Wilson Lines off the Light-cone in TMD PDFs

Transverse Momentum Dependent (TMD) parton distribution functions (PDFs) also take into account the transverse momentum ($p_T$) of the partons. The $p_T$-integrated analogues can be linked directly to quark and gluon matrix elements using the operator product expansion in QCD, involving operators of definite twist. TMDs also involve operators of higher twist, which are not suppressed by powers of the hard scale, however. Taking into account gauge links that no longer are along the light-cone, one finds that new distribution functions arise. They appear at leading order in the description of azimuthal asymmetries in high-energy scattering processes. In analogy to the collinear operator expansion, we define a universal set of TMDs of definite rank and point out the importance for phenomenology.Comment: 12 pages, presented by the first author at the Light-Cone Conference 2013, May 20-24, 2013, Skiathos, Greece. To be published in Few Body System

Nuclear absorption of Charmoniums in pA and AA collisions

We have analysed the latest NA50 data on $J/\psi$ production in pA and AA collisions. The $J/\psi$ production is assumed to be a two step process, (i) formation of $c\bar{c}$ pairs, perturbatively calculable, and (ii) formation of $J/\psi$ from the pair, a non-perturbative process, which is conviniently parametrized. In a nuclear medium, as the $c\bar{c}$ pair passes through the nuclear medium, it gain relative square momentum and some of the pairs can gain enough square momentum to cross the threshold for open charm meson, leading to suppression in nuclear medium. Few parameters of the model were fixed from the latest high statistics NA50 pA and NA38 SU total $J/\psi$ cross sectional data. The model then reproduces the centrality dependence of $J/\psi$ over Drell-Yan ration in 200 GeV/c S+U and 158 GeV/c Pb+Pb collisions. We also discuss the centrality dependence of $J/\psi$ suppression at RHIC energy.Comment: 4 pages including 3 figures, Revised version, to be published in Phys.Rev.

The Construction of Gauge-Links in Arbitrary Hard Processes

Transverse momentum dependent parton distribution and fragmentation functions are described by hadronic matrix elements of bilocal products of field operators off the light-cone. These bilocal products contain gauge-links, as required by gauge-invariance. The gauge-links are path-ordered exponentials connecting the field operators along a certain integration path. This integration path is process-dependent, depending specifically on the short-distance partonic subprocess. In this paper we present the technical details needed in the calculation of the gauge-links and a calculational scheme is provided to obtain the gauge-invariant distribution and fragmentation correlators corresponding to a given partonic subprocess

J/ψJ/\psi suppression in Pb+Pb collisions and pTp_T broadening

We have analysed the NA50 data, on the centrality dependence of $p_T$ broadening of $J/\psi$'s, in Pb+Pb collisions, at the CERN-SPS. The data were analysed in a QCD based model, where $J/\psi$'s are suppressed in 'nuclear' medium. Without any free parameter, the model could explain the NA50 $p_T$ broadening data. The data were also analysed in a QGP based threshold model, where $J/\psi$ suppression is 100% above a critical density. The QGP based model could not explain the NA50 $p_T$ broadening data. We have also predicted the centrality dependence of $J/\psi$ suppression and $p_T$ broadening at RHIC energy. Both the models, the QGP based threshold model and the QCD based nuclear absorption model, predict $p_T$ broadening very close to each other.Comment: The paper was completely revised. The conclusion is also changed. 5 pages, 4 figure

Progressive transformation of a flux rope to an ICME

The solar wind conditions at one astronomical unit (AU) can be strongly disturbed by the interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs). A subset, called magnetic clouds (MCs), is formed by twisted flux ropes that transport an important amount of magnetic flux and helicity which is released in CMEs. At 1 AU from the Sun, the magnetic structure of MCs is generally modeled neglecting their expansion during the spacecraft crossing. However, in some cases, MCs present a significant expansion. We present here an analysis of the huge and significantly expanding MC observed by the Wind spacecraft during 9 and 10 November, 2004. After determining an approximated orientation for the flux rope using the minimum variance method, we precise the orientation of the cloud axis relating its front and rear magnetic discontinuities using a direct method. This method takes into account the conservation of the azimuthal magnetic flux between the in- and out-bound branches, and is valid for a finite impact parameter (i.e., not necessarily a small distance between the spacecraft trajectory and the cloud axis). Moreover, using the direct method, we find that the ICME is formed by a flux rope (MC) followed by an extended coherent magnetic region. These observations are interpreted considering the existence of a previous larger flux rope, which partially reconnected with its environment in the front. These findings imply that the ejected flux rope is progressively peeled by reconnection and transformed to the observed ICME (with a remnant flux rope in the front part).Comment: Solar Physics (in press

