Exploring the Spin Structure of the Proton with Two-Body Partonic Scattering at RHIC

TL;DR

This paper reports on measurements of the proton's spin structure using polarized proton collisions at RHIC, providing insights into gluon contributions to proton spin and outlining future detailed studies of gluon polarization.

Contribution

It presents the first results on double spin helicity dependence of inclusive jet production at RHIC and discusses future plans to map gluon spin distribution.

Findings

Initial measurements constrain gluon spin contribution

Data supports ongoing efforts to understand proton spin structure

Future studies aim to detail gluon polarization as a function of momentum

Abstract

The STAR collaboration at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider is using polarized proton beams at sqrt{s} = 200 GeV to study the spin structure of the proton. The first results for the double spin helicity dependence of inclusive jet production are presented along with projections for additional data taken in 2005 and 2006. When fully analyzed these data sets should place strong constraints on the possible contribution of gluonic spin to the proton spin as expressed by Delta G. Future studies using 2-jet or photon-jet coincidences to map out the gluon spin distribution vs. the gluon's momentum fraction of the proton are discussed.