Tomography for amplitudes of hard exclusive processes

We discuss which part of information about hadron structure encoded in the Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) [part of total GPD image] can be restored from the known amplitude of a hard exclusive process. The physics content of this partial image is analyzed. Among other things, we show that this partial image contains direct information about how the target hadron responses to the (string) quark–antiquark operator of arbitrary spin J. Explicit equations relating physics content of the partial image of GPDs directly to the data are derived. Also some new results concerning the dual parametrization of GPDs are presented.     

Helicity-dependent generalized parton distributions for nonzero skewness

We investigate the helicity-dependent generalized parton distributions (GPDs) in momentum as well as transverse position (impact) spaces for the u and d quarks in a proton when the momentum transfer in both the transverse and the longitudinal directions are nonzero. The GPDs are evaluated using the light-front wave functions of a quark–diquark model for nucleon where the wave functions are constructed by the soft-wall AdS/QCD correspondence. We also express the GPDs in the boost-invariant longitudinal position space.     

On Timelike Compton Scattering at Medium and High Energies

We emphasize the complementarity of timelike and spacelike studies of deep exclusive processes, taking as an example the case of timelike Compton scattering (TCS) i.e. the exclusive photoproduction of a lepton pair with large invariant mass, versus deeply virtual Compton scattering i.e. the exclusive leptoproduction of a real photon. Both amplitudes factorize with the same generalized parton distributions (GPDs) as their soft parts and coefficient functions which differ significantly at next to leading order in α _s . We also stress that data on TCS at very high energy should be available soon thanks to the study of ultraperipheral collisions at the LHC, opening a window on quark and gluon GPDs at very small skewness.     

Theoretical Description of Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering off 3He

Recently, coherent deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) off ³He nuclei has been proposed to access the neutron generalized parton distributions (GPDs). In impulse approximation (IA) studies, it has been shown, in particular, that the sum of the two leading twist, quark helicity conserving GPDs of ³He, H and E, at low momentum transfer, is dominated by the neutron contribution, so that ³He is very promising for the extraction of the neutron information. Nevertheless, such an extraction could be not trivial. A technique, able to take into account the nuclear effects included in the IA analysis in the extraction procedure, has been therefore developed. In this work, the IA calculation of the spin dependent GPD \({\tilde H}\) of ³He is presented for the first time. This quantity is found to be largely dominated, at low momentum transfer, by the neutron contribution, which could be extracted using arguments similar to the ones previously proposed for the other GPDs. The known forward limit of the IA calculation of \({\tilde H}\) , yielding the polarized parton distributions of ³He, is correctly recovered. The knowledge of the GPDs H, E and \({\tilde H}\) of ³He will allow now the evaluation of the cross section asymmetries which are relevant for coherent DVCS off ³He at Jefferson Lab kinematics, an important step towards the planning of possible experiments.     

Solving the leading-order evolution equation for generalized parton distributions

An analytic method for the solution of the evolution equation for generalized parton distributions (GPDs) is presented. The small x, xi asymptotics of GPDs are calculated.     

Sum rules and dualities for generalized parton distributions: is there a holographic principle?

To leading order approximation, the physical content of generalized parton distributions (GPDs) that is accessible in deep virtual electroproduction of photons or mesons is contained in their value on the cross-over trajectory. This trajectory separates the t-channel and s-channel dominated GPD regions. The underlying Lorentz covariance implies correspondence between these two regions through their relation to GPDs on the cross-over trajectory. This point of view leads to a family of GPD sum rules which are a quark analogue of finite energy sum rules and it guides us to a new phenomenological GPD concept. As an example, we discuss the constraints from the JLab/Hall A data on the dominant u-quark GPD H. The question arises whether GPDs are governed by some kind of holographic principle.     

Studies of the 3D structure of the proton at Jlab

In recent years parton distributions, describing longitudinal momentum, helicity and transversity distributions of quarks and gluons, have been generalized to account also for transverse degrees of freedom. Two new sets of more general distributions, Transverse Momentum Distributions (TMDs) and Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) were introduced to describe transverse momentum and spatial distributions of partons. Great progress has been made since then in measurements of different Single Spin Asymmetries (SSAs) in semi-inclusive and hard exclusive processes, providing access to TMDs and GPDs, respectively. Studies of TMDs and GPDs are also among the main driving forces of the JLab 12 GeV upgrade project.     

Nucleon-generalized parton distributions in the light-front quark model

We calculate the generalized parton distributions (GPDs) for the up- and down-quarks in nucleon using the effective light-front wavefunction. The results obtained for GPDs in momentum and impact parameter space are comparable with phenomenological parametrization methods.     

