Single Spin Asymmetries Research Articles

Single-spin asymmetry ATsin(2ϕ−ϕS) in π−p Drell-Yan process within TMD factorization

We study the single-spin asymmetry ATsin(2ϕ−ϕS) in the pion-induced Drell-Yan process within the transverse momentum dependent factorization (TMD factorization). The asymmetry can be expressed as the convolution of the Boer-Mulders function and the transversity function. We numerically estimate the asymmetry ATsin(2ϕ−ϕS) at the COMPASS kinematics with the model results for the pion meson distributions from the light-cone wave function approach and the available parametrization for the proton distributions. We also include the TMD evolution formalism both proton and pion parton distribution functions by using two different parametrizations on nonperturbative Sudakov form factor. We find that the asymmetry ATsin(2ϕ−ϕS) as functions of xp, xπ, xF and q⊥ is qualitatively consistent with the recent COMPASS measurement.

GT(x) contribution to single spin asymmetries in SIDIS

Motivated by a novel origin of transverse single spin asymmetry (SSA) in semi-inclusive Deep Inelastic Scattering (SIDIS) uncovered by some of us, we quantitatively investigate its impact on the theoretical understanding of the mechanism responsible for SSA. This new contribution from the quark-initiated channel first appears in two-loop perturbation theory and involves the $g_T(x)$ distribution. We point out another entirely analogous piece from the gluon-initiated channel proportional to the gluon helicity distribution $\Delta G(x)$. Both contributions are solely expressed in terms of twist-two polarized parton distribution functions and twist-two fragmentation functions in the Wandzura-Wilczek approximation, such that they can be unambiguously evaluated without introducing free parameters. We make predictions for measurements of the asymmetries $A_{UT}$ at the future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), and find that $A_{UT}$ associated with the $\sin (\phi_h-\phi_S)$, $\sin \phi_S$ and $\sin (2\phi_h-\phi_S)$ harmonics can reach up to 1-2\% even at the top EIC energy.

Probing Gluon Spin-Momentum Correlations in Transversely Polarized Protons through Midrapidity Isolated Direct Photons in p^{↑}+p Collisions at sqrt[s]=200 GeV.

Studying spin-momentum correlations in hadronic collisions offers a glimpse into a three-dimensional picture of proton structure. The transverse single-spin asymmetry for midrapidity isolated direct photons in p^{↑}+p collisions at sqrt[s]=200 GeV is measured with the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). Because direct photons in particular are produced from the hard scattering and do not interact via the strong force, this measurement is a clean probe of initial-state spin-momentum correlations inside the proton and is in particular sensitive to gluon interference effects within the proton. This is the first time direct photons have been used as a probe of spin-momentum correlations at RHIC. The uncertainties on the results are a 50-fold improvement with respect to those of the one prior measurement for the same observable, from the Fermilab E704 experiment. These results constrain gluon spin-momentum correlations in transversely polarized protons.

Performance of RHICf detector during operation in 2017

In the RHIC forward (RHICf) experiment, an operation with pp collisions was performed at √(s) = 510 GeV from 24–27 June 2017. The performances, energy and position resolutions, trigger efficiency, stability, and background during the operation, have been studied using data and simulations, which revealed that the requirements for production cross-section and transverse single-spin asymmetry measurements of very forward photons, π0s, and neutrons were satisfied. In this paper, we describe the details of these studies.

The anomalous [formula omitted] couplings at the HERA and EIC

To resolve the long-standing discrepancy between the precision measurement of bottom quark forward-backward asymmetry at LEP/SLC and the Standard Model prediction, we propose a novel method to probe the Zbb¯ coupling by measuring the single-spin asymmetry Aeb of the polarized lepton cross section in neutral current DIS processes with a b-tagged jet at HERA and EIC. Depending on the tagging efficiency of the final state b-jet, the measurement of Aeb at HERA can already partially break the degeneracy found in the anomalous Zbb¯ coupling, as implied by the LEP and SLC precision electroweak data. In the first year run of the EIC, the measurement of Aeb can already break the degeneracy, due to its much larger luminosity and higher electron beam polarization. With enough integrated luminosity collected at the EIC, it is possible to either verify or exclude the LEP data and resolve the AFBb puzzle. We also discuss the complementary roles between the proposed Aeb measurement at EIC and the measurement of gg→Zh cross section at the HL-LHC in constraining the anomalous Zbb¯ coupling.

