Electron-ion Collider Research Articles

Centrality definition in e+A collisions at the Electron-Ion Collider

Abstract In this work, we investigate the feasibility of defining centrality in electron-ion collisions at the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) by examining the correlation between the impact parameter and several observables, including total energy, total transverse momentum, and total number of particles. Using the BeAGLE Monte Carlo generator, we simulate e+Au and e+Ru collisions at different energies and analyze the correlation between the impact parameter and these observables across different kinematic regions. Our findings indicate that the correlation is weak in the central rapidity region but becomes stronger in the forward and far-forward rapidity regions. However, the correlation is not sufficiently robust to allow for precise centrality determination. We conclude that defining centrality in electron-ion collisions is more challenging than in ion-ion collisions, necessitating further studies to develop a robust centrality definition for the EIC.

Large radial shift experiments in RHIC and their implications for EIC design

The Hadron Storage Ring (HSR) in the future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) (EIC collaboration, 2020; Montag et al., 2022; Liu et al., 2022) must operate over a broad range of design circumferences. In 2018 preliminary beam studies on the circumference adjustment capabilities of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) (Accelerator Division, 2006) were performed by applying a small momentum offset to the circulating bunches without adjusting any bending magnets (Robert-Demolaize et al., 2019). The off-momentum linear optics were corrected back to on-momentum conditions. Applying a similarly small deviation to the dipole fields of a select set of bending magnets provides a large radial shift over much of the RHIC (or HSR) circumference while leaving the design trajectory unchanged in the insertion regions.This paper presents the design of the different lattice configurations foreseen as the most viable options for the required HSR circumference changes, and highlights the modifications necessary for regular operations and to allow for testing these new settings in RHIC. Experimental results from 2021 and 2022 are reviewed and compared to model predictions obtained from both MAD-X and Bmad (MAD, 0000; Bmad, 0000). The implications of these results for HSR design are discussed.

Study of gluon GPDs in exclusive J/ψ production in electron-proton scattering

Exclusive photoproduction of heavy J/ψ meson is performed within the handbag factorization method. The general parton distributions (GPDs) for gluons, which are an essential ingredient here, are constructed using double distribution (DD) representation. The calculated cross section for few sets of gluon GPDs Hg describe fine J/ψ production experimental data from HERA to LHC energies. Based on this approach we estimate J/ψ spin asymmetries determined by Eg and H˜g. The GPDs factorization approach can be employed to analyze heavy vector meson production in electron-proton scattering. Investigations of this reactions at future electron-ion colliders in USA and China can give essential information on gluon GPDs. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

QCD Predictions for Meson Electromagnetic Form Factors at High Momenta: Testing Factorization in Exclusive Processes.

We report the first lattice QCD computation of pion and kaon electromagnetic form factors, F_{M}(Q^{2}), at large momentum transfer up to 10 and 28 GeV^{2}, respectively. Utilizing physical masses and two fine lattices, we achieve good agreement with JLab experimental results at Q^{2}≲4 GeV^{2}. For Q^{2}≳4 GeV^{2}, our results provide abinitio QCD benchmarks for the forthcoming experiments at JLab 12GeV and future electron-ion colliders. We also test the QCD collinear factorization framework utilizing our high-Q^{2} form factors at next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbation theory, which relates the form factors to the leading Fock-state meson distribution amplitudes. Comparisons with independent lattice QCD calculations using the same framework demonstrate, within estimated uncertainties, the universality of these nonperturbative quantities.

A study of nuclear structure of light nuclei at the electron–ion collider

A study of nuclear structure of light nuclei at the electron–ion collider

Reduced cross-section in electron-ion colliders at small x

Reduced cross-section in electron-ion colliders at small x

Toward coherent quantum computation of scattering amplitudes with a measurement-based photonic quantum processor

In recent years, applications of quantum simulation have been developed to study the properties of strongly interacting theories. This has been driven by two factors: on the one hand, needs from theorists to have access to physical observables that are prohibitively difficult to study using classical computing; on the other hand, quantum hardware becoming increasingly reliable and scalable to larger systems. In this work, we discuss the feasibility of using quantum optical simulation for studying scattering observables that are presently inaccessible via lattice QCD and are at the core of the experimental program at Jefferson Laboratory, the future Electron-Ion Collider, and other accelerator facilities. We show that recent progress in measurement-based photonic quantum computing can be leveraged to provide deterministic generation of required exotic gates and implementation in a single photonic quantum processor. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Experimental Demonstration of an Emittance-Preserving Beam Energy Dechirper Using a Hollow Channel Plasma.

