Measurement of Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering at HERA

TL;DR

This paper reports a measurement of elastic Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering at HERA, analyzing cross sections over various kinematic variables and comparing results with QCD predictions to enhance understanding of proton structure.

Contribution

First measurement of elastic DVCS cross sections at HERA across a broad kinematic range, providing data to test QCD-based models of proton structure.

Findings

Measured cross sections as functions of Q^2, W, and |t|.

Data agree with QCD calculations within uncertainties.

Provides new insights into the proton's internal structure.

Abstract

A measurement is presented of elastic Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering e^+ + p -> e^+ + photon + p at HERA using data taken with the H1 detector. The cross section is measured as a function of the photon virtuality, Q^2, and the invariant mass, W, of the gamma p system, in the kinematic range 2 < Q^2 < 20 GeV^2, 30 < W < 120 GeV and |t| < 1 GeV^2, where t is the squared momentum transfer to the proton. The measurement is compared to QCD based calculations.