arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F. Murgia.
We calculate, within pQCD parton model at leading orders, the expression of the polarization P of spin 1/2 hadrons (typically Lambda baryons), produced in polarized semi-inclusive DIS in all possible cases in which weak interactions are involved. We discuss how to gather new information on fragmentation and distribution functions and give numerical estimates in the cases for which data are or will soon be available.
We present a quantitative appraisal of the physics potential for neutrino experiments at the front-end of a muon storage ring. We estimate the forseeable accuracy in the determination of several interesting observables, and explore the consequences of these measurements. We discuss the extraction of individual quark and antiquark densities from polarized and unpolarized deep-inelastic scattering. In particular we study the implications for the undertanding of the nucleon spin structure. We assess the determination of alpha_s from scaling violation of structure functions, and from sum rules, and the determination of sin^2(theta_W) from elastic nu-e and deep-inelastic nu-p scattering. We then consider the production of charmed hadrons, and the measurement of their absolute branching ratios. We study the polarization of Lambda baryons produced in the current and target fragmentation regions. Finally, we discuss the sensitivity to physics beyond the Standard Model.
We consider the longitudinal polarization of Lambda and Lambda-bar produced in the current fragmentation region of polarized deep inelastic scattering. We show how the various cross sections can be used to test the underlying parton dynamics, and how one can extract information about certain parton densities which are poorly known, in particular the polarized strange density sum Delta-s(x) + Delta-s-bar(x), and about fragmentation functions which are totally unknown and which are difficult to access by other means. We show also how one can obtain information concerning the intriguing question as to whether s(x) = s-bar(x) and whether Delta-s(x) = Delta-s-bar(x).
A unified and consistent phenomenological approach to single transverse spin asymmetries in the framework of perturbative QCD, with the inclusion of a new class of spin and k_T dependent distribution and fragmentation functions, is presented. As an example, results on A_N(p(pol) p --> pion X) and P_Lambda(p p -->Lambda(pol) X) are shown.
We study the fragmentation of a transversely polarized quark into a non collinear (k_T not= 0) spinless hadron and the fragmentation of an unpolarized quark into a non collinear transversely polarized spin 1/2 baryon. These nonperturbative properties are described by spin and k_T dependent fragmentation functions and are revealed in the observation of single spin asymmetries. Recent data on the production of pions in polarized semi-inclusive DIS and long known data on Lambda polarization in unpolarized p-N processes are considered: these new fragmentation functions can describe the experimental results and the single spin effects in the quark fragmentation turn out to be surprisingly large.
The transverse polarization observed in the inclusive production of Lambda hyperons in the high energy collisions of unpolarized hadrons is tackled by considering a new set of spin and kT dependent quark fragmentation functions. Simple phenomenological expressions for these new ``polarizing fragmentation functions'' are obtained by a fit of the data on Lambda's and Lambdabar's produced in p-N processes.
A combined analysis of the polarization vector of the Lambda baryons produced in DIS processes may give a relevant insight of the hadronization process which governs the transition from partons to physical hadrons and precise indications on the mechanisms of $spin$ transfer from partons to hadrons. We give here a short review of some interesting results.
The longstanding problem of explaining the observed polarization of Lambda hyperons inclusively produced in the high energy collisions of unpolarized hadrons is tackled by considering spin and k_T dependent quark fragmentation functions. The data on Lambda's and Lambda-bar's produced in p-N processes are used to determine simple phenomenological expressions for these new "polarizing fragmentation functions", which describe the experiments remarkably well.
A phenomenological description of single transverse spin asymmetries for the inclusive production of hadrons in proton-proton and lepton-proton processes is discussed within pQCD and a straightforward generalization of the factorization theorem with the inclusion of parton intrinsic transverse motion. Fits to existing data, predictions for new processes and interpretation of recent results are presented.
An azimuthal dependence of pions produced in polarized Deep Inelastic Scattering, gamma^* - p(transv. polarized) -> pion + X, has been recently observed and might be related to the so-called Collins effect. We discuss in details, for a general spin configuration of the nucleon, the kinematics of the process and methods of extracting information on the fragmentation properties of a polarized quark. Assuming that the observed azimuthal dependence is indeed due to Collins effect, we derive a lower bound estimate for the size of the quark analysing power, which turns out to be large.
