Transverse Momentum Dependent Fragmentation Research Articles

Transverse momentum dependent factorization for SIDIS at next-to-leading power

The semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering (SIDIS) is the golden process for investigating the nucleon’s transverse momentum-dependent (TMD) structure. We present the complete expression for SIDIS structure functions in the TMD factorization formalism at the next-to-leading power. All perturbative elements of the factorization theorem—coefficient functions and evolution kernels—are presented at one-loop accuracy. We found several differences with earlier derivations, which are due to accounting for nontrivial kinematics of the quark-gluon interference terms. As a side result, we present the definition and evolution of twist-three TMD fragmentation functions, including the leading-order evolution kernel. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Transverse momentum-dependent heavy-quark fragmentation at next-to-leading order

The transverse momentum-dependent fragmentation functions (TMD FFs) of heavy (bottom and charm) quarks, which we recently introduced, are universal building blocks that enter predictions for a large number of observables involving final-state heavy quarks or hadrons. They enable the extension of fixed-order subtraction schemes to quasi-collinear limits, and are of particular interest in their own right as probes of the nonperturbative dynamics of hadronization. In this paper we calculate all TMD FFs involving heavy quarks and the associated TMD matrix element in heavy-quark effective theory (HQET) to next-to-leading order in the strong interaction. Our results confirm the renormalization properties, large-mass, and small-mass consistency relations predicted in our earlier work. We also derive and confirm a prediction for the large-z behavior of the heavy-quark TMD FF by extending, for the first time, the formalism of joint resummation to capture quark mass effects in heavy-quark fragmentation. Our final results in position space agree with those of a recent calculation by another group that used a highly orthogonal organization of singularities in the intermediate momentum-space steps, providing a strong independent cross check. As an immediate application, we present the complete quark mass dependence of the energy-energy correlator (EEC) in the back-to-back limit at Oαs\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\mathcal{O}\\left({\\alpha}_s\\right) $$\\end{document}.

Heavy quark transverse momentum dependent fragmentation

In this paper, we investigate the heavy quark (HQ) mass effects on the transverse momentum dependent fragmentation function (TMDFF). We first calculate the one-loop TMDFF initiated by a heavy quark. We then investigate the HQ TMDFF in the limit where the transverse momentum, q⊥ is small compared to the heavy quark mass, q⊥ ≪ m and also in the opposite limit where q⊥ ≫ m. As applications of the HQ TMDFF, we study the HQ transverse momentum dependent jet fragmentation function, where the heavy quark fragments into a jet containing a heavy hadron, and we investigate a heavy hadron’s transverse momentum dependent distribution with respect to the thrust axis in e+e− collisions.

Transverse momentum dependent shape function for J/ψ production in SIDIS

It has been shown previously that the transverse momentum dependent (TMD) factorization of heavy quarkonium production requires a TMD shape function. Its perturbative tail can be extracted by matching the cross sections valid at low and high transverse momenta. In this article we compare the order-αs TMD expressions with the order- {alpha}_s^2 collinear ones for J/ψ production in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering (SIDIS), employing nonrelativistic QCD in both cases. In contrast to previous studies, we find that the small transverse momentum limit of the collinear expressions contains discontinuities. We demonstrate how to properly deal with them and include their finite contributions to the TMD shape functions. Moreover, we show that soft gluon emission from the low transverse momentum Born diagrams provide the same leading order TMD shape functions as required for the matching. Their revised perturbative tails have a less divergent behavior as compared to the TMD fragmentation functions of light hadrons. Finally, we investigate the universality of TMD shape functions in heavy quarkonium production, identify the need for process dependent factorization and discuss the phenomenological implications.

T-even transverse momentum dependent gluon fragmentation functions in a spectator model

We present a model calculation of transverse momentum dependent (TMD) gluon fragmentation functions in both spin-1/2 and spin-0 hadrons. Our approach is based on the postulation that a time-like off-shell gluon can fragment into a hadron and a single spectator particle. So far, such spectator models have been restricted to TMD distribution functions of quarks and gluon as well TMD fragmentation function of quarks. The effective coupling between the gluon-hadron-spectator system is described by a vertex composed of two form factors. We obtain analytical expressions for the four T-even TMD fragmentation functions of the gluon. We also provide numerical results on the z-dependence and kT-dependence of the fragmentation functions. Our analysis reveals the non-negligible impact of these fragmentation functions, which could potentially be explored in forthcoming experimental measurements.

