arXiv subjects

L. Szymanowski

Publications and source records attributed to L. Szymanowski.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

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

Toward an advanced phenomenology of $\pi N$ transition distribution amplitudes

We introduce a new approach to modeling transition distribution amplitudes (TDAs) for the processes $e p \to e n \pi^+$ and $e p \to e p \pi^0$. The modeling is flexible, constrained by sparsely available experimental data, and satisfies theoretical requirements, including reduction to nucleon distribution amplitudes in the appropriate limit. We study the sensitivity of observable predictions to various modeling assumptions. We discuss unpolarized cross-sections, as well as the three non-vanishing polarization observables at leading twist, namely, the single transverse target spin asymmetry and the two double spin asymmetries that occur with a polarized lepton beam on either a longitudinally or transversely polarized target. The analysis is complemented by a simple Monte Carlo study to provide guidance for exploring exclusive processes in the so-called backward kinematics. Our work aims to highlight the importance of future measurements to better constrain TDAs and to support upcoming experimental proposals.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Physics with high-luminosity proton-nucleus collisions at the LHC

The physics case for the operation of high-luminosity proton-nucleus ($pA$) collisions during Run 3 and 4 at the LHC is reviewed. The collection of $\mathcal{O}$(1-10 pb$^{-1}$) of proton-lead ($p$Pb) collisions at the LHC will provide unique physics opportunities in a broad range of topics including proton and nuclear parton distribution functions (PDFs and nPDFs), generalised parton distributions (GPDs), transverse momentum dependent PDFs (TMDs), low-$x$ QCD and parton saturation, hadron spectroscopy, baseline studies for quark-gluon plasma and parton collectivity, double and triple parton scatterings (DPS/TPS), photon-photon collisions, and physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM); which are not otherwise as clearly accessible by exploiting data from any other colliding system at the LHC. This report summarises the accelerator aspects of high-luminosity $pA$ operation at the LHC, as well as each of the physics topics outlined above, including the relevant experimental measurements that motivate -- much -- larger $pA$ datasets.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Archetypal Factorization and Gluon Poles in semi-exclusive reactions

Within the archetypal factorization procedure, we study the gluon pole contributions manifesting in the nucleon-lepton hard processes of hadron production. We prove the dominant role of gluon pole contributions in the processes of such kind. We analyse the different sources of complexity associated with the gluon pole functions. As a practical application, we derive a new single spin asymmetry related directly to the gluon poles which can be studied experimentally.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Parton distributions: Functional complexity and Lorentz parametrization

In the paper we focus on the study of the functional complexity of the Lorentz parametrizing functions in connection with the time-reversal transformations. We argue that the interactions encoded in the corresponding correlators of non-local quark(-gluon) operators generate additional sources of functional complexity for the parametrizing functions which are not discussed in the literature. We also revisit the Lorentz parametrization of different correlators given by the hadron matrix elements of the non-local operators. The evidences for the new parametrizing function existence have been presented.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Alignment function as a new kind of transverse momentum dependent functions

We argue the existence of new $k_\perp$-dependent functions which can be manifested in the Drell-Yan (SIDIS)-like processes. The presented new functions resemble the well-known Boer-Mulders function associated with the quark spin asymmetry, but in contrast they are sensitive to the transverse motion of partons inside the hadron due to the collective alignment of quark spin vectors.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Progress and Opportunities in Backward angle (u-channel) Physics

Backward angle (u-channel) scattering provides complementary information for studies of hadron spectroscopy and structure, but has been less comprehensively studied than the corresponding forward angle case. As a result, the physics of u-channel scattering poses a range of new experimental and theoretical opportunities and questions. We summarize recent progress in measuring and understanding high energy reactions with baryon charge exchange in the u-channel, as discussed in the first backward angle (u-channel) Physics Workshop. In particular, we discuss backward angle measurements and their theoretical description via both hadronic models and the collinear factorization approach, and discuss planned future measurements of u-channel physics. Finally, we propose outstanding questions and challenges for u-channel physics.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Transition distribution amplitudes and hard exclusive reactions with baryon number transfer

