Partonic Transverse Motion in Unpolarized Semi-Inclusive Deep Inelastic Scattering

We analyse the role of partonic transverse motion in unpolarized Semi-Inclusive Deep Inelastic Scattering (SIDIS) processes. Imposing appropriate kinematical conditions, we find some constraints which fix an upper limit to the range of allowed kt values and lead to interesting results, particularly for some observables like the azimuthal modulation of the unpolarized SIDIS cross section and the average transverse momentum of the final, detected hadron.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 US

p p Elastic Scattering at LHC and Nucleon Structure

High energy elastic $p p$ scattering at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at c.m. energy 14 TeV is predicted using the asymptotic behavior of $\sigma_{tot}(s)$ and $\rho(s)$ known from dispersion relation calculations and the measured elastic $\bar p p$ differential cross section at $\sqrt{s} = 546 {\rm GeV}$. The effective field theory model underlying the phenomenological analysis describes the nucleon as having an outer cloud of quark-antiquark condensed ground state, an inner core of topological baryonic charge of radius $\simeq 0.44F$ and a still smaller valence quark-bag of radius $\lesssim 0.1 {\rm F}$. The LHC experiment TOTEM (Total and Elastic Measurement), if carried out with sufficient precision from $|t| = 0$ to $|t| > 10 {\rm GeV^2}$, will be able to test this structure of the nucleon.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, to be published in the Modern Physics Letters

Role of transverse momentum dependence of unpolarised parton distribution and fragmentation functions in the analysis of azimuthal spin asymmetries

Information on the Sivers distribution and the Collins fragmentation functions and their transverse momentum dependence is mainly based on fitting single spin asymmetry data from semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering (SIDIS). Independent information, respectively on the Sivers distribution and the Collins fragmentation, can be obtained from Drell-Yan and $e^+e^-$ annihilation processes. In the SIDIS case, the transverse momentum of the final observed hadron, which is the quantity measured, is generated both by the average transverse momentum in the distribution and in the fragmentation functions. As a consequence, these are strongly correlated and a separate extraction is made difficult. In this paper we investigate, in a simple kinematical Gaussian configuration, this correlation, its role on the transverse single spin asymmetries in SIDIS and the consequences for predictions of the Sivers asymmetry in Drell-Yan processes and for the Collins asymmetry in $e^+e^-$ annihilation. We find that, in some cases, these effects can be relevant and must be carefully taken into account.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figures (18 eps plots

Study of the sign change of the Sivers function from STAR Collaboration W/Z production data

Recent data on the transverse single spin asymmetry $A_N$ measured by the STAR Collaboration for $p^\uparrow \, p \to W^\pm/Z^0 \, X$ reactions at RHIC allow the first investigation of the Sivers function in Drell-Yan processes and of its expected sign change with respect to SIDIS processes. A new extraction of the Sivers functions from the latest SIDIS data is performed and a critical assessment of the significance of the STAR data is attempted.Comment: 17 pages, 16 pdf figures, uses jheppub.st

Unpolarised Transverse Momentum Dependent Distribution and Fragmentation Functions from SIDIS Multiplicities

The unpolarised transverse momentum dependent distribution and fragmentation functions are extracted from HERMES and COMPASS experimental measurements of SIDIS multiplicities for charged hadron production. The data are grouped into independent bins of the kinematical variables, in which the TMD factorisation is expected to hold. A simple factorised functional form of the TMDs is adopted, with a Gaussian dependence on the intrinsic transverse momentum, which turns out to be quite adequate in shape. HERMES data do not need any normalisation correction, while fits of the COMPASS data much improve with a $y$-dependent overall normalisation factor. A comparison of the extracted TMDs with previous EMC and JLab data confirms the adequacy of the simple Gaussian distributions. The possible role of the TMD evolution is briefly considered.Comment: 21 pages, 16 figure

A study on the interplay between perturbative QCD and CSS/TMD formalism in SIDIS processes

We study the Semi-Inclusive Deep Inelastic Scattering (SIDIS) cross section as a function of the transverse momentum, $q_T$. In order to describe it over a wide region of $q_T$, soft gluon resummation has to be performed. Here we will use the original Collins-Soper-Sterman (CSS) formalism; however, the same procedure would hold within the improved Transverse Momentum Dependent (TMD) framework. We study the matching between the region where fixed order perturbative QCD can successfully be applied and the region where soft gluon resummation is necessary. We find that the commonly used prescription of matching through the so-called Y-factor cannot be applied in the SIDIS kinematical configurations we examine. In particular, the non-perturbative component of the resummed cross section turns out to play a crucial role and should not be overlooked even at relatively high energies. Moreover, the perturbative expansion of the resummed cross section in the matching region is not as reliable as it is usually believed and its treatment requires special attention.Comment: Two references and an appendix added, 22 pages, 11 figure