Sin(ϕΛ−ϕS) azimuthal asymmetry in transversely polarized Λ production in SIDIS within TMD factorization at the EIC

We investigate the $\mathrm{sin}({\ensuremath{\phi}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\phi}}_{S})$ single-spin asymmetry in the transversely polarized $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}$ production in semi-inclusive deeply inelastic scattering process within the transverse momentum dependent (TMD) factorization. The asymmetry is contributed by the convolution of the polarizing TMD fragmentation function ${D}_{1T}^{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ of the $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}$ hyperon and the unpolarized TMD distribution function ${f}_{1}$ of the proton target. We adopt the spectator diquark model result and the available parametrization for ${D}_{1T}^{\ensuremath{\perp},{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}^{\ensuremath{\uparrow}}/q}$ to numerically estimate the $\mathrm{sin}({\ensuremath{\phi}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\phi}}_{S})$ asymmetry at the kinematical region of the electron ion collider (EIC). To implement the TMD evolution formalism, we apply two different parametrizations on the nonperturbative Sudakov form factors associated with the distribution function of the proton and the fragmentation function of the $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}$. It is found that the two sets of ${D}_{1T}^{\ensuremath{\perp},{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}^{\ensuremath{\uparrow}}/q}$ lead to different $\mathrm{sin}({\ensuremath{\phi}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\phi}}_{S})$ asymmetry, particularly in sign. We also discuss the impact of the assumptions and approximations applied in the calculations, which may bring large uncertainties to the results in the EIC. Future measurements on the $\mathrm{sin}({\ensuremath{\phi}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\phi}}_{S})$ asymmetry with high precision at the EIC can provide important cross checks on the available $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}$ polarizing fragmentation functions, as well as constrain them more stringently.

Estimates for the single-spin asymmetries in the p↑p→J/ψX process at PHENIX RHIC and SPD NICA

We study the transverse single-spin asymmetry (TSSA) in ${p}^{\ensuremath{\uparrow}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}J/\ensuremath{\psi}X$ reaction, incorporating both transverse momentum and spin effects. To predict production cross section of prompt $J/\ensuremath{\psi}$, we use two different approaches, the color-singlet model and the improved color evaporation model, and show how the predicted results for TSSAs depend on the choice of hadronization model. For initial-state factorization, we also consider two options: the standard generalized parton model and the color gauge-invariant version of it. Estimates for the TSSAs in ${p}^{\ensuremath{\uparrow}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}J/\ensuremath{\psi}X$ process for the conditions of the future Spin Physics Detector Nuclotron-based Ion Collider fAcility (NICA) experiment are presented for the first time.

Beam-normal single-spin asymmetry in elastic scattering of electrons from a spin-0 nucleus

We study the beam-normal single-spin asymmetry (BNSSA) in high-energy elastic electron scattering from several spin-0 nuclei. Existing theoretical approaches work in the plane-wave formalism and predict the BNSSA to scale as $\ensuremath{\sim}A/Z$ with the atomic number $Z$ and nuclear mass number $A$. While this prediction holds for light and intermediate nuclei, a striking disagreement in both the sign and the magnitude of BNSSA was observed by the PREX collaboration for $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$, coined the ``PREX puzzle.'' To shed light on this disagreement, we go beyond the plane-wave approach which neglects Coulomb distortions known to be significant for heavy nuclei. We explicitly investigate the dependence of BNSSA on $A$ and $Z$ by (i) including inelastic intermediate states' contributions into the Coulomb problem in the form of an optical potential, (ii) by accounting for the experimental information on the $A$-dependence of the Compton slope parameter, and (iii) giving a thorough account of the uncertainties of the calculation. Despite of these improvements, the PREX puzzle remains unexplained. We discuss further strategies to resolve this riddle.