Baryon-to-meson and baryon-to-photon transition distribution amplitudes (TDAs) arise in the collinear factorized description of a class of hard exclusive reactions characterized by the exchange of a non-zero baryon number in the cross channel. These TDAs extend the concepts of generalized parton distributions (GPDs) and baryon distribution amplitudes (DAs). In this review, we discuss the general properties and physical interpretation of baryon-to-meson and baryon-to-photon TDAs. We argue that these non-perturbative objects are a convenient complementary tool to explore the structure of baryons at the partonic level. We present an overview of hard exclusive reactions admitting a description in terms of TDAs. We discuss the first signals from hard exclusive backward meson electroproduction at JLab with the 6 GeV electron beam and explore further experimental opportunities to access TDAs at JLab@12 GeV, PANDA, J-PARC and EIC.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Backward-angle Exclusive pi0 Production above the Resonance Region

The proposed measurement is a dedicated study of the exclusive electroproduction process,1H(e,e'p)pi0, in the backward-angle regime (u-channel process) above the resonance region. The produced pi0 is emitted 180 degrees opposite to the virtual-photon momentum. This study also aims to apply the well-known Rosenbluth separation technique that provides the model-independent differential cross-sections at the never explored u-channel kinematics region. Currently, the "soft-hard transition" in u-channel meson production remains an interesting and unexplored subject. The available theoretical frameworks offer competing interpretations for the observed backward-angle cross section peaks. In a "soft" hadronic Regge exchange description, the backward meson production comes from the interference between nucleon exchange and the meson produced via re-scattering within the nucleon. Whereas in the "hard" GPD-like backward collinear factorization regime, the scattering amplitude factorizes into a hard subprocess amplitude and baryon to meson transition distribution amplitudes (TDAs), otherwise known as super skewed parton distributions (SuperSPDs). Both TDAs and SPDs are universal non-perturbative objects of nucleon structure accessible only through backward-angle kinematics. The separated cross sections:sigma_T,sigma_L and T/L ratio at Q2=2-6 GeV2, provide a direct test of two predictions from the TDA model. The magnitude and u-dependence of the separated cross sections also provide a direct connection to the re-scattering Regge picture. The extracted interaction radius (from u-dependence) at different Q2 can be used to study the soft-hard transition in the u-channel kinematics. The acquisition of these data will be an important step forward in validating the existence of a backward factorization scheme of the nucleon structure function and establishing its applicable kinematic range.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2021

Accessing quark GPDs in diffractive events at an electron-ion collider

We discuss two collider processes which combine a diffractively produced $ρ$ meson separated by a large rapidity gap from a hard exclusive scattering of a Pomeron on a nucleon, giving rise to a lepton pair or to a second meson. These two processes probe the nucleon quark content described by generalized parton distributions in a very specific way.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Exclusive electro-weak production of a charmed meson at high energy

Exclusive electro-weak processes have peculiar features which make them complementary to usually discussed deeply virtual electroproduction processes such as deep virtual Compton scattering or meson production (and the corresponding crossed reactions). They allow in particular single charmed meson production, which we study in two different contexts : electroproduction at an electron ion collider and neutrino-production at a medium energy neutrino facility. We rely on the QCD collinear factorization framework where generalized parton distributions allow physicists to perform a nucleon tomography.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Charged current electroproduction of a charmed meson at an electron-ion collider

We calculate the amplitude for exclusive electroweak production of a pseudoscalar $D_s$ or a vector $D^*_s$ charmed strange meson on an unpolarized nucleon, through a charged current, in leading order in $α_s$. We work in the framework of the collinear QCD approach where generalized gluon distributions factorize from perturbatively calculable coefficient functions. We include both $O(m_c)$ terms in the coefficient functions and $O(M_D)$ mass term contributions in the heavy meson distribution amplitudes. We show that this process may be accessed at future electron-ion colliders.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Diffractive two-meson electroproduction with a nucleon and deuteron target

