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Hongxi Xing

Publications and source records attributed to Hongxi Xing.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

The twist-3 gluon contribution to Sivers asymmetry in $J/ψ$ production in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering

We carry out the first calculation for the twist-3 gluon contribution to the single transverse-spin asymmetry(SSA) in $J/ψ$ production in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering. Our result shows that the $J/ψ$ SSA is an ideal observable to pin down the $C$-even type twist-3 gluon distribution that has a direct relationship with the gluon transverse-momentum-dependent distribution function. We also perform some numerical simulations of the $J/ψ$ SSA for the kinematics accessible at the future electron-ion-collider experiment. For color-singlet contribution, the hadronization effect of $J/ψ$ is completely canceled at the level of the SSA and the spin-dependent structure functions directly reflect the behavior of the $C$-even twist-3 gluon distribution.

hep-ph↗

Quantum Information Science and Technology for Nuclear Physics. Input into U.S. Long-Range Planning, 2023

In preparation for the 2023 NSAC Long Range Plan (LRP), members of the Nuclear Science community gathered to discuss the current state of, and plans for further leveraging opportunities in, QIST in NP research at the Quantum Information Science for U.S. Nuclear Physics Long Range Planning workshop, held in Santa Fe, New Mexico on January 31 - February 1, 2023. The workshop included 45 in-person participants and 53 remote attendees. The outcome of the workshop identified strategic plans and requirements for the next 5-10 years to advance quantum sensing and quantum simulations within NP, and to develop a diverse quantum-ready workforce. The plans include resolutions endorsed by the participants to address the compelling scientific opportunities at the intersections of NP and QIST. These endorsements are aligned with similar affirmations by the LRP Computational Nuclear Physics and AI/ML Workshop, the Nuclear Structure, Reactions, and Astrophysics LRP Town Hall, and the Fundamental Symmetries, Neutrons, and Neutrinos LRP Town Hall communities.

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Probing the jet transport coefficient of cold nuclear matter in electron-ion collisions

We present a study of the nuclear-medium induced transverse momentum broadening of particle production in future electron-ion-collision~(EIC) experiments. By considering the multiple scattering between hard partons and cold nuclear medium within the higher-twist factorization framework in perturbative QCD, we calculate the transverse momentum broadening of single hadron production in semi-inclusive measurements, as well as the nuclear enhancement of the transverse momentum imbalance for di-hadron and heavy-meson pair productions. In particular, a kinematics dependent non-perturbative jet transport coefficient $\hat q=\hat q(x,Q^2)$ extracted in a global analysis of the current data, together with its uncertainty determined with a Hessian method, are input into our calculations and are available for the community. Significant kinematic and color-state dependences of the nuclear induced broadening/imbalance are predicted. Our results indicate that the future EIC measurements are able to provide powerful constraints on the kinematic dependence of the transport coefficient $\hat q$ and thus greatly facilitate the jet tomography of cold nuclear medium.

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Heavy quark dynamics in a strongly magnetized quark-gluon plasma

We present a calculation of the heavy quark momentum diffusion coefficients in a quark-gluon plasma under the presence of a strong external magnetic field, within the Lowest Landau Level (LLL) approximation. In particular, we apply the Hard Thermal Loop (HTL) technique for the resummed effective gluon propagator, generalized for a hot and magnetized medium. Using the derived effective HTL gluon propagator and the LLL quark propagator we analytically derive the full results for the longitudinal and transverse momentum diffusion coefficients as well as the energy losses for charm and bottom quarks beyond the static limit. We also show numerical results for these coefficients in two special cases where the heavy quark is moving either parallel or perpendicular to the external magnetic field.

hep-ph↗

Unveiling Nucleon 3D Chiral-Odd Structure with Jet Axes

We reinterpret jet clustering as an axis-finding procedure which, along with the proton beam, defines the virtual-photon transverse momentum $q_T$ in deep inelastic scattering (DIS). In this way, we are able to probe the nucleon intrinsic structure using jet axes in a fully inclusive manner, similar to the Drell-Yan process. We present the complete list of azimuthal asymmetries and the associated factorization formulae at leading power for deep-inelastic scattering of a nucleon. The factorization formulae involve both the conventional time-reversal-even (T-even) jet function and the T-odd one, which have access to all transverse-momentum-dependent parton distribution functions (TMD PDFs) at leading twist. Since the factorization holds as long as $q_T \ll Q$, where $Q$ is the photon virtuality, the jet-axis probe into the nucleon structure should be feasible for machines with relatively low energies such as the Electron-Ion Collider in China (EicC). We show that, within the winner-take-all (WTA) axis-finding scheme, the coupling between the T-odd jet function and the quark transversity or the Boer-Mulders function could induce sizable azimuthal asymmetries at the EicC, the EIC and HERA. We also give predictions for the azimuthal asymmetry of back-to-back dijet production in $e^+e^-$ annihilation at Belle and other energies.