Nuclear Modification of Transverse Momentum Dependent Parton Distribution Functions by a Global QCD Analysis.

We perform the first simultaneous global QCD extraction of the transverse momentum dependent (TMD) parton distribution functions and the TMD fragmentation functions in nuclei. We have considered the world set of data from semi-inclusive electron-nucleus deep inelastic scattering and Drell-Yan dilepton production. In total, this data set consists of 90 data points from HERMES, Fermilab, RHIC, and LHC. Working at next-to-leading order and next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy, we achieve a χ^{2}/d.o.f.=1.196. In this analysis, we perform the first extraction of nuclear modified TMDs and compare these to those in free nucleons. We also make predictions for the ongoing JLab 12GeV program and future electron-ion collider measurements.

Phenomenological extraction of a universal TMD fragmentation function from single hadron production in $e^+ e^-$ annihilations

Factorizing the cross section for single hadron production in e^+e^-e+e− annihilations, differential in z_hzh, P_TPT and thrust, is a highly non trivial task. We have devised a factorization scheme that allows us to recast the e^+e^- \to hXe+e−→hX cross section in the convolution of a calculable hard coefficient and a universal Transverse Momentum Dependent (TMD) Fragmentation Function (FF). The predictions obtained from our NLO-LL perturbative computation, together with a simple ansatz to model the non-perturbative part of the TMD, are applied to the experimental measurements of the BELLE Collaboration for the phenomenological extraction of this process independent TMD FF.

Transverse Lambda production at the future Electron-Ion Collider

We provide a comprehensive overview of transversely polarized $\Lambda$ production at the future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC). In particular, we study both spontaneous transverse $\Lambda$ polarization as well as the transverse spin transfer within the Transverse Momentum Dependent (TMD) factorization region. To describe spontaneous $\Lambda$ polarization, we consider the contribution from the TMD Polarizing Fragmentation Function (TMD PFF). Similarly, we study the contribution of the transverse spin transfer originating from the transversity TMD Fragmentation Function (TMD FF). We provide projections for the statistical uncertainties in the corresponding spin observables at the future EIC. Using these statistical uncertainties, we characterize the role that the future EIC will play in constraining these distributions. We perform an impact study in the semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering process for spontaneous $\Lambda$ polarization with a proton beam. We find that the projected experimental data leads to a significant decrease in the uncertainties for the $u$ and sea TMD PFFs. Furthermore, to access the impact of the EIC on the transversity TMD FF, we perform the first extraction of the transversity TMD FF from the recent COMPASS data. We compare the statistical uncertainties of the future EIC with the theoretical uncertainties from our extraction and find that the EIC could have a significant role in constraining this distribution. Finally, we also provide projections for both spontaneous $\Lambda$ polarization as well as the transverse spin transfer inside the jets in back-to-back electron-jet production at the EIC.

General helicity formalism for two-hadron production in e+e\u2212 annihilation within a TMD approach

We present the complete leading-order results for the azimuthal dependences and polarization observables in e+e−→ h1h2 + X processes, where the two hadrons are produced almost back-to-back, within a transverse momentum dependent (TMD) factorization scheme. We consider spinless (or unpolarized) and spin-1/2 hadron production and give the full set of the corresponding quark and gluon TMD fragmentation functions (TMD-FFs). By adopting the helicity formalism, which allows for a more direct probabilistic interpretation, single- and double-polarization cases are discussed in detail. Simplified expressions, useful for phenomenological analyses, are obtained by assuming a factorized Gaussian-like dependence on intrinsic transverse momenta for the TMD-FFs.

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.

Joint thrust and TMD resummation in electron-positron and electron-proton collisions

We present the framework for obtaining precise predictions for the transverse momentum of hadrons with respect to the thrust axis in e+e− collisions. This will enable a precise extraction of transverse momentum dependent (TMD) fragmentation functions from a recent measurement by the Belle Collaboration. Our analysis takes into account, for the first time, the nontrivial interplay between the hadron transverse momentum and the cut on the thrust event shape. To this end, we identify three different kinematic regions, derive the corresponding factorization theorems within Soft Collinear Effective Theory, and present all ingredients needed for the joint resummation of the transverse momentum and thrust spectrum at NNLL accuracy. One kinematic region can give rise to non-global logarithms (NGLs), and we describe how to include the leading NGLs. We also discuss alternative measurements in e+e− collisions that can be used to access the TMD fragmentation function. Finally, by using crossing symmetry, we obtain a new way to constrain TMD parton distributions, by measuring the displacement of the thrust axis in ep collisions.