The diffractive electro- or photo-production of two mesons separated by a large rapidity gap gives access to generalized parton distributions (GPDs) in a very specific way. First, these reactions allow to easily access the chiral-odd transversity quark GPDs by selecting one of the produced vector meson to be transversely polarized. Second, they are only sensitive to the so-called ERBL region where GPDs are not much constrained by forward quark distributions. Third, the skewness parameter $ξ$ is not related to the Bjorken $x_\text{Bj}$ variable, but to the size of the rapidity gap. We analyze different channels ($ρ_L^0\,ρ_{L/T}, ρ^0_L\,ω_{L/T}$ and $ρ^0_L\,π$ production) on nucleon and deuteron targets. The analysis is performed in the kinematical domain where a large momentum transfer from the photon to the diffractively produced vector meson introduces a hard scale (the virtuality of the exchanged hard Pomeron). This enables the description of the hadronic part of the process in the framework of collinear factorization of GPDs. We show that the unpolarized cross sections depend very much on the parameterizations of both chiral-even and chiral-odd quark distributions of the nucleon, as well as on the shape of the meson distribution amplitudes. The rates are shown to be in the range of the capacities of a future electron-ion collider.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Electroproduction of a large invariant mass photon pair

We study the exclusive electroproduction of a photon pair in the kinematical regime where the diphoton invariant mass is large and where the nucleon flies almost in its original direction. We discuss the relative importance of the QCD process where the two photons originate from a quark line compared to the single (double) Bethe-Heitler processes where one (two) photons originate from the lepton line. This process turns out to be a promising tool to study generalized parton distributions in the nucleon, both at the medium energy of JLab and at a high energy electron ion collider.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

Inverse Radon transform and the transverse-momentum dependent functions

We revisit the standard representation of the (inverse) Radon transform which is well-known in the mathematical literature. We extend this representation to the case involving the parton distributions. We have found the new additional contribution which is essentially related to the generalized transverse-momentum dependent parton distribution and double-distribution functions. We discuss the possible relationship of this term with the Sivers function.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

Transition Distribution Amplitudes : from JLab to EIC

Baryon-to-meson Transition Distribution Amplitudes extend both the concepts of generalized parton distributions and baryon distribution amplitudes encoding valuable complementary information on the 3-dimensional hadronic structure. The recent analysis of backward meson electroproduction at JLab supports the hope to perform femto-photography of hadrons from a brand new perspective.and in particular opens a new domain for EIC experiments.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

Unique Access to u-Channel Physics: Exclusive Backward-Angle Omega Meson Electroproduction

Backward-angle meson electroproduction above the resonance region, which was previously ignored, is anticipated to offer unique access to the three quark plus sea component of the nucleon wave function. In this letter, we present the first complete separation of the four electromagnetic structure functions above the resonance region in exclusive omega electroproduction off the proton, e + p -> e' + p + omega, at central Q^2 values of 1.60, 2.45 GeV^2 , at W = 2.21 GeV. The results of our pioneering -u ~ -u min study demonstrate the existence of a unanticipated backward-angle cross section peak and the feasibility of full L/T/LT/TT separations in this never explored kinematic territory. At Q^2 =2.45 GeV^2 , the observed dominance of sigma_T over sigma_L, is qualitatively consistent with the collinear QCD description in the near-backward regime, in which the scattering amplitude factorizes into a hard subprocess amplitude and baryon to meson transition distribution amplitudes (TDAs): universal non-perturbative objects only accessible through backward angle kinematics.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2019

On large mass $γγ$ and $γ$-meson photoproduction

Enlarging the set of hard exclusive reactions to be studied in the framework of QCD collinear factorization opens new possibilities to access generalized parton distributions (GPDs). We studied the photoproduction of a large invariant mass photon-photon or photon-meson pair in the generalized Bjorken regime which may be accessible both at JLab and at the EIC.

hep-ph↗