative techniques, such as chiral effective field theory. Here, we present measurements of the neutron's generalized spin-polarizabilities that quantify the neutron's spin precession under electromagnetic fields at very low energy-momentum transfer squared down to 0.035 GeV$^2$. In this regime, chiral effective field theory calculations are expected to be applicable. Our data, however, show a strong discrepancy with these predictions, presenting a challenge to the current description of the neutron's spin properties.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2022

Deeply virtual Compton scattering using a positron beam in Hall-C at Jefferson Lab

We propose to use the High Momentum Spectrometer of Hall C combined with the Neutral Particle Spectrometer (NPS) to perform high precision measurements of the Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS) cross section using a beam of positrons. The combination of measurements with oppositely charged incident beams is the only unambiguous way to disentangle the contribution of the DVCS$^2$ term in the photon electroproduction cross section from its interference with the Bethe-Heitler amplitude. This provides a stronger way to constrain the Generalized Parton Distributions of the nucleon. A wide range of kinematics accessible with an 11 GeV beam off an unpolarized proton target will be covered. The $Q^2-$dependence of each contribution will be measured independently.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2021

Double deeply virtual Compton scattering with positron beams at SoLID

Double Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DDVCS) is the only experimental channel for the determination of the dependence of the Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) on both the average and the transferred momentum independently. The physics observables of the electron induced di-muon production reaction $\vv{e}^{\pm}p \to e^{\pm}pμ^+μ^-$ off unpolarized hydrogen are discussed. Their measurement with the high luminosity and large acceptance SoLID spectrometer at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, using polarized and unpolarized positron and electron beams at 11 GeV is investigated. This experimental configuration is shown to provide unprecedented access to the GPDs with the determination of the real and imaginary parts of the Compton Form Factor ${\mathcal H}$ in an unexplored phase space, and to enable an exploratory investigation of higher twist effects.

nucl-ex↗