Plasma-based acceleration has emerged as a highly promising candidate for future colliders and compact x-ray free electron lasers owing to its capability to efficiently accelerate electron and positron beams with high brightness over short distances. However, a major obstacle to its application in free electron lasers and colliders is the imposition of a substantial energy chirp on the output beams, resulting from the longitudinally dependent acceleration field. This Letter presents the first experimental demonstration of a beam energy dechirper using a hollow plasma channel. This novel approach simultaneously enables the mitigation of energy chirp and preservation of beam emittance. Experimental results demonstrate a substantial reduction in energy spread by nearly 1 order of magnitude (from 0.93% to 0.11% FWHM), while maintaining a negligible increase in emittance. Simulation suggests that the corrected energy spread may have been reduced to ∼10 keV (0.025%), thereby meeting the stringent requirement of colliders or x-ray free electron lasers.

CGC and saturation approach: Impact-parameter dependent model of perturbative QCD and combined HERA data

In this paper we confront the color glass condensate and saturation approach of Contreras [Non-linear equation in the re-summed next-to-leading order of perturbative QCD: The leading twist approximation, ] with the experimental combined HERA data and obtain its parameters. The model includes two features that are in accordance with our theoretical knowledge of deep inelastic scattering. These consist of: (i) the use of analytical solution for the nonlinear Balitsky-Kovchegov evolution equation and () the exponential behavior of the saturation momentum on the impact parameter b-dependence, characterized by Qs∝exp(−mb) which reproduces the correct behavior of the scattering amplitude at large b in accord with Froissart theorem. The model results are then compared to data at small-x for the structure function of the proton F2, the longitudinal structure function FL, the charm structure function F2cc¯, the exclusive vector meson (J/ψ,ϕ,ρ) production and deeply virtual Compton scattering. We obtain a good agreement for the processes in a wide kinematic range of Q2 at small-x. Our results provide a strong guide for finding an approach, based on color glass condensate and saturation effective theory for high-energy QCD, to make reliable predictions from first principles and for forthcoming experiments like the Electron Ion Collider and the LHeC. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Strong–strong simulations of combined beam–beam and wakefield effects in the Electron–Ion-Collider

Collective wakefield and beam–beam effects play an important role in accelerator design and operation. These effects can cause beam instability, emittance growth, and luminosity degradation, and warrant careful study during accelerator design. In this paper, we studied the combined wakefield and beam–beam effects in an Electron Ion Collider design using strong–strong simulations. The simulation results show that the nonlinear beam–beam effects help suppress wakefield driven instability in the nominal working tune regime. In other tune regimes, the coherent beam–beam modes interact with the wakefields and cause a beam instability. The simulation results also show the importance of maintaining nominal crab cavity voltage. If the crab cavity voltage drops significantly the beam can become unstable.

Beam tests of SNSPDs with 120 GeV protons

We report the test results for a 120GeV proton beam incident on superconducting nanowire particle detectors of various wire sizes. NbN devices with the same sensitive area were fabricated with different wire widths and tested at a temperature of 2.82K. The relative detection efficiency was extracted from bias current scans for each device. The results show that the wire width is a critical factor in determining the detection efficiency and larger wire widths than 400nm leads to inefficiencies at low bias currents. These results are particularly relevant for novel applications at accelerator facilities, such as the Electron-Ion Collider, where cryogenic cooling is readily available.

