arXiv subjects

Shu-Yi Wei

Publications and source records attributed to Shu-Yi Wei.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Entanglement of back-to-back gluon pair

We investigate the polarization correlation of back-to-back gluon pairs in unpolarized $pp$ collisions and compute their density matrix. For gluon pairs produced through $q\bar{q}$ annihilation, the linear polarization correlation is sizable, even reaching unity when the final-state gluons are emitted perpendicular to the beam direction in the $q\bar{q}$ rest frame. Combining with the fact that their helicity remains maximally correlated across different scattering angle, the gluon pair system thus resides in a maximally entangled Bell state in this configuration. In contrast, for the $gg\to gg$ channel, both the helicity and linear polarization correlations are considerably suppressed, producing a separable state. Nonetheless, it still retains an appreciable linear polarization correlation of about $11\%$ at central scattering in unpolarized collisions. The linearly polarization correlation of the back-to-back gluon pair can further increase when the incoming gluons are circularly polarized. Employing the anisotropy of energy correlators, we demonstrate that the linear polarization correlation of gluon pairs can be extracted from the $\cos 2ΔΦ$ modulation.

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arXiv2026

CGC-py: A Monte Carlo Event Generator for Gluon Saturation Physics

We develop CGC-py, a Monte Carlo event generator for deep-inelastic scattering. It couples the full Color Glass Condensate (CGC) cross section for $γ^*p(A)\to q\bar q+X$ to a Parton-Branching transverse-momentum-dependent backward initial-state shower, while \textsc{Pythia}~8 handles final-state radiation and hadronization. CGC-py retains the complete target-elastic and target-inelastic contributions without taking the back-to-back correlation limit, allowing single- and di-hadron observables to be generated consistently from the same event sample. We validate the generator through an analytic closure test of the single-inclusive quark spectrum and a comparison of charged-hadron spectra in $ep$ collisions with H1 data, finding excellent agreement. The predicted nuclear modification factor $R_{e\mathrm{Au}}^h$ shows the expected saturation pattern: suppression at low $p_T^*$ followed by a rise toward unity at higher $p_T^*$. A comparison with a \textsc{Pythia}~6 baseline, together with an $x_g$-rescaling study, indicates that small-$x$ CGC evolution and collinear DGLAP dynamics contribute comparably to the growth of the dihadron away-side width with energy. Genuine saturation-driven broadening emerges only at the highest energies considered. Within CGC-py, $e\mathrm{Au}$ collisions exhibit an enhanced away-side width and a suppressed back-to-back yield relative to $ep$ collisions. These nuclear effects remain modest over EIC kinematics, motivating measurements at the most forward accessible kinematics and the use of complementary observables to maximize sensitivity to gluon saturation.

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arXiv2026

Recoil Geometry Unmasks Gluon Saturation in Forward $Z^0$ Production

Gluon saturation produces characteristic transverse-momentum broadening in nuclei, but QCD radiation largely washes out this signature. We show that fiducial recoil subtraction turns detector acceptance into a transverse-momentum projector that unmasks the broadening in forward $Z^0$ production. Subtracting the hadronic recoil measured in a chosen rapidity interval from the boson transverse momentum defines a residual momentum. At leading power, the radiative recoil in this interval cancels, while the residual momentum retains sensitivity to the small-$x$ nuclear field. Combining a CGC description of the small-$x$ target with soft-collinear effective theory (SCET) resummation for finite rapidity coverage, we find that a benchmark rapidity coverage $|η^{\rm lab}|<2.5$ lowers the effective hard scale from $M_Z\simeq 91.2$ GeV to about $7.5~\mathrm{GeV}$ of the Sudakov evolution. Increasing the saturation scale broadens the residual-momentum distribution and weakens recoil alignment, whereas wider coverage makes the proton--nucleus separation clearer in both observables. Detector geometry thus provides tunable control over perturbative recoil, enabling a probe of nonlinear small-$x$ QCD.

