Single Target-Spin Asymmetry in Semi-Inclusive Deep Inelastic Scattering on Transversely Polarized Nucleon Target

TL;DR

This paper updates predictions of azimuthal asymmetries in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering using new Collins functions, successfully explaining HERMES data and providing predictions for JLab experiments, highlighting model sensitivities especially for kaons.

Contribution

It introduces a new set of Collins functions for better predictions of azimuthal asymmetries in SIDIS and compares different approaches to understand model sensitivities.

Findings

Good agreement with HERMES experiment using new parametrization.

Predictions for JLab experiments show model insensitivity for pions.

Kaon asymmetry results are sensitive to distribution and fragmentation models.

Abstract

We use a new set of Collins functions to update a previous prediction on the azimuthal asymmetries of pion productions in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering (SIDIS) process on a transversely polarized nucleon target. We find that the calculated results can give a good explanation to the HERMES experiment with the new parametrization, and this can enrich our knowledge of the fragmentation process. Furthermore, with two different approaches of distribution and fragmentation functions, we present a prediction on the azimuthal asymmetries of pion and kaon productions at the kinematics region of the experiments E06010 and E06011 planned at Jefferson Lab (JLab). It is shown that the results are insensitive to the models for the pion case. However, the results for kaon production are sensitive to different approaches of distribution and fragmentation functions. This is helpful to clarify some points in the study of the azimuthal spin asymmetries and fragmentation functions in hadronization processes.