Spatial imaging of polarized deuterons at the Electron-Ion Collider

We study diffractive vector meson production at small-x in the collision of electrons and polarized deuterons e+d↑. We consider the polarization dependence of the nuclear wave function of the deuteron, which results in an azimuthal angular dependence of the produced vector meson when the deuteron is transversely polarized. The Fourier coefficients extracted from the azimuthal angular dependence of the vector meson differential cross-section exhibit notable differences between longitudinally and transversely polarized deuterons. The angular dependence of the extracted effective deuteron radius provides direct insight into the structure of the polarized deuteron wave function. Furthermore, we observe slightly increased gluon saturation effects when the deuteron is longitudinally polarized compared to the transversely polarized case. The small-x observables studied in this work will be accessible at the future Electron-Ion Collider.

Tracking performances of the ePIC detector at the Electron-Ion Collider

The ePIC (electron–Proton/Ion Collider) experiment is a future facility at the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) complex, located at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA. It will use ∼70% longitudinally polarized beam of electrons, protons, and light ions to study their collisions to understand the properties of the quarks, gluons, and the strong force responsible for the formation of the nucleus. The layout of the central detector of the ePIC experiment is not symmetric along the beams axis consisting of barrel, forward, and backward detectors to achieve a wide pseudorapidity (|η|< 3.5) coverage. There are further far-forward and far-backward tracking detectors to measure the luminosity and reconstruct the particles and fragments for the study of the exclusive deep-inelastic scattering (DIS) processes. The experiment has a challenging environment due to the presence of the background radiations (synchrotron radiation, beam-gas interactions, minimum-bias events, etc.) which will produce additional background hits on the tracker. The synchrotron radiation is suppressed to some extent by coating the beampipe with a 5μm gold layer. The experiment uses state-of-the-art bent wafer-scale silicon monolithic active pixel sensors (MAPS) with a ∼5μs acquisition window, micro-pattern gas detector (MPGD) with a good time resolution (∼20–30ns), and time-of-flight detectors based on AC-LGAD sensors (time resolution ∼30ps). The timing information of each detector will play a crucial role in track finding and rejecting the background hits utilizing the 4-dimensional tracking (space, time) to ensure the excellent performance of the experiment. The article presents the expected tracking performance of the ePIC detector using the modular ePIC software stack for simulation, reconstruction, and analysis. The Geant4 toolkit is employed for full detector simulations, alongside DD4hep (Detector Description for High Energy Physics) for geometry definition and exchange. The reconstruction incorporates the JANA2 framework, in addition to the tracking and vertexing algorithms inherited from A Common Tracking Software (ACTS).

Factorization for J/ψ leptoproduction at small transverse momentum

Nonrelativistic Quantum Chromodynamics (NRQCD) breaks down in the region of low transverse momentum, where the transverse momentum of the produced quarkonium state is sensitive to multiple scattering with the incoming hadron and to soft gluon radiation. In this kinematic regime, the transverse-momentum-dependent (TMD) factorization framework is required, promoting the long-distance matrix elements (LDMEs) of NRQCD to the so-called TMD shape functions (TMDShFs), which encode both the soft gluon radiation and the formation of the heavy-quark bound state. In this work, we apply an effective-field theory approach (combining NRQCD and SCET) to the photon-gluon fusion process in inclusive J/ψ leptoproduction. We derive a factorization theorem for the cross section in terms of TMDShFs, compute these quantities at next-to-leading order, establish their evolution, and study their matching onto the corresponding LDMEs in the high-transverse-momentum region. Our results are particularly relevant to the Electron-Ion Collider, where J/ψ leptoproduction can be used to probe gluon transverse-momentum-dependent parton distribution functions (gluon TMDPDFs).

