Constraints on Gluon Sivers Distribution from RHIC Results

We consider the recent RHIC data on the transverse single spin asymmetry (SSA) A_N, measured in p(transv. polarized) p --> pion X processes at mid-rapidity by the PHENIX Collaboration. We analyze this experimental information within a hard scattering approach based on a generalized QCD factorization scheme, with unintegrated, transverse momentum dependent (TMD), parton distribution and fragmentation functions. In this kinematical region, only the gluon Sivers effect could give a large contribution to A_N; its vanishing value is thus used to give approximate upper limits on the gluon Sivers function (GSF). Additional constraints from the Burkardt sum rule for the Sivers distributions are also discussed.Comment: LaTeX 2e, 4 pages, 2 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

General helicity formalism for Single and Double Spin Asymmetries in p p --> pion + X

We consider within a generalized QCD factorization approach, the high energy inclusive polarized process p p --> pion + X, including all intrinsic partonic motions. Several new spin and k_T-dependent soft functions appear and contribute to cross sections and spin asymmetries. We present here formal expressions for transverse single spin asymmetries and double longitudinal ones. The transverse single spin asymmetry, A_N, is considered in detail, and all contributions are evaluated numerically. It is shown that the azimuthal phase integrations strongly suppress most contributions, leaving at work mainly the Sivers effect.Comment: LaTeX, 5 pages, 1 eps figure, uses epsfig, wrapfig. Talk delivered by S. Melis at the ``XI Workshop on High Energy Spin Physics'', SPIN 05, September 27 - October 1, 2005, Dubna, Russi

Helicity Formalism and Spin Asymmetries in Hadronic Processes

We present a generalized QCD factorization scheme for the high energy inclusive polarized process, (A, S_A) + (B, S_B) -> C + X, including all intrinsic partonic motions. This introduces many non-trivial azimuthal phases and several new spin and k_T dependent soft functions. The formal expressions for single and double spin asymmetries are discussed. Numerical results for A_N[p(transv. polarized) p -> pi + X] are presented.Comment: 8 pages, 4 ps figures, uses ws-procs9x6.cls and rotating_pr.sty (included). Talk delivered by F. Murgia at the "International Workshop on Transverse Polarisation Phenomena in Hard Processes" (TRANSVERSITY 2005), September 7-10 2005, Como, Ital

Proteomics of Cytochrome c Oxidase-Negative versus -Positive Muscle Fiber Sections in Mitochondrial Myopathy

The mosaic distribution of cytochrome c oxidase(+) (COX+) and COX - muscle fibers in mitochondrial disorders allows the sampling of fibers with compensated and decompensated mitochondrial function from the same individual. We apply laser capture microdissection to excise individual COX+ and COX- fibers from the biopsies of mitochondrial myopathy patients. Using mass spectrometry-based proteomics, we quantify >4,000 proteins per patient. While COX+ fibers show a higher expression of respiratory chain components, COX- fibers display protean adaptive responses, including upregulation of mitochondrial ribosomes, translation proteins, and chaperones. Upregulated proteins include C1QBP, required for mitoribosome formation and protein synthesis, and STOML2, which organizes cardiolipin-enriched microdomains and the assembly of respiratory supercomplexes. Factoring in fast/slow fiber type, COX (-) slow fibers show a compensatory upregulation of beta-oxidation, the AAA(+) protease AFG3L1, and the OPA1-dependent cristae remodeling program. These findings reveal compensatory mechanisms in muscle fibers struggling with energy shortage and metabolic stress

Sivers effect in Drell-Yan processes

The Sivers distributions recently extracted from semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering data [1] are used to compute estimates for Sivers asymmetries in Drell-Yan processes which are being planned at several facilities (RHIC, COMPASS, J-PARC, PAX, PANDA, NICA (JINR) and SPASCHARM (IHEP)). Most of these asymmetries turn out to be large and could allow a clear test of the predicted sign change of the Sivers distributions when active in SIDIS and Drell-Yan processes. This is regarded as a fundamental test of our understanding, within QCD and the factorization scheme, of single spin asymmetries.Comment: RevTeX4, 12 pages, 23 eps figure

Sivers distribution functions and the latest SIDIS data

We present an extraction of the Sivers distribution functions from the most recent experimental data of the HERMES and COMPASS experiments, assuming a negligible contribution of sea quark Sivers functions.Comment: To appear in the Proceedings of the XIX International Workshop on Deep-Inelastic Scattering and Related Subjects (DIS 2011), April 11-15, 2011, Newport News, VA USA. Typo corrected in Table

Sivers and Collins effects in polarized pp scattering processes

We summarize the present phenomenology of Sivers and Collins effects for transverse single spin asymmetries in polarized proton-proton collisions within the framework of the generalized parton model (GPM). We will discuss a reassessment of the Collins effect and some preliminary predictions for SSA's in p(pol) p -> pi,K + X processes at RHIC obtained using updated information from SIDIS data and a new set of meson fragmentation functions.Comment: 8 pages, 10 eps figures, uses ws-procs9x6.cls; Talk presented by F. Murgia at the II International Workshop on Transverse Polarisation Phenomena in Hard Processes (Transversity 2008), May 28-31, 2008, Ferrara (Italy

Single spin asymmetries in l p --> h X processes: a test of factorization

Predictions for the transverse single spin asymmetry (SSA), A_N, are given for the inclusive processes l p(transv. pol.) --> h X and l p(transv. pol.) --> jet + X, which could be measured in operating or future experiments. These estimates are based on the Sivers distributions and the Collins fragmentation functions which fit the azimuthal asymmetries measured in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering (SIDIS) processes (l p(transv. pol.) --> l' h X). The factorization in terms of transverse momentum dependent distribution and fragmentation functions (TMD factorization) - which supplies the theoretical framework in which SIDIS azimuthal asymmetries are analyzed - is assumed to hold also for the l p --> h X inclusive process at large P_T. A measurement of A_N would then provide a direct test of the validity of the TMD factorization in this case and would have important consequences for the study and understanding of SSAs in p p(transv. pol.) --> h X processes.Comment: RevTeX4, 16 pages, 13 ps figures; v2: a short paragraph and 3 references added in the introduction; matches the version published in Phys. Rev.