Hadron mass corrections in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering

TL;DR

This paper derives spin-dependent cross sections for semi-inclusive lepton-nucleon scattering incorporating target and hadron mass effects, providing mass-dependent scaling variables and estimating correction sizes for future experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a mass-inclusive collinear factorization framework for semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering, extending previous massless models.

Findings

Mass corrections are significant at relevant Q^2 values.

New mass-dependent scaling variables are proposed.

Quantitative estimates of hadron mass effects are provided.

Abstract

The spin-dependent cross sections for semi-inclusive lepton-nucleon scattering are derived in the framework of collinear factorization, including the effects of masses of the target and produced hadron at finite momentum transfer squared Q^2. At leading order the cross sections factorize into products of parton distribution and fragmentation functions evaluated in terms of new, mass-dependent scaling variables. The size of the hadron mass corrections is estimated at kinematics relevant for future semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering experiments.