Probing flavor-dependent EMC effect with W boson production

TL;DR

This paper explores using W boson production in proton-nucleus collisions at RHIC and LHC to test a flavor-dependent EMC effect model, identifying sensitive observables and providing calculations to guide future experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to probe flavor-dependent nuclear modifications via W boson production and offers detailed predictions for experimental observables.

Findings

Identification of observables sensitive to flavor-dependent EMC effects

Calculations of W production at RHIC and LHC energies based on the new model

Potential to experimentally test flavor dependence of the EMC effect

Abstract

A recent theoretical model predicts that the modification of quark distributions in the nuclear medium (EMC effect) depends on the flavor of the quarks. We investigate $W$-boson production in proton-nucleus collision as a possible tool to test this theoretical prediction. Several experimental observables in $W$ production sensitive to the flavor-dependent EMC effect are identified. Calculations for these experimental observables at the RHIC and LHC energies are presented using the recent flavor-dependent EMC model.