Gaseous photodetectors with solid photocathodes

Remarkable properties of gas photodetectors make them attractive for application in high energy physics, astrophysics, and medical imaging. This review presents the results of research and development of gaseous photodetectors with solid photocathodes (GPDs). In particular, efficient photocathodes for the ultraviolet (mainly CsI) and the visible ranges, including photocathodes with protective dielectric nanofilms, are described. Some problems of the physics of gaseous photodetectors and photocathodes are considered: photoelectron backscattering in gas, photoemission amplification in an electric field, photoelectron transport through nanofilms, protective properties of nanofilms, and photon and ion feedback. A separate section is devoted to GPDs based on gas electron multipliers (GEMs), including sealed GPDs and cryogenic two-phase avalanche detectors with CsI photocathodes.     

Scaling tests of the cross section for deeply virtual Compton scattering

We present the first measurements of the e[over -->]p-->epgamma cross section in the deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) regime and the valence quark region. The Q(2) dependence (from 1.5 to 2.3 GeV(2)) of the helicity-dependent cross section indicates the twist-2 dominance of DVCS, proving that generalized parton distributions (GPDs) are accessible to experiment at moderate Q(2). The helicity-independent cross section is also measured at Q(2)=2.3 GeV(2). We present the first model-independent measurement of linear combinations of GPDs and GPD integrals up to the twist-3 approximation.     

Generalized parton distributions

We discuss how generalized parton distributions (GPDs) enter in a variety of hard exclusive processes such as deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) and hard meson electroproduction reactions on the nucleon. We show some key observables which are sensitive to the various hadron structure aspects of the GPDs, and discuss their experimental status.Received: 30 September 2002, Published online: 22 October 2003PACS: 13.60.Fz Elastic and Compton scattering - 13.60.Le Meson production - 12.38.Bx Perturbative calculations     

Generalized Parton Distributions of 3He and the Neutron Orbital Structure

The two leading twist, quark helicity conserving generalized parton distributions (GPDs) of ³He, accessible, for example, in coherent deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS), are calculated in impulse approximation (IA). Their sum, at low momentum transfer, is found to be largely dominated by the neutron contribution, so that ³He is very promising for the extraction of the neutron information. Anyway, such an extraction could be not trivial. A technique, able to take into account the nuclear effects included in the IA analysis in the extraction procedure, even at moderate values of the momentum transfer, is proposed. Coherent DVCS arises therefore as a crucial experiment to access, for the first time, the neutron GPDs and the orbital angular momentum of the partons in the neutron.     

Imaging the Transverse (Spin) Structure of Hadrons

Parton distributions in impact parameter space, which are obtained by Fourier transforming GPDs, exhibit a significant deviation from axial symmetry when the target and/or quark are transversely polarized. Connections between this deformation and transverse single-spin asymmetries as well as with quark–gluon correlations are discussed. The sign of transverse deformation of impact parameter dependent parton distributions in a transversely polarized target can be related to the sign of the contribution from that quark flavor to the nucleon anomalous magnetic moment. Therefore, the signs of the Sivers function for u and d quarks, as well as the signs of quark–gluon correlations embodied in the polarized structure function g ₂ can be understood in terms of the proton and neutron anomalous magnetic moments.     

Transversity in hard exclusive electroproduction of pseudoscalar mesons

Estimates for electroproduction of pseudoscalar mesons at small values of skewness are presented. Cross-sections and asymmetries for these processes are calculated within the handbag approach which is based on factorization in hard parton subprocesses and soft generalized parton distributions (GPDs). The latter are constructed from double distributions. Transversity GPDs are taken into account; they are accompanied by twist-3 meson wave functions. For most pseudoscalar-meson channels a combination of ˜_T and [`(E)]_T \bar{{E}}_{T}^{} plays a particularly prominent role. This combination of GPDs, which we constrain by moments obtained from lattice QCD, leads, with the exception of the p⁺ \pi^{+}_{} and h^￠ \eta^{\prime}_{} channels, to large transverse cross-sections.     

Forward-like functions for dual parametrization of GPDs from the nonlocal chiral quark model

We derive the set of inversion relations allowing to establish the link between the dual parametrization of GPDs and a broad class of phenomenological models for GPDs. As an example we consider the results of the calculation of the pion GPD in the nonlocal chiral quark model (NlCQM) to recover the set of forward-like functions Q _2ν representing this GPD in the framework of dual parametrization. We also argue that the Abel tomography method overlooks possible δ -function-like contributions to the GPD quintessence function which make explicit contribution to the D form factor.     

Recent HERMES Results on DVCS from Proton and Nuclear Targets

Spin structure is one of the fundamental subjects in the study of nucleon structure.Recently it is found that Generalized Parton Distributions(GPDs) are related to the total angular momentum carried by partons,which offers a possible solution to the spin puzzle in the first time.We get access to certain GPDs by looking at the azimuthal angle asymmetries attributed to the interference between Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS) and Bethe-Heilter processes in HERMES experiment.By measuring the asymmetry with respect to transverse target polarization from proton target,a model-dependent constraint on J_u vs J_d is obtained.Another worldwide unique channel is nuclear DVCS.The preliminary results on asymmetries with respect to beam spin and beam charge are reported.