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S. Boffi

Publications and source records attributed to S. Boffi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Transverse momentum dependent parton distributions and azimuthal asymmetries in light-cone quark models

We review the information on the spin and orbital angular momentum structure of the nucleon encoded in the T-even transverse momentum dependent parton distributions within light-cone quark models. Model results for azimuthal spin asymmetries in semi-inclusive lepton-nucleon deep-inelastic scattering are discussed, showing a good agreement with available experimental data and providing predictions to be further tested by future CLAS, COMPASS and HERMES data.

hep-ph

The spin structure of the nucleon in light-cone quark models

The quark spin densities related to generalized parton distributions in impact-parameter space and to transverse-momentum dependent parton distributions are reviewed within a light-cone quark model, with focus on the role of the different spin-spin and spin-orbit correlations of quarks.Results for azimuthal spin asymmetries in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering due to T-even transverse-momentum dependent parton distributions are also discussed.

hep-ph

Probing the parton content of the nucleon

The parton content of the nucleon is explored within a meson-cloud model developed to derive light-cone wave functions for the physical nucleon. The model is here applied to study electromagnetic form factors, distribution amplitudes and nucleon-to-meson transition distribution amplitudes.

hep-ph

Parton content of the nucleon from distribution amplitudes and transition distribution amplitudes

The nucleon distribution amplitudes and the nucleon-to-pion transition distribution amplitudes are investigated at leading twist within the frame of a light-cone quark model. The distribution amplitudes probe the three-quark component of the nucleon light-cone wave function, while higher order components in the Fock-space expansion of the nucleon state are essential to describe the nucleon-to-pion transition distribution amplitudes. Adopting a meson-cloud model of the nucleon the nucleon-to-pion transition distribution amplitudes are calculated for the first time.

hep-ph

TMDs and Azimuthal Spin Asymmetries in a Light-Cone Quark Model

The main properties of the leading-twist transverse momentum dependent parton distributions in a light-cone constituent quark model of the nucleon are reviewed, with focus on the role of the spin-spin and spin-orbit correlations of quarks. Results for azimuthal single spin asymmetries in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering are also discussed.

hep-ph

Azimuthal spin asymmetries in light-cone constituent quark models

We present results for all leading-twist azimuthal spin asymmetries in semi-inclusive lepton-nucleon deep-inelastic scattering due to T-even transverse-momentum dependent parton distribution functions on the basis of a light-cone constituent quark model. Attention is paid to discuss the range of applicability of the model, especially with regard to the scale dependence of the observables and the transverse-momentum dependence of the distributions. We find good agreement with available experimental data and present predictions to be further tested by future CLAS, COMPASS and HERMES data.

hep-ph

The structure of the nucleon from generalized parton distributions

Generalized parton distributions (GPDs) have become a standard QCD tool for analyzing and parametrizing the non perturbative parton structure of hadron targets. GPDs might be viewed as non-diagonal overlaps of light-cone wave functions and offer the opportunity to study the partonic content of the nucleon from a new perspective, allowing one to study the interplay between longitudinal and transverse partonic degrees of freedom. In particular, we will review some of the new information encoded in the GPDs through the definition of impact-parameter dependent parton distributions and form factors of the energy-momentum tensor, by exploiting different dynamical models for the nucleon state.

hep-ph

Transverse momentum dependent parton distributions in a light-cone quark model

The leading twist transverse momentum dependent parton distributions (TMDs) are studied in a light-cone description of the nucleon where the Fock expansion is truncated to consider only valence quarks. General analytic expressions are derived in terms of the six amplitudes needed to describe the three-quark sector of the nucleon light-cone wave function. Numerical calculations for the T-even TMDs are presented in a light-cone constituent quark model, and the role of the so-called pretzelosity is investigated to produce a nonspherical shape of the nucleon.

hep-ph

Nucleon electroweak form factors in a meson-cloud model

The meson-cloud model of the nucleon consisting of a system of three valence quarks surrounded by a meson cloud is applied to study the electroweak structure of the proton and neutron. The electroweak nucleon form factors are calculated within a light-front approach, by obtaining an overall good description of the experimental data. Charge densities as a function of the transverse distance with respect to the direction of the three-momentum transfer are also discussed.