We consider the polarization of Lambda + Lambda-bar baryons produced in polarized Deep Inelastic Scattering at leading order, with various spin configurations: longitudinally polarized leptons and unpolarized nucleon; unpolarized leptons and longitudinally or transversely polarized nucleons; longitudinally polarized leptons and nucleons. We show how the different results in the different cases are related to different aspects of the elementary dynamics and to the spin properties of the distribution and fragmentation functions and show how a combined analysis might give useful information. We give numerical results according to several sets of polarized fragmentation functions recently proposed.
We present a phenomenological approach to the description of single transverse spin asymmetries (STSA) in inclusive hadron production. It generalizes the pQCD formalism for high energies and large p_T inclusive hadron production processes, A+B -> C+X, by incorporating quark intrinsic motion in the spin dependent quark distribution and fragmentation functions. We concentrate here on spin and k_T effects in the fragmentation process of a polarized quark into the observed hadron, and give predictions for STSA in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering, l + p -> pion + X and gamma^* + p -> pion + X.
Predictions for the single transverse spin asymmetry A_N in semi-inclusive DIS processes are given; non negligible values of A_N may arise from spin effects in the fragmentation of a polarized quark into a final hadron with a transverse momentum k_T with respect to the jet axis, the so-called Collins effect. The elementary single spin asymmetry of the fragmenting quark has been fixed in a previous paper, by fitting data on p(transv. polarized) + P -> pion + X, and the predictions given here are uniquely based on the assumption that the Collins effect is the only cause of the observed single spin asymmetries in p(transv. polarized) + p -> pion + X. Eventual spin and k_T dependences in quark distribution functions, the so-called Sivers effect, are also discussed.
A consistent phenomenological approach to the computation of transverse single spin asymmetries in inclusive hadron production is presented, based on the assumed generalization of the QCD factorization theorem to the case in which quark intrinsic motion is taken into account. New k_T and spin dependent quark distribution and fragmentation functions are considered: some of them are fixed by fitting data on p(transv. polarized) + p -> pion + X and predictions are given for single spin asymmetries in l + p(transv. polarized) -> pion + X and gamma^* + p(transv. polarized) -> pion + X processes.
Final state quark-antiquark interactions give origin to non zero values of the off-diagonal element rho_{1,-1} of the helicity density matrix of vector mesons produced in e+e- annihilations, as confirmed by recent OPAL data on Phi, D^* and K^*'s. New predictions are given for rho_{1,-1} of several mesons produced at large x_E and small p_T -- i.e. collinear with the parent jet -- in the annihilation of polarized e+ and e-; the results depend strongly on the elementary dynamics and allow further non trivial tests of the Standard Model.
As confirmed by some recent LEP data on phi, K^* and D^*0 production, final state interactions in quark fragmentation may give origin to non-zero values of the off-diagonal element rho_{1,-1} of the helicity density matrix of vector mesons produced in e^+ e^- annihilations: we give estimates for rho_{1,-1} of vector mesons with a large x_E and collinear with the parent jet, relating its size and sign to the associated hard constituent dynamics. We mention possible non-zero values of rho_{1,-1} in several other processes.
Single spin asymmetries in polarized proton(antiproton) + proton -> pion + X have been measured to be large. They can be understood within perturbative QCD by introducing new k_perp and spin dependences in fragmentation and/or distribution functions. We discuss first how these effects in distribution functions alone can account for existing data and predict single spin asymmetries in other processes; then we see how similar effects in fragmentation functions alone can fit the existing data; finally we devise strategies to discriminate between the two contributions
Final state interactions in quark fragmentation may give origin to non zero values of the off-diagonal element rho_(1,-1) of the helicity density matrix of vector mesons V produced in current jets, with a large energy fraction x_E; the value of rho_(1,-1)(V) is related to the hard constituent dynamics and tests unusual properties of it. Some recent data on phi, K^* and D^* produced in e^+ e^- annihilations at LEP show such effects. Predictions are given here for rho_(1,-1) of heavy mesons produced in nucleon-nucleon, gamma-nucleon and lepton-nucleon interactions.