hep-ph↗

Heavy and light flavor jet quenching in different collision systems at the LHC energies

Recent experiments have observed large anisotropic collective flows in high multiplicity proton-lead collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which indicates the possible formation of mini quark-gluon plasma (QGP) in small collision systems. However, no jet quenching has been confirmed in such small systems so far. To understand this intriguing result, the system size scan experiments have been proposed to bridge the gap between large and small systems. In this work, we perform a systematic study on both heavy and light flavor jet quenching in different collision systems at the LHC energies. Using our state-of-the-art jet quenching model, which combines the next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD framework, a linear Boltzmann transport model and the (3+1)-dimensional viscous hydrodynamics simulation, we provide a good description of nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm AA}$ for charged hadrons and $D$ mesons in central and mid-central Pb+Pb and Xe+Xe collisions measured by CMS collaboration. We further predict the transverse momentum and centrality dependences of $R_{AA}$ for charged hadrons, $D$ and $B$ mesons in Pb+Pb, Xe+Xe, Ar+Ar and O+O collisions at the LHC energies. Our numerical results show a clear system size dependence for both light and heavy flavor hadron $R_{AA}$ across different collision systems. Sizable jet quenching effect is obtained for both heavy and light flavor hadrons in central O+O collisions at the LHC energies. Our study provides a significant bridge for jet quenching from large to small systems, and should be helpful for finding the smallest QGP droplet and the disappearance of QGP in relativistic nuclear collisions.

hep-ph↗

Nuclear Modified Transverse Momentum Distributions and 3D Imaging in Nuclei

In this proceeding, we review our recent work in which we performed the first global analysis of nuclear modified Transverse Momentum Distribution Functions (TMDs). We demonstrate for the first time that the global set of TMD experimental data from HERMES, E866, E772, RHIC, ATLAS, and CMS, can be described using a simple model which accounts for the nuclear modifications for the TMDs as a non-perturbative correction. Using this model, we extract the nuclear modified TMDs for the first time.

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Probing gluon helicity with heavy flavor at the EIC

We propose a new measurement of the heavy flavor hadron double spin asymmetry in deep-inelastic scattering at a future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) to constrain the polarized gluon distribution function inside the proton. Statistical projection on $D^0$ meson double spin asymmetry is calculated with an EIC central detector using an all-silicon tracker and vertexing subsystem. A first impact study was done by interpreting pseudo-data at next-to-leading order in QCD. The sensitivity of the experimental observable in constraining gluon helicity distribution in a wide range of parton momentum fraction $x$ has been investigated considering different beam energy configurations. This measurement complements the inclusive spin-dependent structure function measurement and provides an opportunity to constrain the gluon helicity distribution in the moderate $x$ region.

hep-ex↗

The production of doubly charmed exotic hadrons in heavy ion collisions

Hadron spectroscopy provides direct physical measurements that shed light on the non-perturbative behavior of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). In particular, various exotic hadrons such as the newly observed $T_{cc}^+$ by the LHCb collaboration, offer unique insights on the QCD dynamics in hadron structures. In this letter, we demonstrate how heavy ion collisions can serve as a powerful venue for hadron spectroscopy study of doubly charmed exotic hadrons by virtue of the extremely charm-rich environment created in such collisions. The yields of $T_{cc}^+$ as well as its potential isospin partners are computed within the molecular picture for Pb-Pb collisions at center-of-mass energy $2.76~\mathrm{TeV}$. We find about three-order-of-magnitude enhancement in the production of $T_{cc}^+$ in Pb-Pb collisions as compared with the yield in proton-proton collisions, with a moderately smaller enhancement in the yields of the isospin partners $T_{cc}^0$ and $T_{cc}^{++}$. The $T_{cc}^+$ yield is comparable to that of the $X(3872)$ in the most central collisions while shows a considerably stronger decrease toward peripheral collisions, due to a "threshold" effect of the required double charm quarks for $T_{cc}^+$. Final results for their rapidity and transverse momentum $p_T$ dependence as well as the elliptic flow coefficient are reported and can be tested by future experimental measurements.

hep-ph↗

Three-dimensional imaging in nuclei

We perform the first simultaneous global QCD extraction of the transverse momentum dependent (TMD) parton distribution functions and the TMD fragmentation functions in nuclei. We have considered the world set of data from semi-inclusive electron-nucleus deep inelastic scattering and Drell-Yan di-lepton production. In total, this data set consists of 126 data points from HERMES, Fermilab, RHIC and LHC. Working at next-to-leading order and next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy, we achieve a $χ^2/dof = 1.045$. In this analysis, we quantify the broadening of TMDs in nuclei comparing with those in free nucleons for the first time. We also make predictions for the ongoing JLab 12 GeV program and future EIC measurements.

