English

Spin asymmetry at large x_F and k_T

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology 2008-11-26 v1

Abstract

We suggest that the large single spin asymmetries observed at high momentum fractions x_F and transverse momenta k_T of the pion in p^\uparrow p -> \pi(x_F,k_T)+X arise from the coherence of the soft interactions with the hard parton scattering process. Such coherence can be maintained if x_F -> 1 as k_T -> \infty, while k_T^2(1-x_F) ~ \Lambda_{QCD}^2 stays fixed. Analogous coherence effects have been seen experimentally in the Drell-Yan process at high x_F. We find that the p^\uparrow p -> \pi X production amplitudes have large dynamic phases and that helicity flip contributions are unsuppressed in this limit, giving rise to potentially large single spin asymmetries.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0710.0343,
  title  = {Spin asymmetry at large x_F and k_T},
  author = {M. Jarvinen},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0710.0343},
  year   = {2008}
}

Comments

3 pages, 1 figure. Talk given at EPS HEP 2007, Manchester