Extracting the partonic structure of colorless exchanges at the Electron Ion Collider

We investigate the determination of the partonic structure of colorless exchanges in deep inelastic diffractive ep scattering at the Electron Ion Collider (EIC), using the standard decomposition into Pomeron and Reggeon contributions. We perform fits to simulated diffractive cross section pseudodata in four variables, including the momentum transfer t, to estimate the achievable precision on the Pomeron and Reggeon quark and gluon distributions. We analyze the influence of different cuts in the kinematic variables, beam energy configurations, and luminosities, including a “first year” scenario. We conclude that the EIC will be able to constrain the partonic structure of the subleading Reggeon exchange with a precision comparable to that of the leading Pomeron exchange. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Exclusive photoproduction of ηcγ pairs with large invariant mass

In this manuscript, we analyze the exclusive photoproduction of ηcγ pairs in the collinear factorization framework and evaluate its cross section in leading order in the strong coupling αs. We found that this channel is mostly sensitive to the behavior of the unpolarized gluon generalized parton distributions Hg in the Efremov-Radyushkin-Brodsky-Lepage kinematics. We estimated numerically the cross section and the expected counting rates in the kinematics of middle-energy photoproduction experiments, which can be realized at the future Electron-Ion Collider or in the ultraperipheral collisions at LHC. We found that the cross section is sufficiently large for dedicated experimental study. We also estimated the role of this process as a potential background to ηc photoproduction, which is considered as one of the possible gateways for studies of t-channel odderons. We found that the contribution of ηcγ (with undetected photon) is on par with expected contributions of odderons in the kinematics of small momentum transfer |t|≲0.5 GeV2, though decreases rapidly at larger |t|. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

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 G1L in unpolarized hadronic collisions. In this work, we investigate the helicity correlation of back-to-back dihadrons produced in photon-nucleus collisions with both spacelike 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 Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider/LHC ultraperipheral collision experiment. Future experimental measurements can also illuminate the fragmentation function of circularly polarized gluons. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Coherent photo- and electroproduction of charmonia on nuclear targets revisited: Green function formalism

We study for the first time the production of charmonia in nuclear ultraperipheral and electron-ion collisions based on a rigorous Green function formalism. Such formalism allows to incorporate properly formation effects (color transparency), as well as the quantum coherence inherent in higher-twist shadowing corrections related to the |QQ¯⟩ Fock component of the photon. The leading twist gluon shadowing associated with multigluon photon fluctuations is also included within the same formalism. The later effect represents the dominant source of shadowing at midrapidities in the LHC kinematic region, while the reduced effect of quark shadowing leads to a significant modification of differential cross sections dσ/dy at forward and/or backwards rapidities. Model calculations for dσ/dy are in a good agreement with available ultraperipheral nuclear Pb−Pb collisions data on coherent charmonium production at RHIC and the LHC. In addition, we also perform predictions for nuclear effects in the electroproduction of charmonia, which can be verified by new data from electron-ion colliders. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Unraveling gluon TMDs in J/ψ and pion production at the EIC

We investigate the azimuthal asymmetries such as cos2ϕT and Sivers symmetry for J/ψ and π± production in electron-proton scattering, focusing on scenarios where the J/ψ and the pion are produced in an almost back-to-back configuration. The electron is unpolarized, while the proton can be unpolarized or transversely polarized. For the J/ψ formation, we use nonrelativistic QCD (NRQCD), while π± is formed due to parton fragmentation. In this kinematics, we utilize the transverse momentum-dependent factorization framework to calculate the cross sections and asymmetries. We consider both quark and gluon-initiated processes and show that the gluon contribution dominates. In this work, we used the generalized parton model (GPM) for the transverse momentum distribution (TMD) parametrizations and did not consider the effect of TMD evolution. We provide numerical estimates of the upper bounds on the azimuthal asymmetries, as well as employ a Gaussian parametrization for the gluon TMDs, within the kinematical region accessible by the upcoming Electron-Ion Collider (EIC). Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Photoproduction of fully charmed tetraquark at electron-ion colliders

In this work, we investigate the inclusive photoproduction of the C-odd, S-wave fully charmed tetraquark at electron-ion colliders within the nonrelativistic QCD (NRQCD) factorization framework, at the lowest order in velocity and αs. The value of the NRQCD long-distance matrix element is estimated from two phenomenological potential models. Our studies reveal that the photoproduction of the 1+− fully charmed tetraquark may be difficult to observe at HERA and the EicC; nevertheless, its observation prospects at the EIC appear to be bright. Published by the American Physical Society 2024