Single target-spin asymmetry in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering on a transversely polarized nucleon target

Abstract

We use a new set of Collins functions to update a previous prediction on the azimuthal asymmetries of pion production in a semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering process on a transversely polarized nucleon target. We find that the calculated results can give a good explanation to the HERMES experiment with the new parametrization, and this can enrich our knowledge of the fragmentation process. Furthermore, with two different approaches of distribution and fragmentation functions, we present a prediction on the azimuthal asymmetries of pion and kaon production at the kinematics region of the experiments E06010 and E06011 planned at Jefferson Lab. It is shown that the results are insensitive to the models for the pion case. However, the results for kaon production are sensitive to different approaches of distribution and fragmentation functions. This is helpful to clarify some points in the study of the azimuthal spin asymmetries and fragmentation functions in hadronization processes.