Exploring nucleon structure and hadronization with dihadrons and hadrons in jets at STAR

Abstract

Over the last decade, theoretical and experimental engagement of transverse-spin phenomena has unlocked tantalizing opportunities for new insights into nucleon structure and hadronization. Observables such as hadrons in jets and dihadron correlations from polarized proton collisions provide access to the transversity distribution function at a range of x complementary to existing semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering (SIDIS) experiments but at a much higher range of Q 2. Moreover, these two observables give access through two different factorization frameworks–transverse-momentum-dependent (TMD) and collinear–enabling a unique path to address questions concerning factorization-breaking and the universality of TMD functions. Data collected by STAR have revealed the first observations of transverse single-spin asymmetries in the azimuthal distributions of dihadron correlations and hadrons within jets from polarized proton collisions at both = 500 GeV and 200 GeV. The STAR 200 GeV dihadron data have recently been included in global analyses that for the first time include SIDIS, e + e −, and p + p data to extract the transversity distribution. The STAR hadron-in-jet data provide a unique opportunity to illuminate longstanding questions: Do factorization and universality extend to the TMD picture in proton-proton collisions, e.g. through the Collins mechanism? How do TMD functions evolve with changing kinematics? The STAR dihadron and hadron-in-jet data will be presented and discussed in context with the recent global analyses and model calculations.