Diffractive deeply virtual Compton scattering

TL;DR

Diffractive deeply virtual Compton scattering (DiDVCS) is a process that combines high-energy diffractive cross sections with the ability to probe the internal quark and gluon structure of nucleons and nuclei, especially at electron-ion colliders.

Contribution

This paper introduces the concept of DiDVCS, highlighting its potential to study hadron structure through a process that merges diffractive scattering with virtual Compton scattering techniques.

Findings

DiDVCS offers large diffractive cross sections at high energy.

It provides a tomographic view of quark and gluon distributions.

Potential for detailed hadron structure analysis at electron-ion colliders.

Abstract

Diffractive deeply virtual Compton scattering (DiDVCS) is the process $\gamma^*(- Q^2) + N \rightarrow \rho^0 + \gamma^* (Q'^2)+ N'$, where N is a nucleon or light nucleus, in the kinematical regime of large rapidity gap between the $\rho^0$ and the final photon-nucleus system, and in the generalized Bjorken regime where both photon virtualities $Q^2$ and $ Q'^2$ are large. We show that this process has the unique virtue of combining the large diffractive cross sections at high energy with the tomographic ability of deeply virtual Compton scattering to scrutinize the quark and gluon content of nucleons and light nuclei. Its study at an electron-ion collider would enlighten the internal structure of hadrons.