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arXiv2026

Unbiased Data-Driven Determination of the Nuclear Dipole Amplitude in the Color Glass Condensate

Gluon saturation limits the growth of parton densities at small Bjorken-$x$ and is expected to be most pronounced in heavy nuclei. Yet quantitative extractions of the nuclear gluon dipole amplitude have long relied on parametrized initial conditions, introducing uncontrolled model dependence that obscures genuine nuclear effects. We introduce a physics-informed neural-network framework that embeds the collinearly improved Balitsky-Kovchegov evolution equation directly into the training objective, allowing the impact-parameter-averaged dipole amplitude to be determined from data without assuming a functional form for its initial condition. Applying this framework to forward-hadron nuclear-modification-factor and coherent $J/ψ$ photoproduction data, we extract the $^{208}$Pb dipole amplitude at $x_0=0.01$ with QCD evolution and momentum-space positivity enforced throughout training. The evolved amplitude reproduces the measured cross sections across the available kinematic range and yields a saturation-scale ratio $Q_{s0,\mathrm{Pb}}^2/Q_{s0,p}^2 = 3.17^{+0.17}_{-0.10}$, consistent with simple geometric scaling. The extracted Pb initial condition is well described by a McLerran-Venugopalan-type form, in contrast to the proton, reflecting the higher color-charge density of a large nucleus. Using the same amplitude, we predict the rapidity dependence of the transverse-momentum ratio in $pp$, $p$Pb, and Pb$p$ collisions, finding agreement with recent LHCb measurements at low multiplicity without any system-dependent parameters. This work provides the first unbiased, data-driven determination of nuclear structure in the saturation regime and establishes a general strategy for embedding nonlinear evolution equations into machine-learning extractions of dynamically constrained observables.

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arXiv2026

Physics-Informed Global Extraction of the Universal Small-$x$ Dipole Amplitude

We extract the universal small-$x$ dipole scattering amplitude $N(r,x_B)$ from a global analysis based on a physics-informed neural network (PINN), without imposing a priori MV-type parametrization of the initial condition. The network provides a smooth and differentiable surrogate for $N(r,x_B)$, whose rapidity dependence is constrained by the collinearly improved Balitsky--Kovchegov evolution equation, while its functional form is simultaneously constrained by Deep Inelastic Scattering (DIS) data for the reduced total and charm cross sections, exclusive $J/ψ$ photoproduction measurements, and a positivity requirement for the momentum-space dipole amplitude. The resulting single universal amplitude consistently describes all fitted observables within a unified framework, alleviating the long-standing tension between total and charm channels encountered in conventional small-$x$ fits based on rigid parametric ansätze. Within the fitted kinematic domain, the best extracted PINN solution yields a smooth, non-negative momentum-space dipole over the full transverse-momentum range examined. Our results provide a robust and well-behaved input for Color Glass Condensate phenomenology across a broad class of high-energy processes.

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arXiv2026

Gluon Polarimetry with Energy-Energy Correlators

We propose a novel method to probe gluon linear polarization via energy correlations in hard scattering processes. This approach exploits the characteristic $\cos 2ϕ$ azimuthal modulation in single- and two-point energy correlations within jets initiated by polarized gluons. In contrast to conventional techniques that rely on $k_t$ resummation or intricate jet substructure observables, our method offers a theoretically robust and experimentally accessible avenue for gluon polarimetry. We perform an all-order analysis within the Ciafaloni-Catani-Fiorani-Marchesini (CCFM) formalism, incorporating coherent branching effects to achieve improved precision. Our predictions can be tested at current and future facilities, including the LHC, RHIC, HERA, and the EIC.

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arXiv2025

Helicity correlation of dihadron in current and target fragmentation regions of unpolarized SIDIS

We study the helicity correlation of two $Λ$ hyperons produced in unpolarized semi-inclusive deep inelastic scatterings (SIDIS), with one hyperon detected in the current fragmentation region and the other in the target fragmentation region. This observable provides direct access to the spin-dependent fragmentation function $G_{1Lq}$ and the spin-dependent fracture function $l_{1q}^L$ even in unpolarized lepton nucleon collisions. Utilizing the perturbative matching of the fracture function, we present numerical predictions for the helicity correlation, revealing significant variations with flavor and kinematic regions. This observable offers a unique way to investigate the spin-dependent hadronization mechanism across both the current and target fragmentation regions. It also provides new insights into the spin transfer effects in SIDIS processes.

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arXiv2025

Spin correlations and Bell nonlocality in $Λ\barΛ$ pair production from $e^+e^-$ collisions with a thrust cut

We present a comprehensive theoretical study of spin correlations in $Λ\barΛ$ production from $e^+e^-$ annihilation, providing the theoretical predictions for the Belle II experiment. Using soft-collinear effective theory, we perform the first resummation of large logarithms for the longitudinal ($C_{LL}$) and transverse ($C_{TT}$) spin correlations for events with a cut on the thrust variable. Our calculation achieves next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy and incorporates the determination of polarized fragmenting jet functions. This framework provides robust predictions with significantly reduced theoretical uncertainties compared to fixed-order parton model approaches. Furthermore, we establish a direct mapping between the experimentally accessible spin correlation, $C_{TT}$, and a testable CHSH-Bell inequality. This result reframes $C_{TT}$ as a quantitative probe of quantum decoherence, providing a novel tool to measure the degree of parton-level entanglement that survives the fragmentation and hadronization process.