Predicting the sinϕS single-spin asymmetry of Λ production off a transversely polarized nucleon in SIDIS

We investigate the transverse target spin asymmetry $A^{\sin\phi_{S}}_{UT}$ for the unpolarized $\Lambda$ production in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering with the transverse momentum of the final-state lambda hyperon being integrated out. The asymmetry is contributed by the product of the transversity distribution function $h_1(x)$ of the nucleon and the collinear twist-3 fragmentation function $\tilde{H}(z)$ of the $\Lambda$ hyperon. The later one originates from the quark-gluon-quark correlation and is a naive time-reversal-odd function. We calculate $\tilde{H}$ of the $\Lambda$ hyperon by adopt a diquark spectator model. Using the numerical result of $\tilde{H}(z)$ and the available parametrization of $h_1(x)$ from SIDIS data, we predict the $\sin\phi_{S}$ asymmetry in the electroproduction of the $\Lambda$ hyperon in the kinematical region of EIC, EicC and COMPASS. In the phenomenological analysis we include the evolution effect of the distribution functions and the fragmentation functions. The results show that the asymmetries for the $\Lambda$ production SIDIS process is around 0.1 and may be accessible at EIC, EicC and COMPASS. We also find that the evolution of fragmentation function can affect the size of asymmetry.

Target-normal single spin asymmetries measured with positrons

Two-photon exchange and the larger class of hadronic box diagrams are difficult to calculate without a large degree of model-dependence. At the same time, these processes are significant radiative corrections in parity-violating electron scattering, in neutron decay, and may even be responsible for the proton’s form factor ratio discrepancy. New kinds of experimental data are needed to help constrain models and guide future box-diagram calculations. The target-normal single spin asymmetry, $$A_n$$ , formed with an unpolarized beam scattering from a target that is polarized normal to the scattering plane, is sensitive to the imaginary part of the two-photon exchange amplitude, and can provide a valuable constraint. A measurement with both electrons and positrons can reduce sources of experimental error, and distinguish between the effects of two-photon exchange and those of time-reversal symmetry violation. This article describes a proposed experiment in Hall A, using the new Super Big-Bite Spectrometer that can cover a momentum transfer range in the critical zone of uncertainty between where hadronic calculations and those based on partonic degrees of freedom are expected to be accurate.

Measurement of transverse single-spin asymmetries of π0 and electromagnetic jets at forward rapidity in 200 and 500 GeV transversely polarized proton-proton collisions

The STAR Collaboration reports measurements of the transverse single-spin asymmetry (TSSA) of inclusive $\pi^0$ at center-of-mass energies ($\sqrt s$) of 200 GeV and 500 GeV in transversely polarized proton-proton collisions in the pseudo-rapidity region 2.7 to 4.0. The results at the two different energies show a continuous increase of the TSSA with Feynman-$x$, and, when compared to previous measurements, no dependence on $\sqrt s$ from 19.4 GeV to 500 GeV is found. To investigate the underlying physics leading to this large TSSA, different topologies have been studied. $\pi^0$ with no nearby particles tend to have a higher TSSA than inclusive $\pi^0$. The TSSA for inclusive electromagnetic jets, sensitive to the Sivers effect in the initial state, is substantially smaller, but shows the same behavior as the inclusive $\pi^0$ asymmetry as a function of Feynman-$x$. To investigate final-state effects, the Collins asymmetry of $\pi^0$ inside electromagnetic jets has been measured. The Collins asymmetry is analyzed for its dependence on the $\pi^0$ momentum transverse to the jet thrust axis and its dependence on the fraction of jet energy carried by the $\pi^0$. The asymmetry was found to be small in each case for both center-of-mass energies. All the measurements are compared to QCD-based theoretical calculations for transverse-momentum-dependent parton distribution functions and fragmentation functions. Some discrepancies are found, which indicates new mechanisms might be involved.