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Determining the helicity structure of the nucleon at the Electron Ion Collider in China

Understanding how sea quarks behave inside a nucleon is one of the most important physics goals of the proposed Electron-Ion Collider in China (EicC), which is designed to have 3.5 GeV polarized electron beam (80% polarization) colliding with 20 GeV polarized proton beam (70% polarization) at instantaneous luminosity of $2 \times 10^{33} {\rm cm}^{-2} {\rm s}^{-1}$. A specific topic at EicC is to understand the polarization of individual quarks inside a longitudinally polarized nucleon. The potential of various future EicC data, including the inclusive and semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering data from both doubly polarized electron-proton and electron-$^3{\rm He}$ collisions, to reduce the uncertainties of parton helicity distributions is explored at the next-to-leading order in QCD, using the Error PDF Updating Method Package ({\sc ePump}) which is based on the Hessian profiling method. We show that the semi-inclusive data are well able to provide good separation between flavour distributions, and to constrain their uncertainties in the $x>0.005$ region, especially when electron-$^3{\rm He}$ collisions, acting as effective electron-neutron collisions, are taken into account. To enable this study, we have generated a Hessian representation of the DSSV14 set of PDF replicas, named DSSV14H PDFs.

hep-ph↗

The Time-reversal Odd Side of a Jet

We re-examine the jet probes of the nucleon spin and flavor structures. We find for the first time the time-reversal odd (T-odd) component of a jet, conventionally thought to vanish, can survive due to the non-perturbative fragmentation and hadronization effects and could be testable. This additional contribution of a jet will lead to novel jet phenomena relevant for unlocking the access to several spin structures of the nucleon, which were thought to be impossible by using jets. As examples, we show how the T-odd constituent can couple to the proton transversity at the Electron Ion Collider (EIC) and can give rise to the anisotropy in the jet production in $e^+e^-$ annihilations. We expect the T-odd contribution of the jet to have broad applications in high energy nuclear physics.

hep-ph↗

Electron-Ion Collider in China

Lepton scattering is an established ideal tool for studying inner structure of small particles such as nucleons as well as nuclei. As a future high energy nuclear physics project, an Electron-ion collider in China (EicC) has been proposed. It will be constructed based on an upgraded heavy-ion accelerator, High Intensity heavy-ion Accelerator Facility (HIAF) which is currently under construction, together with a new electron ring. The proposed collider will provide highly polarized electrons (with a polarization of $\sim$80%) and protons (with a polarization of $\sim$70%) with variable center of mass energies from 15 to 20 GeV and the luminosity of (2-3) $\times$ 10$^{33}$ cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$. Polarized deuterons and Helium-3, as well as unpolarized ion beams from Carbon to Uranium, will be also available at the EicC. The main foci of the EicC will be precision measurements of the structure of the nucleon in the sea quark region, including 3D tomography of nucleon; the partonic structure of nuclei and the parton interaction with the nuclear environment; the exotic states, especially those with heavy flavor quark contents. In addition, issues fundamental to understanding the origin of mass could be addressed by measurements of heavy quarkonia near-threshold production at the EicC. In order to achieve the above-mentioned physics goals, a hermetical detector system will be constructed with cutting-edge technologies. This document is the result of collective contributions and valuable inputs from experts across the globe. The EicC physics program complements the ongoing scientific programs at the Jefferson Laboratory and the future EIC project in the United States. The success of this project will also advance both nuclear and particle physics as well as accelerator and detector technology in China.

nucl-ex↗

Deciphering the nature of X(3872) in heavy ion collisions

Exploring the nature of exotic multiquark candidates such as the $X(3872)$ plays a pivotal role in understanding quantum chromodynamics (QCD). Despite significant efforts, consensus on their internal structures is still lacking. As a prime example, it remains a pressing open question to decipher the $X(3872)$ state between two popular exotic configurations: a loose hadronic molecule or a compact tetraquark. We demonstrate a novel approach to help address this problem by studying the $X(3872)$ production in heavy ion collisions, where a hot fireball with ample light as well as charm (anti-)quarks is available for producing the exotics. Adopting a multiphase transport model (AMPT) for describing such collisions and implementing appropriate production mechanism of either molecule or tetraquark picture, we compute and compare a series of observables for $X(3872)$ in Pb-Pb collisions at the Large Hadron Collider. We find the fireball volume plays a crucial role, leading to a 2-order-of-magnitude difference in the $X(3872)$ yield and a markedly different centrality dependence between hadronic molecules and compact tetraquarks, thus offering a unique opportunity for distinguishing the two scenarios. We also make the first prediction of $X(3872)$ elliptic flow coefficient to be tested by future experimental measurements.

