First measurement of unpolarized SIDIS cross section and cross section ratios from a $^3$He target

TL;DR

This paper reports the first measurement of unpolarized SIDIS cross sections and ratios from a $^3$He target, providing new data in the valence quark region to test phenomenological models.

Contribution

It presents the first experimental measurement of unpolarized SIDIS cross sections from $^3$He, covering a broad kinematic range and comparing results with existing models.

Findings

Cross sections are consistent with phenomenological models.

Azimuthal modulations of the cross sections are consistent with zero.

Provides new data for valence quark region analysis.

Abstract

The unpolarized semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering (SIDIS) differential cross sections in $^3$He($e,e^{\prime}\pi^{\pm}$)$X$ have been measured for the first time in Jefferson Lab experiment E06-010 performed with a $5.9\,$GeV $e^-$ beam on a $^3$He target. The experiment focuses on the valence quark region, covering a kinematic range $0.12 < x_{bj} < 0.45$, $1 < Q^2 < 4 \, \textrm{(GeV/c)}^2$, $0.45 < z_{h} < 0.65$, and $0.05 < P_t < 0.55 \, \textrm{GeV/c}$. The extracted SIDIS differential cross sections of $\pi^{\pm}$ production are compared with existing phenomenological models while the $^3$He nucleus approximated as two protons and one neutron in a plane wave picture, in multi-dimensional bins. Within the experimental uncertainties, the azimuthal modulations of the cross sections are found to be consistent with zero.