Quark-quark Correlations Research Articles

Sub-leading twist transverse momentum dependent parton distributions in the light-front quark-diquark model

In this study, the T-even sub-leading twist transverse momentum dependent distributions (TMDs) of proton in the light-front quark-diquark model (LFQDM) have been investigated. We have derived the overlap form of the light-front wave functions (LFWFs) for the sub-leading twist proton TMDs by detangling the un-integrated quark-quark correlator for the semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering (SIDIS). We have obtained the explicit expressions of TMDs for both the cases of the diquark being a scalar or a vector and analyzed their relationships with leading twist TMDs within the same model. Average transverse momenta and average square transverse momenta for the TMDs have been tabulated and compared with the results from the light-front bag model and the light-front constituent quark model (LFCQM). In addition to this, we have also compared our results for the PDF e(x) with the recent CLAS collaboration results.Transverse momentum dependent parton distributions of proton; T-even sub-leading twist TMDs; light-front quark-diquark model.

Inclusive and semi-inclusive production of spin- 3/2 hadrons in e+e− annihilation

We investigate the inclusive and semi-inclusive productions of spin-3/2 hadrons, such as $\Omega$, in unpolarized $e^+ e^-$ annihilation. The general differential cross sections are expressed in terms of structure functions in accordance to the polarization of the hadron and the azimuthal modulations. We derive a complete definition of quark transverse momentum dependent (TMD) fragmentation functions (FFs) to spin-3/2 hadrons for the first time from the decomposition of the quark-quark correlation matrix at leading twist, 14 of which are newly defined corresponding to rank-3 tensor polarized hadron. The collinear FFs are obtained from the $k_T$-integrated correlation matrix, and only two TMD FFs with rank-3 tensor polarization have nonvanishing collinear counterparts. Then we perform a leading order calculation of the unpolarized differential cross sections. In the single-hadron inclusive production, only two structure functions are found nonzero and none of the rank-3 tensor polarized FFs contributes. For the nearly back-to-back two-hadron production, half of the 48 structure functions are found nonzero even if the spin of the second hadron is not analyzed, and ten of the rank-3 tensor polarized TMD FFs contribute. Therefore, one can study the rank-3 tensor polarized FFs via the production of a spin-3/2 hadron and an unpolarized hadron in unpolarized $e^+ e^-$ collision experiments. These newly defined FFs can be further applied in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering processes for the study of nucleon structures.

On SU(3)F positive-parity octet and decuplet baryons

A continuum approach to the three valence-quark bound-state problem in quantum field theory, employing parametrisations of the necessary kernel elements, is used to compute the spectrum and Poincarö- covariant wave functions for all flavour-SU(3) octet and decuplet baryons and their first positive-parity ex citations. Such analyses predict the existence of nonpointlike, dynamical quark-quark (diquark) correlations within all baryons; and a uniformly sound description of the systems studied is obtained by retaining flavour- antitriplet-scalar and flavour-sextet-pseudovector diquarks. The analysis predicts the existence of positive- parity excitations of the 𝚵, 𝚵*, Ω baryons, with masses, respectively (in GeV): 1.84(08), 1.89(04), 2.05(02). These states have not yet been empirically identified. This body of analysis suggests that the expression of emergent mass generation is the same in all u, d, s baryons and, notably, that dynamical quark-quark correla tions play an essential role in the structure of each one. It also provides the basis for developing an array of predictions that can be tested in new generation experiments.

Spectrum and structure of octet and decuplet baryons and their positive-parity excitations

A continuum approach to the three valence-quark bound-state problem in quantum field theory, employing parametrisations of the necessary kernel elements, is used to compute the spectrum and Poincar\'e-covariant wave functions for all flavour-$SU(3)$ octet and decuplet baryons and their first positive-parity excitations. Such analyses predict the existence of nonpointlike, dynamical quark-quark (diquark) correlations within all baryons; and a uniformly sound description of the systems studied is obtained by retaining flavour-antitriplet--scalar and flavour-sextet--pseudovector diquarks. Thus constituted, the rest-frame wave function of every system studied is primarily $S$-wave in character; and the first positive-parity excitation of each octet or decuplet baryon exhibits the characteristics of a radial excitation. Importantly, every ground-state octet and decuplet baryon possesses a radial excitation. Hence, the analysis predicts the existence of positive-parity excitations of the $\Xi$, $\Xi^\ast$, $\Omega$ baryons, with masses, respectively (in GeV): 1.84(08), 1.89(04), 2.05(02). These states have not yet been empirically identified. This body of analysis suggests that the expression of emergent mass generation is the same in all $u$, $d$, $s$ baryons and, notably, that dynamical quark-quark correlations play an essential role in the structure of each one. It also provides the basis for developing an array of predictions that can be tested in new generation experiments.