Efficient Fourier transforms for transverse momentum dependent distributions

Hadron production at low transverse momenta in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering can be described by transverse momentum dependent (TMD) factorization. This formalism has also been widely used to study the Drell–Yan process and back-to-back hadron pair production in e+e− collisions. These processes are the main ones for extractions of TMD parton distribution functions and TMD fragmentation functions, which encode important information about nucleon structure and hadronization. One of the most widely used TMD factorization formalism in phenomenology formulates TMD observables in coordinate b⊥-space, the conjugate space of the transverse momentum. The Fourier transform from b⊥-space back into transverse momentum space is sufficiently complicated due to oscillatory integrands that it requires a careful and computationally intensive numerical treatment in order to avoid potentially large numerical errors. Within the TMD formalism, the azimuthal angular dependence is analytically integrated and the two-dimensional b⊥ integration reduces to a one-dimensional integration over the magnitude b⊥. In this paper we develop a fast numerical Hankel transform algorithm for such a b⊥-integration that improves the numerical accuracy of TMD calculations in all standard processes. Libraries for this algorithm are implemented in Python 2.7 and 3, C++, as well as FORTRAN77. All packages are made available open source. Program summaryProgram Title: Fast Bessel Transform (FBT)CPC Library link to program files:http://dx.doi.org/10.17632/65zkb53z8d.1Developer’s repository link:http://github.com/UCLA-TMD/OgataLicensing provisions: MITProgramming language: Python 2/3, C++, FORTRAN77Nature of problem: In order to perform extractions of transverse momentum distribution functions, numerical Hankel transforms must be performed from b⊥-space to momentum space. However, these numerical Hankel transforms are a huge bottleneck in these extractions, making these extractions extremely computationally intensive.Solution method: We develop a numerical Hankel transform algorithm by optimizing Ogata quadrature formula. This algorithm improves the performance of these numerical Hankel transforms by nearly an order of magnitude.

Collinear factorization in wide-angle hadron pair production in e+e− annihilation

We compute the inclusive unpolarized dihadron production cross section in the far from back-to-back region of $e^+ e^-$ annihilation in leading order pQCD using existing fragmentation function fits and standard collinear factorization, focusing on the large transverse momentum region where transverse momentum is comparable to the hard scale (the center-of-mass energy). We compare with standard transverse-momentum-dependent (TMD) fragmentation function-based predictions intended for the small transverse momentum region with the aim of testing the expectation that the two types of calculation roughly coincide at intermediate transverse momentum. We find significant tension, within the intermediate transverse momentum region, between calculations done with existing non-perturbative TMD fragmentation functions and collinear factorization calculations if the center-of-mass energy is not extremely large. We argue that $e^+ e^-$ measurements are ideal for resolving this tension and exploring the large-to-small transverse momentum transition, given the typically larger hard scales ($\gtrsim 10$ GeV) of the process as compared with similar scenarios that arise in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering and fixed-target Drell-Yan measurements.

Jet fragmentation functions for Z-tagged jets

Recently the LHCb collaboration has measured both longitudinal and transverse momentum distribution of hadrons produced inside Z-tagged jets in proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider. These distributions are commonly referred to as jet fragmentation functions and are characterized by the longitudinal momentum fraction zh of the jet carried by the hadron and the transverse momentum j⊥ with respect to the jet direction. We derive a QCD formalism within Soft-Collinear Effective Theory to describe these distributions and find that the zh-dependence provides information on standard collinear fragmentation functions, while j⊥-dependence probes transverse momentum dependent (TMD) fragmentation functions. We perform theoretical calculations and compare our results with the LHCb data. We find good agreement for the intermediate zh region. For j⊥-dependence, we suggest binning in both zh and j⊥, which would lead to a more direct probing of TMD fragmentation functions.

Transverse Momentum Dependent Observables from Low to High Energy: Factorization, Evolution, and Global Analyses

Transverse momentum dependent (TMD) observables in high-energy particle collisions allow one to study the motion of hadron constituents (partons) in three dimensions. The intense theoretical, phenomenological, and experimental work over the last several decades has seen great progress in modeling and extracting TMD parton distribution functions (PDFs) and fragmentation functions (FFs) [1, 2]. The wealth of experimental data, both current and future [3–6], across various reactions and energy ranges, along with substantial progress in other approaches, such as Lattice QCD [7], has increased the demand to rigorously study the intrinsic transverse motion of hadrons. Such issues currently being addressed include factorization, evolution, and operator definitions of TMD distributions, as well as how they influence phenomenological and Lattice QCD studies. Therefore, in this special issue we attempt to further the effort of understanding TMD structure through a series of review articles that address some of the significant areas of ongoing research.

