Analysis of the double-spin asymmetry A_LT in inelastic nucleon-nucleon collisions

TL;DR

This paper investigates the double-spin asymmetry A_LT in inelastic nucleon-nucleon collisions using collinear twist-3 theory, highlighting its potential to reveal gluon helicity and specific twist-3 functions at RHIC.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of A_LT in hadron and jet production, emphasizing its advantages for probing gluon polarization and twist-3 functions in nucleon collisions.

Findings

Double-spin asymmetry A_LT analyzed within collinear twist-3 framework.

The observable offers insights into gluon helicity distribution.

Potential for future measurements at RHIC to access twist-3 functions.

Abstract

Within the collinear twist-3 framework, we analyze the double-spin asymmetry in collisions between longitudinally polarized nucleons and transversely polarized nucleons with focus on hadron and jet production. As was the case in direct photon production, the double-spin dependent cross section for hadron and jet production has the advantage of involving a complete set of collinear twist-3 functions. In addition, we outline further benefits of this observable for a potential future measurement at RHIC, which includes insight on the gluon helicity distribution as well as information on the Efremov-Teryaev-Qiu-Sterman function T_F(x,x) that plays a crucial role in single-spin asymmetries.