Transverse Momentum Dependent Distributions in Hadronic Collisions: p(transv. polarized) p --> D + X and p(transv. polarized) p --> gamma + X

Our understanding of the transverse spin structure of hadrons might definitely get improved by the information we gather on transverse momentum dependent (TMD) distributions. These new functions could also be crucial for a description of the observed transverse single spin asymmetries (SSA). In a hard scattering model for inclusive hadronic reactions, based on a generalized QCD factorization scheme, many mechanisms - namely the Sivers, Collins, Boer-Mulders effects - might contribute to a SSA. We show how the k_T dependent phases arising from the partonic kinematics together with a suitable choice of experimental configurations could help in disentangling the above mentioned effects. We discuss their potential role in two inclusive hadronic processes: heavy meson and photon production in pp and p pbar collisions.Comment: LaTeX 2e, 4 pages, 4 ps figures, uses aipproc.cls. Talk delivered by U. D'Alesio at the "17th International Spin Physics Symposium", SPIN2006, October 2-7, 2006, Kyoto, Japa

Parton intrinsic motion: unpolarized cross sections and the Sivers effect in inclusive particle production

We present a detailed study, performed in the framework of LO perturbative QCD with the inclusion of spin and k_T effects, of unpolarized cross sections for the Drell-Yan process and for inclusive pion and photon production in hadronic collisions, in different kinematical situations. We find a satisfactory agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental data. This supports the study of spin effects and transverse single spin asymmetries (SSA) within the same scheme. We then present results for SSA, generated by the so-called Sivers effect, in inclusive pion production in proton-proton collisions.Comment: LaTeX2e, 4 pages, 4 ps figures, uses ws-procs9x6. Talk delivered by F. Murgia at the ``16th International Spin Physics Symposium'', SPIN2004, October 10-16, 2004, Trieste, Ital

Towards a first estimate of the gluon Sivers function from ANA_N data in pppp collisions at RHIC

Within a generalized parton model approach, with inclusion of spin and intrinsic transverse momentum effects, we show how the latest, highly precise, midrapidity data on the transverse single spin asymmetry measured in $pp\to\pi^0\, X$ by the PHENIX Collaboration at RHIC [1], can be used to get a first estimate on the still poorly known gluon Sivers distribution. To this end we also adopt the present information on the quark Sivers functions, as extracted from semi-inclusive deeply inelastic scattering data. This analysis updates a previous study by some of us where a first bound on this distribution was obtained [2].Comment: RevTex4, 10 pages, 7 eps figures. V2: discussion on the process dependence of the quark Sivers function, with two new plots (Fig. 4), added in Section II. One reference added. Results unchanged. Matches the published versio

On the importance of Lorentz structure in the parton model: target mass corrections, transverse momentum dependence, positivity bounds

We show that respecting the underlying Lorentz structure in the parton model has very strong consequences. Failure to insist on the correct Lorentz covariance is responsible for the existence of contradictory results in the literature for the polarized structure function g_2(x), whereas with the correct imposition we are able to derive the Wandzura-Wilczek relation for g_2(x) and the target-mass corrections for polarized deep inelastic scattering without recourse to the operator product expansion. We comment briefly on the problem of threshold behaviour in the presence of target-mass corrections. Careful attention to the Lorentz structure has also profound implications for the structure of the transverse momentum dependent parton densities often used in parton model treatments of hadron production, allowing the k_T dependence to be derived explicitly. It also leads to stronger positivity and Soffer-type bounds than usually utilized for the collinear densities.Comment: RevTeX4, 17 pages, 7 eps figure

A general formalism for single and double spin asymmetries in inclusive hadron production

We present a calculation of single and double spin asymmetries for inclusive hadron production in hadronic collisions. Our approach is based on Leading Order (LO) perturbative QCD and generalized factorization theorems, with full account of intrinsic parton momentum, k_T, effects. This leads to a new class of spin and k_T-dependent distribution and fragmentation functions. Limiting ourselves to consider leading twist functions, we show how they could play a relevant role in producing non-vanishing spin asymmetries.Comment: LaTeX, 8 pages, uses ws-procs9x6.cls. Talk delivered by S. Melis at the ``X Convegno su Problemi di Fisica Nucleare Teorica'', October 6-9, 2004, Cortona, Ital

Single transverse spin asymmetries in inclusive hadron production

A consistent phenomenological approach to the computation of transverse single spin asymmetries in inclusive hadron production is presented, based on the assumed generalization of the QCD factorization theorem to the case in which quark intrinsic motion is taken into account. New k_T and spin dependent quark distribution and fragmentation functions are considered: some of them are fixed by fitting data on p(transv. polarized) + p -> pion + X and predictions are given for single spin asymmetries in l + p(transv. polarized) -> pion + X and gamma^* + p(transv. polarized) -> pion + X processes.Comment: LaTeX, 3 pages, 2 eps figures, uses epsfig.sty, fleqn.sty, npb.sty. Talk delivered by M. Anselmino at the 7th International Workshop on Deep Inelastic Scattering and QCD (DIS99), Zeuthen, April 1999, to appear in Nucl. Phys. B (Proc. Suppl.

Spin effects in the fragmentation of a transversely polarized quark

An azimuthal dependence of pions produced in polarized Deep Inelastic Scattering, gamma^* - p(transv. polarized) -> pion + X, has been recently observed and might be related to the so-called Collins effect. We discuss in details, for a general spin configuration of the nucleon, the kinematics of the process and methods of extracting information on the fragmentation properties of a polarized quark. Assuming that the observed azimuthal dependence is indeed due to Collins effect, we derive a lower bound estimate for the size of the quark analysing power, which turns out to be large.Comment: 18+1 pages, LaTeX, 5 eps figures, uses epsfig.sty; v2: Some technical problems in dimensions of Figs. 2 and 3 remove