The transverse momentum distribution of hadrons within jets

We study the transverse momentum distribution of hadrons within jets, where the transverse momentum is defined with respect to the standard jet axis. We consider the case where the jet substructure measurement is performed for an inclusive jet sample pp → jet + X. We demonstrate that this observable provides new opportunities to study transverse momentum dependent fragmentation functions (TMDFFs) which are currently poorly constrained from data, especially for gluons. The factorization of the cross section is obtained within Soft Collinear Effective Theory (SCET), and we show that the relevant TMDFFs are the same as for the more traditional processes semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering (SIDIS) and electron-positron annihilation. Different than in SIDIS, the observable for the in-jet fragmentation does not depend on TMD parton distribution functions which allows for a cleaner and more direct probe of TMDFFs. We present numerical results and compare to available data from the LHC.

Jet axes and universal transverse-momentum-dependent fragmentation

We study the transverse momentum spectrum of hadrons in jets. By measuring the transverse momentum with respect to a judiciously chosen axis, we find that this observable is insensitive to (the recoil of) soft radiation. Furthermore, for small transverse momenta we show that the effects of the jet boundary factorize, leading to a new transverse-momentum-dependent (TMD) fragmentation function. In contrast to the usual TMD fragmentation functions, it does not involve rapidity divergences and is universal in the sense that it is independent of the type of process and number of jets. These results directly apply to sub-jets instead of hadrons. We discuss potential applications, which include studying nuclear modification effects in heavy-ion collisions and identifying boosted heavy resonances.

Unpolarized transverse momentum dependent parton distribution and fragmentation functions at next-to-next-to-leading order

The transverse momentum dependent parton distribution/fragmentation functions (TMDs) are essential in the factorization of a number of processes like Drell-Yan scattering, vector boson production, semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering, etc. We provide a comprehensive study of unpolarized TMDs at next-to-next-to-leading order, which includes an explicit calculation of these TMDs and an extraction of their matching coefficients onto their integrated analogues, for all flavor combinations. The obtained matching coefficients are important for any kind of phenomenology involving TMDs. In the present study each individual TMD is calculated without any reference to a specific process. We recover the known results for parton distribution functions and provide new results for the fragmentation functions. The results for the gluon transverse momentum dependent fragmentation functions are presented for the first time at one and two loops. We also discuss the structure of singularities of TMD operators and TMD matrix elements, crossing relations between TMD parton distribution functions and TMD fragmentation functions, and renormalization group equations. In addition, we consider the behavior of the matching coefficients at threshold and make a conjecture on their structure to all orders in perturbation theory.

Quark-jet model for transverse momentum dependent fragmentation functions

In order to describe the hadronization of polarized quarks, we discuss an extension of the quark-jet model to transverse momentum dependent fragmentation functions. The description is based on a product ansatz, where each factor in the product represents one of the transverse momentum dependent splitting functions, which can be calculated by using effective quark theories. The resulting integral equations and sum rules are discussed in detail for the case of inclusive pion production. In particular, we demonstrate that the 3-dimensional momentum sum rules are satisfied naturally in this transverse momentum dependent quark-jet model. Our results are well suited for numerical calculations in effective quark theories, and can be implemented in Monte-Carlo simulations of polarized quark hadronization processes.

Transverse momentum dependent fragmentation function at next-to–next-to–leading order

We calculate the unpolarized transverse momentum dependent fragmentation function (TMDFF) at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO), evaluating separately TMD soft factor and TMD collinear correlator. For the first time the cancellation of spurious rapidity divergences in a properly defined individual TMD beyond the first non-trivial order is shown. This represents a strong check of the given TMD definition. We extract the matching coefficient necessary to perform the transverse momentum resummation at next-to-next-to-next-to-leading-logarithmic accuracy. The universal character of the soft function, which enters the definition of all (un)polarized TMD distribution/fragmentation functions, facilitates the future calculation of all the other TMDs and their coefficients at NNLO, pushing forward the accuracy of theoretical predictions for the current and next generation of high energy colliders.