Exclusive $\pi^0$ production at EIC of China within handbag approach

TL;DR

This paper analyzes exclusive neutral pion production at the Chinese Electron-Ion Collider using the handbag approach, emphasizing the importance of transversity GPDs and predicting dominance of transverse cross sections at high energies.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of $c0^0$ production within the handbag framework, highlighting the role of transversity GPDs and providing predictions for EicC energies.

Findings

Transversity GPDs are crucial for describing the cross section.

Transversity dominance persists at EicC energy range.

Predictions support the continued dominance of transverse cross sections.

Abstract

The exclusive $\pi^0$ electroproduction is analyzed within the handbag approach based on Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) factorization. We consider the leading-twist contribution together with the transversity effects. It is shown that the transversity, $H_T$ and $\bar E_T$ GPDs are essential in the description of $\pi^0$ cross section. Predictions for future Electron-Ion Collider of China (EicC) energy range are done. It is found that transversity dominance $\sigma_T\gg\sigma_L$, observed at low energies is valid up to EicC energy range.