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arXiv2025

Quenching of polarized jets

Jets produced in association with a $Z^{0}$ or $W^{\pm}$ boson in hadronic collisions are automatically polarized due to the parity violation of weak interaction, making these processes ideal for understanding the spin transfer from polarized partons to polarized hadrons. Furthermore, leveraging this feature, we can also employ the weak-boson-tagged process to study the quenching phenomenon of polarized jets, an aspect that has rarely been discussed in the literature. In this work, we compute the polarization of $Λ$ hyperons in $pp$ collisions and investigate the nuclear modification due to the jet-medium interaction in $AA$ collisions. Our results highlight this process as a valuable probe of polarized parton hadronization and of spin-dependent medium effects in the QGP.

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arXiv2025

Transverse spin correlation of back-to-back dihadron in unpolarized collisions

The spin correlation of back-to-back dihadron emerges in unpolarized high-energy collision, empowering unpolarized experiments to shed light on the spin-dependent fragmentation functions. This work investigates the transverse spin correlation of back-to-back dihadron in unpolarized $e^+e^-$, $pp$, and $γp$ collisions, which serves as a novel probe of the chiral-odd fragmentation function $H_{1T}(z)$. We compute the transverse spin correlation at the partonic level and establish a connection with helicity amplitudes. Measuring this observable in future experiments can reveal valuable information on the hadronization of transversely polarized quarks.

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arXiv2025

Lighting up the Photon Wigner Distribution via Dilepton Productions

We present a systematic investigation of lepton pair production through photon-photon fusion processes in heavy-ion collisions. It is demonstrated that the dilepton production at a given impact parameter ($b_\perp$) with a fixed transverse momentum imbalance ($q_\perp$) can be factorized into a unified formula in terms of the Wigner photon distribution of heavy nuclei. We show that this framework provides a comprehensive description of all the relevant data from RHIC to the LHC, with a strong evidence that the quasi-real photon can be radiated not only from the nucleus as a whole, standing for the coherent contribution, but also from the sub-structures inside the nucleus, representing the incoherent contribution. Further predictions are made for the anisotropies in the correlations between $q_\perp$, $b_\perp$, and the dilepton transverse momentum ($P_\perp$). This will help us to constrain the photon Wigner distribution which plays a crucial role to study the gluonic matter of nucleus at small-$x$ through the diffractive photoproduction processes in heavy ion collision.

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arXiv2024

Helicity correlation of neighboring dihadron

The spin correlation of final-state hadrons provides a novel platform to explore the hadronization mechanism of polarized partons in unpolarized high-energy collisions. In this work, we investigate the helicity correlation of two hadrons originating from the same single parton. The production of such a dihadron system is formally described by the interference dihadron fragmentation function, in which the helicity correlation between the two hadrons arise from both the long-distance nonperturbative physics and the perturbative QCD evolution. Beyond the extraction of the dihadron fragmentation function, we demonstrate that it is also a sensitive observable to the longitudinal spin transfer, characterized by the single hadron fragmentation function $G_{1L}$. This intriguing connection opens up new opportunities for understanding the spin dynamics of hadronization and provides a complementary approach to corresponding studies using polarized beams and targets.

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arXiv2024

Dihadron helicity correlation in photon-nucleus collisions

The helicity correlation of two back-to-back hadrons is a powerful tool that makes it possible to probe the longitudinal spin transfer, $G_{1L}$, in unpolarized hadronic collisions. In this work, we investigate the helicity correlation of back-to-back dihadrons produced in photon-nucleus collisions with both space-like and quasireal photons and explore its potential in understanding the flavor dependence of spin-dependent fragmentation functions. We present helicity amplitudes of partonic scatterings with both virtual and real photons and make numerical predictions for the dihadron helicity correlations at the future Electron Ion Collider experiment and the current RHIC/LHC ultra-peripheral collision experiment. Future experimental measurements can also illuminate the fragmentation function of circularly polarized gluons.