Structure of the Nucleon and Its First Radial Excitation

A Poincar\'e-covariant continuum approach to the three valence-quark bound-state problem in quantum field theory is used to perform a detailed analysis of the nucleon's ground and first excited states: the so-called $N(940)\frac{1}{2}^+$ and $N(1440)\frac{1}{2}^+$. Such analysis predicts the presence of nonpointlike, fully-interacting quark-quark (diquark) correlations within them, being the isoscalar-scalar and isovector-pseudovector diquarks overwhelmingly dominant with similar relative strengths in both states. Moreover, the rest-frame wave functions of both states are largely $S$-wave in nature and the first excited state in this $1/2^+$ channel has the appearance of a radial excitation of the ground state. All these features have numerous observable consequences, we show herein those related with the nucleon's elastic, Roper's elastic and nucleon-to-Roper transition electromagnetic form factors, for both charged and neutral channels.

Nucleon Viewed as a Borromean Bound-State

We explain how the emergent phenomenon of dynamical chiral symmetry breaking ensures that Poincar\'e covariant analyses of the three valence-quark scattering problem in continuum quantum field theory yield a picture of the nucleon as a Borromean bound-state, in which binding arises primarily through the sum of two separate contributions. One involves aspects of the non-Abelian character of Quantum Chromodynamics that are expressed in the strong running coupling and generate tight, dynamical color-antitriplet quark-quark correlations in the scalar-isoscalar and pseudovector-isotriplet channels. This attraction is magnified by quark exchange associated with diquark breakup and reformation, which is required in order to ensure that each valence-quark participates in all diquark correlations to the complete extent allowed by its quantum numbers. Combining these effects, we arrive at a properly antisymmetrised Faddeev wave function for the nucleon and calculate, e.g. the flavor-separated versions of the Dirac and Pauli form factors and the proton's leading-twist parton distribution amplitude. We conclude that available data and planned experiments are capable of validating the proposed picture.

Structure of the nucleon’s low-lying excitations

A continuum approach to the three valence-quark bound-state problem in quantum field theory is used to perform a comparative study of the four lightest $(I=1/2,J^P = 1/2^\pm)$ baryon isospin-doublets in order to elucidate their structural similarities and differences. Such analyses predict the presence of nonpointlike, electromagnetically-active quark-quark (diquark) correlations within all baryons; and in these doublets, isoscalar-scalar, isovector-pseudovector, isoscalar-pseudoscalar, and vector diquarks can all play a role. In the two lightest $(1/2,1/2^+)$ doublets, however, scalar and pseudovector diquarks are overwhelmingly dominant. The associated rest-frame wave functions are largely $S$-wave in nature; and the first excited state in this $1/2^+$ channel has the appearance of a radial excitation of the ground state. The two lightest $(1/2,1/2^-)$ doublets fit a different picture: accurate estimates of their masses are obtained by retaining only pseudovector diquarks; in their rest frames, the amplitudes describing their dressed-quark cores contain roughly equal fractions of even- and odd-parity diquarks; and the associated wave functions are predominantly $P$-wave in nature, but possess measurable $S$-wave components. Moreover, the first excited state in each negative-parity channel has little of the appearance of a radial excitation. In quantum field theory, all differences between positive- and negative-parity channels must owe to chiral symmetry breaking, which is overwhelmingly dynamical in the light-quark sector. Consequently, experiments that can validate the contrasts drawn herein between the structure of the four lightest $(1/2,1/2^\pm)$ doublets will prove valuable in testing links between emergent mass generation and observable phenomena and, plausibly, thereby revealing dynamical features of confinement.

Parity partners in the baryon resonance spectrum

We describe a calculation of the spectrum of flavour-SU(3) octet and decuplet baryons, their parity partners, and the radial excitations of these systems, made using a symmetry-preserving treatment of a vector-vector contact interaction as the foundation for the relevant few-body equations. Dynamical chiral symmetry breaking generates nonpointlike diquarks within these baryons and hence, using the contact interaction, flavour-antitriplet scalar, pseudoscalar and vector, and flavour-sextet axial-vector quark-quark correlations can all play an active role. The model yields reasonable masses for all systems studied, and Faddeev amplitudes for ground states and associated parity partners that sketch a realistic picture of their internal structure: ground-state, even parity baryons are constituted, almost exclusively, from like-parity diquark correlations; but orbital angular momentum plays an important role in the rest-frame wave functions of odd-parity baryons, whose Faddeev amplitudes are dominated by odd-parity diquarks.

