Hard exclusive pion electroproduction at backward angles with CLAS

TL;DR

This paper presents the first measurement of backward-angle exclusive pion electroproduction cross sections, providing new insights into nucleon structure through comparison with TDA-based theoretical models.

Contribution

It introduces the first experimental data on backward-angle pion electroproduction cross sections and compares them with TDA-based calculations, advancing understanding of nucleon structure.

Findings

Results are compatible with TDA-based calculations.

Provides new experimental data on backward-angle pion electroproduction.

Enhances understanding of nucleon structure through structure function analysis.

Abstract

We report on the first measurement of cross sections for exclusive deeply virtual pion electroproduction off the proton, $e p \to e^\prime n \pi^+$, above the resonance region at backward pion center-of-mass angles. The $\varphi^*_{\pi}$-dependent cross sections were measured, from which we extracted three combinations of structure functions of the proton. Our results are compatible with calculations based on nucleon-to-pion transition distribution amplitudes (TDAs) and shed new light on nucleon structure.