A new approach to quarkonium polarization studies

TL;DR

This paper introduces a frame-invariant formalism for quarkonium polarization measurements, enhancing accuracy, comparability with theory, and control over systematic uncertainties by leveraging rotational invariance.

Contribution

It presents a novel, model-independent formalism that reduces dependence on experimental acceptance and improves systematic control in polarization studies.

Findings

Formalism minimizes acceptance dependence

Enables better comparison with theoretical models

Provides systematic uncertainty control

Abstract

Significant progress in understanding quarkonium production requires improved polarization measurements, fully considering the intrinsic multidimensionality of the problem. We propose a frame-invariant formalism which minimizes the dependence of the measured result on the experimental acceptance, facilitates the comparison with theoretical calculations, and provides a much needed control over systematic effects due to detector limitations and analysis biases. This formalism is a direct and generic consequence of the rotational invariance of the dilepton decay distribution and is independent of any assumptions specific to particular models of quarkonium production.