Inclusive single-spin asymmetries, quark-photon, and quark-quark correlations

Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) provide information on the distribution of quarks in impact paarmeter space. For transversely polarized nucleons, these impact parameter distributions are transversely distorted and this deviation from axial symmetry leads on average to a net transverse force from the spectators on the active quark in a DIS experiment. %The strength of that force can be related to twist-3 PDFs. This force when acting along the whole trajectory of the active quark leads to a transverse single-spin asymmetries. For a longitudinally polarized nucleon target, the transverse force implies a torque acting on the quark Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM). The resulting change in OAM as the quark leaves the target equals the difference between the Jaffe-Manohar and Ji OAMs.

Tensor polarization dependent fragmentation functions ande+e−→VπXat high energies

We present the systematic results for three dimensional fragmentation functions of spin one hadrons defined via quark-quark correlator. There are totally 72 such fragmentation functions, among them 18 are twist-2, 36 are twist-3 and 18 are twist-4. We also present the relationships between the twist-3 parts and those defined via quark-gluon-quark correlator obtained from the QCD equation of motion. We show that two particle semi-inclusive hadron production process $e^+e^-\to V\pi X$ at high energies is one of the best places to study the three-dimensional tensor polarization dependent fragmentation functions. We present the general kinematic analysis of this process and show that the cross section should be expressed in terms of 81 independent structure functions. After that we present parton model results for the hadronic tensor, the structure functions, the azimuthal and spin asymmetries in terms of these gauge invariant fragmentation functions at the leading order pQCD up to twist-3.

High-xstructure function of the virtually free neutron

The pole extrapolation method is applied to the semi-inclusive inelastic electron scattering off the deuteron with tagged spectator protons to extract the high-x structure function of the neutron. This approach is based on the extrapolation of the measured cross sections at different momenta of the spectator proton to the non-physical pole of the bound neutron in the deuteron. The advantage of the method is in the possibility of suppression of the nuclear effects in a maximally model-independent way. The neutron structure functions obtained in this way demonstrate a surprising x dependence at $x\ge 0.6$ and $1.6 \leq Q^2 \leq 3.38$ GeV$^2$, indicating a possible rise of the neutron to proton structure function ratio. If the observed rise is valid in the true deep inelastic region then it may indicate new dynamics in the generation of high-x quarks in the nucleon. One such mechanism we discuss is the possible dominance of short-range isosinglet quark-quark correlations that can enhance the d-quark distribution in the proton.

Strong diquark correlations inside the proton

Quantum Chromodynamics is thought to be the relativistic quantum field theory that describes the strong interaction of the Standard Model. This interaction produces mesons but it is also able to generate quark-quark (diquark) correlations inside baryons. In this work, we employ a continuum approach to QCD based on Dyson-Schwinger equations to calculate the electromagnetic form factors of the proton and analyze in a deeper way the consequences of having strong diquark correlations. Comparison with the experimental data reveals that the presence of strong diquark correlations within the proton is sufficient to understand empirical extractions of the flavour-separated form factors. The explained reduction of the ratios $F_{1}^{d}/F_{1}^{u}$ and $F_{2}^{d}/F_{2}^{u}$ at high $Q^{2}$ in the quark-diquark picture are responsible of the precocious scaling of the $F_{2}^{p}/F_{1}^{p}$ observed experimentally.

Parity Violation in Deep Inelastic Scattering with the SoLID Spectrometer at JLab

We discuss precision measurements of PVDIS with the upgraded JLab 12 GeV beam by using a Solenoidal Łarge Iintensity Device (SoLID). The unique feature of SoLID, combining high luminosity and large acceptance, makes it possible to reach the high precision needed to have a high impact by using PVDIS to probe physics beyond the Standard Model. A measurement of PVDIS in deuterium will determine a fundamental coupling constant that is inaccessible with other means. PVDIS measurements can also access a number of topics in QCD physics, including searching for charge symmetry violation in the parton distribution functions, determining the [Formula: see text] ratio in the proton without nuclear effects, and a clean extraction of higher-twist effects due to quark-quark correlations. SoLID allows a full exploitation of the physics potential of the JLab 12 GeV upgrade. In addition to PVDIS, it has a set of approved highly-rated experiments to study nucleon transverse spin and transverse structure by using polarized semi-inclusive DIS and to study non-perturbative gluon dynamics with J/[Formula: see text] production near threshold. A brief description of the SoLID spectrometer is also given.

Structure analysis of the generalized correlator of quark and gluon for a spin-1/2 target

Abstract We analyze the structure of generalized off-diagonal and transverse-momentum dependent quark-quark and gluon-gluon correlators for a spin-1/2 hadron. Using the light-front formalism, we provide a parametrization in terms of the parton generalized transverse-momentum dependent distributions that emphasizes the multipole structure of the correlator. The results for the quark-quark correlation functions are consistent with an alternative parametrization given in terms of Lorentz covariant structures. The parametrization for the gluon-gluon generalized correlator is presented for the first time and allows one to introduce new correlation functions which can be relevant for phenomenological applications.

