Spin asymmetries for elastic proton scattering and the spin dependent couplings of the Pomeron

TL;DR

This paper analyzes polarized proton scattering data from RHIC to investigate the spin dependence of the Pomeron and other Regge poles, revealing significant spin-flip couplings and exploring double spin flip asymmetries and Odderon signals.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive model for the energy dependence of elastic scattering analyzing power and new insights into the spin-flip couplings of the Pomeron based on experimental data.

Findings

Pomeron exhibits significant spin-flip coupling.

Data supports models of energy dependence of analyzing power.

Exploration of double spin flip asymmetry and Odderon signals.

Abstract

This paper serves as a report on the large amount of analysis done in conjunction with the polarized proton program at RHIC. This comprises elastic scattering data of protons on protons in colliding beam or fixed target mode and proton beams on carbon targets. In addition to providing a model for the energy dependence of the analyzing power of elastic scattering needed for proton polarimetry, it also provides some significant information about the spin dependence of dominant Regge poles. Most notably, the data indicates that the Pomeron has a significant spin-flip coupling. This allows the exploration of the double spin flip asymmetry A_{NN} for which some data over a wide energy range is now available, along with a concrete realization of a proposed Odderon search.