hep-ph↗

Selected topics of quantum computing for nuclear physics

Nuclear physics, whose underling theory is described by quantum gauge field coupled with matter, is fundamentally important and yet is formidably challenge for simulation with classical computers. Quantum computing provides a perhaps transformative approach for studying and understanding nuclear physics. With rapid scaling-up of quantum processors as well as advances on quantum algorithms, the digital quantum simulation approach for simulating quantum gauge fields and nuclear physics has gained lots of attentions. In this review, we aim to summarize recent efforts on solving nuclear physics with quantum computers. We first discuss a formulation of nuclear physics in the language of quantum computing. In particular, we review how quantum gauge fields~(both Abelian and non-Abelian) and its coupling to matter field can be mapped and studied on a quantum computer. We then introduce related quantum algorithms for solving static properties and real-time evolution for quantum systems, and show their applications for a broad range of problems in nuclear physics, including simulation of lattice gauge field, solving nucleon and nuclear structure, quantum advantage for simulating scattering in quantum field theory, non-equilibrium dynamics, and so on. Finally, a short outlook on future work is given.

quant-ph↗

The $\cos 2ϕ$ azimuthal asymmetry in $ρ^0$ meson production in ultraperipheral heavy ion collisions

We present a detailed study of vector meson photoproduction in ultraperipheral heavy ion collisions (UPCs). Using the dipole model, we develop a framework for the joint impact parameter and transverse momentum dependent cross sections. We compute the unpolarized cross section and $\cos 2ϕ$ azimuthal angular correlation for $ρ^0$ photoproduction with $ϕ$ defined as the angle between the $ρ^0$'s transverse momentum and its decay product pion meson's transverse momentum. Our result on unpolarized coherent differential cross section gives excellent description to the STAR experimental data. A first comparison between theoretical calculation and experimental measurement on the $\cos 2ϕ$ azimuthal asymmetry, which results from the linearly polarized photons, is performed and reasonable agreement is reached. We find out the characteristic diffractive patterns at both RHIC and LHC energies and predict the impact parameter dependent $\cos 2ϕ$ azimuthal asymmetries for $ρ^0$ photoproduction by considering UPCs and peripheral collisions. The future experimental measurements at RHIC and LHC relevant to our calculations will provide a tool to rigorously investigate the coherent and incoherent production of vector meson in UPCs, as well as to probe the nuclear structure in heavy ion collisions.

hep-ph↗

Exploring $J/ψ$ production mechanism at the future Electron-Ion Collider

We propose to use transverse momentum $p_T$ distribution of $J/ψ$ production at the future Electron Ion Collider (EIC) to explore the production mechanism of heavy quarkonia in high energy collisions. We apply QCD and QED collinear factorization to the production of a $c\bar{c}$ pair at high $p_T$, and non-relativistic QCD factorization to the hadronization of the pair to a $J/ψ$. We evaluate $J/ψ$ $p_T$-distribution at both leading and next-to-leading order in strong coupling, and show that production rates for various color-spin channels of a $c\bar{c}$ pair in electron-hadron collisions are very different from that in hadron-hadron collisions, which provides a strong discriminative power to determine various transition rates for the pair to become a $J/ψ$. We predict that the $J/ψ$ produced in electron-hadron collisions is likely unpolarized, and the production is an ideal probe for gluon distribution of colliding hadron (or nucleus). We find that the $J/ψ$ production is dominated by the color-octet channel, providing an excellent probe to explore the gluon medium in large nuclei at the EIC.

hep-ph↗

Extracting the jet transport coefficient of cold nuclear matter from world data

We present the first global extraction of the jet transport coefficient ($\hat q$) for cold nuclear matter within the framework of higher-twist expansion. The analysis takes into account the world data on transverse momentum broadening in semi-inclusive $e$-A deep inelastic scattering (DIS) and in Drell-Yan dilepton and heavy quarkonium production in $p$-A collisions, as well as the nuclear modification of the structure functions in DIS. The results of this work provide the first quantitative evidence for the universality and non-trivial scale dependence of the medium transport property, similar to that for nucleon structure as encoded in the standard parton distribution functions. We expect the extracted scale dependence of $\hat q$ for cold nuclear matter can be extended to precisely identify the fundamental property of quark gluon plasma.

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