Unified framework for generalized and transverse-momentum dependent parton distributions within a 3Q light-cone picture of the nucleon

We present a systematic study of generalized transverse-momentum dependent parton distributions (GTMDs). By taking specific limits or projections, these GTMDs yield various transverse-momentum dependent and generalized parton distributions, thus providing a unified framework to simultaneously model different observables. We present such simultaneous modeling by considering a light-cone wave function overlap representation of the GTMDs. We construct the different quark-quark correlation functions from the 3-quark Fock components within both the light-front constituent quark model as well as within the chiral quark-soliton model. We provide a comparison with available data and make predictions for different observables.

Examination of higher-order twist contributions in parity-violating deep-inelastic electron-deuteron scattering

We show that Parity-Violating Deep Inelastic Scattering (PVDIS) of longitudinally polarized electrons from deuterium can in principle be a relatively clean probe of higher twist quark-quark correlations beyond the parton model. As first observed by Bjorken and Wolfenstein, the dominant contribution to the electron polarization asymmetry, proportional to the axial vector electron coupling, receives corrections at twist-four from the matrix element of a single four-quark operator. We reformulate the Bjorken/Wolfenstein argument in a matter suitable for the interpretation of experiments planned at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab). In particular, we observe that because the contribution of the relevant twist four operator satisfies the Callan-Gross relation, the ratio of parity-violating longitudinal and transverse cross sections, R_{\gamma Z}, is identical to that for purely electromagnetic scattering, R_{\gamma}, up to perturbative and power suppressed contributions. This result simplifies the interpretation of the asymmetry in terms of other possible novel hadronic and electroweak contributions. We use the results of MIT Bag Model calculations to estimate contributions of the relevant twist four operator to the leading term in the asymmetry as a function of Bjorken x and Q2 . We compare these estimates with possible leading twist corrections due to violation of charge symmetry in the parton distribution functions.

NONTRIVIAL RELATIONS BETWEEN GPDs AND TMDs>

The present knowledge about nontrivial relations between generalized parton distributions for a spin-1/2 hadron on the one hand and transverse momentum dependent distributions on the other is reviewed. While various relations can be found in the framework of simple spectator models, so far no model-independent nontrivial relations have been established. In fact, by relating the two types of parton distributions to the fully unintegrated, off-diagonal quark-quark correlator for a spin-1/2 hadron, we argue that none of the nontrivial relations can be promoted to a model-independent status.

Generalized parton correlation functions for a spin-1/2 hadron

The fully unintegrated, off-diagonal quark-quark correlator for a spin-1/2 hadron is parameterized in terms of so-called generalized parton correlation functions. Such objects, in particular, can be considered as mother distributions of generalized parton distributions on the one hand and transverse momentum dependent parton distributions on the other. Therefore, our study provides new, model-independent insights into the recently proposed nontrivial relations between generalized and transverse momentum dependent parton distributions. We find that none of these relations can be promoted to a model-independent status. As a by-product we obtain the first complete classification of generalized parton distributions beyond leading twist. The present paper is a natural extension of our previous corresponding analysis for spin-0 hadrons.

Survey of Nucleon Electromagnetic Form Factors

A dressed-quark core contribution to nucleon electromagnetic form factors is calculated. It is defined by the solution of a Poincare' covariant Faddeev equation in which dressed-quarks provide the elementary degree of freedom and correlations between them are expressed via diquarks. The nucleon-photon vertex involves a single parameter; i.e., a diquark charge radius. It is argued to be commensurate with the pion's charge radius. A comprehensive analysis and explanation of the form factors is built upon this foundation. A particular feature of the study is a separation of form factor contributions into those from different diagram types and correlation sectors, and subsequently a flavour separation for each of these. Amongst the extensive body of results that one could highlight are: r_1^{n,u}>r_1^{n,d}, owing to the presence of axial-vector quark-quark correlations; and for both the neutron and proton the ratio of Sachs electric and magnetic form factors possesses a zero.

Generalized parton correlation functions for a spin-0 hadron

The fully unintegrated, off-diagonal quark-quark correlator for a spin-0 hadron is parameterized in terms of so-called generalized parton correlation functions. Such objects are of relevance for the phenomenology of certain hard exclusive reactions. In particular, they can be considered as {\it mother distributions} of generalized parton distributions on the one hand and transverse momentum dependent parton distributions on the other. Therefore, our study provides new, model-independent insights into the recently proposed nontrivial relations between generalized and transverse momentum dependent parton distributions. As a by-product we obtain the first complete classification of generalized parton distributions beyond leading twist.