W-boson production in polarized proton-proton collisions at RHIC through next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative QCD

We perform a study of W-boson production in polarized proton-proton collisions through next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) in perturbative QCD. This calculation is required to extend the extraction of polarized parton distribution functions to NNLO accuracy. We present differential distributions at s=510 GeV, relevant for comparison to measurements from the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The NNLO QCD corrections significantly reduce the scale dependence of the cross section. We compare the longitudinal single-spin asymmetries as a function of lepton pseudorapidity to RHIC data. The asymmetries exhibit excellent stability under perturbative QCD corrections.

Comparison of transverse single-spin asymmetries for forward π0 production in polarized pp , pAl and pAu collisions at nucleon pair c.m. energy sNN=200 GeV

The STAR Collaboration reports a measurement of the transverse single-spin asymmetries, $A_{N}$, for neutral pions produced in polarized proton collisions with protons ($pp$), with aluminum nuclei ($p\rm{Al}$) and with gold nuclei ($p\rm{Au}$) at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV. Neutral pions are observed in the forward direction relative to the transversely polarized proton beam, in the pseudo-rapidity region $2.7<\eta<3.8$. Results are presented for $\pi^0$s observed in the STAR FMS electromagnetic calorimeter in narrow Feynman x ($x_F$) and transverse momentum ($p_T$) bins, spanning the range $0.17<x_F<0.81$ and $1.7<p_{T}<6.0$ GeV/$c$. For fixed $x_F<0.47$, the asymmetries are found to rise with increasing transverse momentum. For larger $x_F$, the asymmetry flattens or falls as ${p_T}$ increases. Parametrizing the ratio $r(A) \equiv A_N(pA)/A_N(pp)=A^P$ over the kinematic range, the ratio $r(A)$ is found to depend only weakly on $A$, with ${\langle}P{\rangle} = -0.027 \pm 0.005$. No significant difference in $P$ is observed between the low-$p_T$ region, $p_T<2.5$ GeV/$c$, where gluon saturation effects may play a role, and the high-$p_T$ region, $p_T>2.5$ GeV/$c$. It is further observed that the value of $A_N$ is significantly larger for events with a large-$p_T$ isolated $\pi^0$ than for events with a non-isolated $\pi^0$ accompanied by additional jet-like fragments. The nuclear dependence $r(A)$ is similar for isolated and non-isolated $\pi^0$ events.

Investigating the Transverse Momentum Dependent Gluon Sivers Function in Quarkonium Production at pp Colliders

In this contribution, we will present a short overview of the transverse momentum dependent (TMD) approach as a tool for studying the 3-dimensional structure of hadrons in high-energy (un)polarized hadron collisions. We will then summarize the present status of a running research programme that aims at constraining the poorly known transverse momentum dependent gluon Sivers function, through the study of single spin asymmetries in quarkonium (mainly $J/\psi$), pion, and $D$-meson production in polarized proton-proton collisions at RHIC. Finally, we will shortly discuss perspectives for this field of research, emphasizing in particular its role in the physics programme of LHC in the fixed-target setup and NICA.

Probing the Pomeron spin structure with Coulomb-nuclear interference

Polarized pp elastic scattering at small angles in the Coulomb-nuclear interference (CNI) region offers a unique opportunity to study the spin structure of the Pomeron. Electromagnetic effects in elastic amplitude can be equivalently treated either as Coulomb corrections to the hadronic amplitude (Coulomb phase), or as absorption corrections to the Coulomb scattering amplitude. We perform the first calculation of the Coulomb phase for the spin-flip amplitude and found it significantly exceeding the widely used non-flip Coulomb phase. The alternative description in terms of absorption corrections, though equivalent, turned out to be a more adequate approach for the Coulomb corrected spin-flip amplitude. Inspired by the recent high statistics measurements of single-spin asymmetry with the HJET polarimeter at the BNL, we also performed a Regge analysis of data, aiming at disentangling the Pomeron contribution. However, in spite of an exceptional accuracy of the data, they do not allow to single out the Pomeron term, which strongly correlates with the major sub-leading Reggeons. A stable solution can be accessed only by making additional ad hoc assumptions, e.g. assuming the Pomeron to be a simple Regge pole, or fixing some unknown parameters. Otherwise, in addition to the STAR data at s=200GeV new measurements, say at 100GeV or 500GeV, could become decisive.

