Angular dependences in electroweak semi-inclusive leptoproduction

TL;DR

This paper calculates unpolarized and polarized cross sections for electroweak semi-inclusive leptoproduction, highlighting azimuthal asymmetries due to quark transverse momenta that are measurable at HERA, especially with Lambda production.

Contribution

It provides leading order expressions for azimuthal asymmetries in electroweak semi-inclusive leptoproduction, emphasizing their non-suppressed nature and experimental measurement opportunities.

Findings

Azimuthal asymmetries arise from intrinsic quark transverse momenta.

Asymmetries are not suppressed by the hard scale.

HERA experiments can effectively measure these asymmetries.

Abstract

We present the leading order unpolarized and polarized cross sections in electroweak semi-inclusive deep inelastic leptoproduction. The azimuthal dependences in the cross section differential in the transverse momentum of the vector boson arise due to intrinsic transverse momenta of the quarks. However, the presented asymmetries are not suppressed by inverse powers of the hard scale. We discuss the different opportunities to measure specific asymmetries as offered by neutral compared to charged current processes and point out the optimal kinematical regions. The present and (proposed) future HERA collider experiments would be most suitable for measuring some of the asymmetries discussed here, especially in case of Lambda production.