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arXiv2024

Transverse polarization of Lambda hyperons in hadronic collisions

The transverse polarization of $Λ$ hyperon within reconstructed jets in hadronic collisions offers a complementary platform to probe the polarized fragmentation function $D_{1T}^\perp$. We illustrate that by performing a global analysis of the transverse polarization of $Λ$ hyperons produced in different kinematic regions and in different hadronic collisions, such as $pp$, $p\bar p$, $pA$, and $γA$ collisions, we can pin down the flavor dependence of $D_{1T}^\perp$ which has been poorly constrained. Besides the single inclusive jet production, the $γ/Z^0$-boson associated jet production supplements with more capability in removing ambiguities in the flavor dependence of $D_{1T}^\perp$.

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arXiv2024

The decay contribution to the parity-odd fragmentation functions

Parity violation in QCD is a consequence of the so-called QCD $θ$-vacuum. As a result, parity-odd fragmentation functions are introduced and they bring in new observables in the back-to-back dihadron productions in $e^+e^-$-annihilation experiments [Phys.Rev.Lett. 106 (2011) 042001]. The experimental measurements on the corresponding parity-odd fragmentation functions can shed light on the local CP violation effect in QCD. On the other hand, the weak interaction also violates the parity symmetry. Therefore, the weak decay of heavier hadrons can also contribute to the parity-odd effects in fragmentation functions. In this paper, we investigate the weak decay contribution to these parity-odd fragmentation functions and compute their contribution to these new observables. In principle, the decay contribution should/can be excluded in the theoretical analysis and experimental measurements. However, this is usually not the common practice so far. Furthermore, in light of that the value of the $θ$-parameter is extremely small ($θ< 3 \times 10^{-10}$), the weak-parity-violating contributions become an important background in identifying the strong-parity-violating term. In this paper, we focus on the weak decay contribution of parity-odd fragmentation functions and demonstrate their sizable contribution in a numerical estimate.

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arXiv2023

Correlations of dihadron polarization in central, peripheral and ultraperipheral heavy-ion collisions

While jet quenching in relativistic heavy-ion collisions has been extensively studied over decades, the polarization of quenched hadrons has rarely been discussed. It has recently been proposed that the correlations of dihadron polarization in $e^+e^-$ and $pp$ collisions provide a novel probe of the longitudinal spin transfer from hard partons to hadrons without requiring the colliding beams to be polarized. To support realistic experimental measurement of dihadron polarization with sufficient luminosity, we extend the aforementioned study to relativistic heavy-ion collisions by convoluting the vacuum fragmentation of partons with their energy loss inside the quark-gluon plasma (QGP). We find that while the correlation functions of $Λ$-$Λ$ (or $Λ$-$\barΛ$) polarization in peripheral collisions is consistent with those in $pp$ collisions, clear enhancement can be seen in central collisions. These correlation functions appear sensitive to different assumptions in the DSV parameterization of parton fragmentation functions, and therefore could place additional constraints on the spin-dependent fragmentation functions of quarks and gluons. The correlation of dihadron polarization has also been explored in ultraperipheral heavy-ion collisions, which provides a cleaner probe of fragmentation functions of quarks produced by energetic photon-photon and photon-pomeron interactions.

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arXiv2023

Parton shower algorithm with saturation effect

We extend the previously developed small $x$ parton shower algorithm to include the kinematic constraint effect and $k_t$ resummation effect. This work enables the Monte Carlo generator to simultaneously resum large $k_t$ and small $x$ logarithms in the saturation regime for the first time. It is an important step towards simulating processes involving multiple well separated hard scales, such as di-jet production in eA collisions at EIC.

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arXiv2023

Several Topics on Transverse Momentum-Dependent Fragmentation Functions

The hadronization of a high-energy parton is described by fragmentation functions which are introduced through QCD factorizations. While the hadronization mechanism per se remains uknown, fragmentation functions can still be investigated qualitatively and quantitatively. The qualitative study mainly concentrates on extracting genuine features based on the operator definition in quantum field theory. The quantitative research focuses on describing a variety of experimental data employing the fragmentation function given by the parameterizations or model calculations. With the foundation of the transverse-momentum-dependent factorization, the QCD evolution of leading twist transverse-momentum-dependent fragmentation functions has also been established. In addition, the universality of fragmentation functions has been proven, albeit model-dependently, so that it is possible to perform a global analysis of experimental data in different high-energy reactions. The collective efforts may eventually reveal important information hidden in the shadow of nonperturbative physics. This review covers the following topics: transverse-momentum-dependent factorization and the corresponding QCD evolution, spin-dependent fragmentation functions at leading and higher twists, several experimental measurements and corresponding phenomenological studies, and some model calculations.

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