Earthshine observation of vegetation and implication for life detection on other planets - A review of 2001 - 2006 works

The detection of exolife is one of the goals of very ambitious future space missions that aim to take direct images of Earth-like planets. While associations of simple molecules present in the planet's atmosphere ($O_2$, $O_3$, $CO_2$ etc.) have been identified as possible global biomarkers, we review here the detectability of a signature of life from the planet's surface, i.e. the green vegetation. The vegetation reflectance has indeed a specific spectrum, with a sharp edge around 700 nm, known as the "Vegetation Red Edge" (VRE). Moreover vegetation covers a large surface of emerged lands, from tropical evergreen forest to shrub tundra. Thus considering it as a potential global biomarker is relevant. Earthshine allows to observe the Earth as a distant planet, i.e. without spatial resolution. Since 2001, Earthshine observations have been used by several authors to test and quantify the detectability of the VRE in the Earth spectrum. The egetation spectral signature is detected as a small 'positive shift' of a few percents above the continuum, starting at 700 nm. This signature appears in most spectra, and its strength is correlated with the Earth's phase (visible land versus visible ocean). The observations show that detecting the VRE on Earth requires a photometric relative accuracy of 1% or better. Detecting something equivalent on an Earth-like planet will therefore remain challenging, moreover considering the possibility of mineral artifacts and the question of 'red edge' universality in the Universe.Comment: Invited talk in "Strategies for Life Detection" (ISSI Bern, 24-28 April 2006) to appear in a hardcopy volume of the ISSI Space Science Series, Eds, J. Bada et al., and also in an issue of Space Science Reviews. 13 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl

Non-perturbative effects and the resummed Higgs transverse momentum distribution at the LHC

We investigate the form of the non-perturbative parameterization in both the impact parameter (b) space and transverse momentum (p_T) space resummation formalisms for the transverse momentum distribution of single massive bosons produced at hadron colliders. We propose to analyse data on Upsilon hadroproduction as a means of studying the non-perturbative contribution in processes with two gluons in the initial state. We also discuss the theoretical errors on the resummed Higgs transverse momentum distribution at the LHC arising from the non-perturbative contribution.Comment: 22 pages, 10 figure

J/psi suppression in heavy ion collisions by quark momentum diffusion

The momentum diffusion effect of the quark pair due to the multiple scattering in a nuclear medium is studied to explain the observed J/psi yields in SPS experiments. The resulting suppression is found to be insufficient to reproduce the J/psi yield in Pb-Pb collisions at SPS energy.Comment: 2 pages (1 figure

Transient Magnetic and Doppler Features Related to the White-light Flares in NOAA 10486

Rapidly moving transient features have been detected in magnetic and Doppler images of super-active region NOAA 10486 during the X17/4B flare of 28 October 2003 and the X10/2B flare of 29 October 2003. Both these flares were extremely energetic white-light events. The transient features appeared during impulsive phases of the flares and moved with speeds ranging from 30 to 50 km s$^{-1}$. These features were located near the previously reported compact acoustic \cite{Donea05} and seismic sources \cite{Zharkova07}. We examine the origin of these features and their relationship with various aspects of the flares, {\it viz.}, hard X-ray emission sources and flare kernels observed at different layers - (i) photosphere (white-light continuum), (ii) chromosphere (H$\alpha$ 6563\AA), (iii) temperature minimum region (UV 1600\AA), and (iv) transition region (UV 284\AA).Comment: 26 pages, 13 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in Solar Physic

Light-cone QCD Sum Rules for the Λ\Lambda Baryon Electromagnetic Form Factors and its magnetic moment

We present the light-cone QCD sum rules up to twist 6 for the electromagnetic form factors of the $\Lambda$ baryon. To estimate the magnetic moment of the baryon, the magnetic form factor is fitted by the dipole formula. The numerical value of our estimation is $\mu_\Lambda=-(0.64\pm0.04)\mu_N$, which is in accordance with the experimental data and the existing theoretical results. We find that it is twist 4 but not the leading twist distribution amplitudes that dominate the results.Comment: 13 page, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Euro. Phys. J.