hep-ph

Electroweak structure of the nucleon, meson cloud and light-cone wavefunctions

The meson-cloud model of the nucleon consisting of a system of three valence quarks surrounded by a meson cloud is applied to study the electroweak structure of the proton and neutron. Light-cone wavefunctions are derived for the dressed nucleon as pictured to be part of the time a bare nucleon and part of the time a baryon-meson system. Configurations are considered where the baryon can be a nucleon or a Δand the meson can be a pion as well as a vector meson such as the ρor the ω. An overall good description of the electroweak form factors is obtained. The contribution of the meson cloud is small and only significant at low Q^2. Mixed-symmetry S'-wave components in the wavefunction are most important to reproduce the neutron electric form factor. Charge and magnetization densities are deduced as a function of both the radial distance from the nucleon center and the transverse distance with respect to the direction of the three-momentum transfer. In the latter case a central negative charge is found for the neutron. The up and down quark distributions associated with the Fourier transform of the axial form factor have opposite sign, with the consequence that the probability to find an up (down) quark with positive helicity is maximal when it is (anti)aligned with the proton helicity.

hep-ph

Drell-Yan processes, transversity and light-cone wavefunctions

The unpolarized, helicity and transversity distributions of quarks in the proton are calculated in the overlap representation of light-cone wavefunctions truncated to the lowest order Fock-space components with three valence quarks. The three distributions at the hadronic scale satisfy an interesting relation consistent with the Soffer inequality. Results are derived in a relativistic quark model including radiative corrections up to the next-to-leading order. Predictions for the double transverse-spin asymmetry in Drell-Yan dilepton production initiated by proton-antiproton collisions are presented. Asymmetries of about 20-30% are found in the kinematic conditions of the PAX experiment.

hep-ph

Nucleon spin densities in a light-front constituent quark model

The first moment of longitudinal and transverse spin densities of quarks in the nucleon are calculated in a light-front constituent quark model for the different cases of quark and nucleon polarization. Significant distortions are found for the transverse spin densities. In particular the Sivers function is predicted with opposite sign for up and down quarks and the Boer-Mulders function is predicted large and negative for both up and down quarks, in agreement with lattice calculations. Quite a different spin distribution is obtained for up and down quarks in the cases of quarks and proton transversely or longitudinally polarized in the same direction.

hep-ph

Chiral-Odd Generalized Parton Distributions, Transversity and Double Transverse-Spin Asymmetry in Drell-Yan Dilepton Production

Within the framework of light-cone quantization we derive the overlap representation of generalized parton distributions for transversely polarized quarks using the Fock-state decomposition in the transverse-spin basis. We apply this formalism to the case of light-cone wave functions in a constituent quark model giving numerical results for the four chiral-odd generalized parton distributions in a region where they describe the emission and reabsorption of a quark by the nucleon. With the transversity distribution obtained in the forward limit of the generalized distribution, we provide some predictions for the double transverse-spin asymmetry in Drell-Yan dilepton production in the kinematics of the PAX experiment.

hep-ph

Chiral-Odd Generalized Parton Distributions and Transversity in Light-Front Constituent Quark Models

We present the general framework to calculate chiral-odd generalized parton distributions in the overlap representation using the Fock-state decomposition in the transverse spin basis. In the forward limit we derive the transversity distribution, the tensor charge and the angular momentum sum rule for quarks with transverse polarization in an unpolarized nucleon. Numerical results are obtained by applying the formalism to the case of light-cone wavefunctions of constituent quark models.

hep-ph

Generalized parton distributions in a meson cloud model

We present a model calculation of the generalized parton distributions where the nucleon is described by a quark core surrounded by a mesonic cloud. In the one-meson approximation, we expand the Fock state of the physical nucleon in a series involving a bare nucleon and two-particle, meson-baryon, states. We discuss the role of the different Fock-state components of the nucleon by deriving a convolution formalism for the unpolarized generalized parton distributions, and showing predictions at different kinematics.

hep-ph

Virtual meson cloud of the nucleon and generalized parton distributions

We present the general formalism required to derive generalized parton distributions within a convolution model where the bare nucleon is dressed by its virtual meson cloud. In the one-meson approximation the Fock states of the physical nucleon are expanded in a series involving a bare nucleon and two-particle, meson-baryon, states. The baryon is assumed here to be either a nucleon or a $Δ$ described within the constituent quark model in terms of three valence quarks; correspondingly, the meson, assumed to be a pion, is described as a quark-antiquark pair. Explicit expressions for the unpolarized generalized parton distributions are obtained and evaluated in different kinematics.

hep-ph

Chiral-odd generalized parton distributions in constituent quark models

We derive the overlap representation of chiral-odd generalized parton distributions using the Fock-state decomposition in the transverse-spin basis. This formalism is applied to the case of light-cone wave functions in a constituent quark model. Numerical results for the four chiral-odd generalized parton distributions at the hadronic scale are shown in different kinematics. In the forward limit we derive the transversity distribution, the tensor charge and the angular momentum sum rule for quarks with transverse polarization in an unpolarized nucleon.

hep-ph