Transverse single-spin asymmetries of midrapidity π0 and η mesons in polarized p+p collisions at s=200 GeV

We present a measurement of the transverse single-spin asymmetry for $\pi^0$ and $\eta$ mesons in $p^\uparrow$$+$$p$ collisions in the pseudorapidity range $|\eta|<0.35$ and at a center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV with the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. In comparison with previous measurements in this kinematic region, these results have a factor of 3 smaller uncertainties. As hadrons, $\pi^0$ and $\eta$ mesons are sensitive to both initial- and final-state nonperturbative effects for a mix of parton flavors. Comparisons of the differences in their transverse single-spin asymmetries have the potential to disentangle the possible effects of strangeness, isospin, or mass. These results can constrain the twist-3 trigluon collinear correlation function as well as the gluon Sivers function.

Transverse momentum dependent forward neutron single spin asymmetries in transversely polarized p+p collisions at s=200 GeV

In 2015, the PHENIX collaboration has measured very forward ($\eta>6.8$) single-spin asymmetries of inclusive neutrons in transversely polarized proton-proton and proton-nucleus collisions at a center of mass energy of 200 GeV. A previous publication from this data set concentrated on the nuclear dependence of such asymmetries. In this measurement the explicit transverse-momentum dependence of inclusive neutron single spin asymmetries for proton-proton collisions is extracted using a bootstrapping-unfolding technique on the transverse momenta. This explicit transverse-momentum dependence will help improve the understanding of the mechanisms that create these asymmetries.

Instanton induced transverse single spin asymmetry for π0 production in pp scattering

We calculate the production cross-section and the transverse single-spin asymmetry for pion in $p^{\uparrow}+p\to \pi^0 + X$. Our computation is based on existence of the instanton induced effective quark-gluon and quark-gluon-pion interactions with a strong spin dependency. In this framework we calculate the cross section without using fragmentation functions. We compare predictions of the model with data from RHIC. Our numerical results, based on the instanton liquid model for QCD vacuum, are in agreement with unpolarized cross section data. The asymmetry grows with the transverse momentum of pion $k_t$ in accordance with experimental observations. It reach value $\sim 10\%$ but at higher $k_t$ than experiment shows.

Beam Spin Asymmetry in Semi-Inclusive Electroproduction of Hadron Pairs.

A first measurement of the longitudinal beam spin asymmetry A_{LU} in the semi-inclusive electroproduction of pairs of charged pions is reported. A_{LU} is a higher-twist observable and offers the cleanest access to the nucleon twist-3 parton distribution function e(x). Data have been collected in the Hall-B at Jefferson Lab by impinging a 5.498-GeV electron beam on a liquid-hydrogen target, and reconstructing the scattered electron and the pion pair with the CLAS detector. One-dimensional projections of the A_{LU}^{sinϕ_{R}} moments are extracted for the kinematic variables of interest in the valence quark region. The understanding of dihadron production is essential for the interpretation of observables in single-hadron production in semi-inclusive DIS, and pioneering measurements of single-spin asymmetries in dihadron production open a new avenue in studies of QCD dynamics.

Reweighting the Sivers function with jet data from STAR

The reweighting procedure that using Bayesian statistics incorporates the information contained in a new data set, without the need of re-fitting, is applied to the quark Sivers function extracted from Semi-Inclusive Deep Inelastic Scattering (SIDIS) data. We exploit the recently published single spin asymmetry data for the inclusive jet production in polarized pp collisions from the STAR Collaboration at RHIC, which cover a much wider x region compared to SIDIS measurements. The reweighting method is extended to the case of asymmetric errors and the results show a remarkable improvement of the knowledge of the quark Sivers function.