We formulate the low energy theorem for virtual Compton scattering off a nucleon and examine its consequences for generalized nucleon polarizabilites. As a result of a new, model independent definition of the low energy limit for VVCS reaction, all generalized sum rules of the nucleon have continuous limit for real photons and obtain contributions from the $t$-channel that were not included previously.
We consider deeply virtual Compton scattering and deep inelastic scattering in presence of Regge exchanges that are part of the non-perturbative quark-nucleon amplitude. In particular we discuss contribution from the Pomeron exchange and demonstrate how it leads to Regge scaling of the Compton amplitude. Comparison with HERA data is given.
The exclusive photoproduction off nucleon of a large invariant mass lepton pair in the backward region specified by the small Mandelstam variable $-u$ is discussed in the framework of collinear QCD factorization. The amplitude is factorized in terms of photon-to-nucleon Transition Distribution Amplitudes (TDAs) which encode the photon content of the nucleon. Model estimates of these new non-perturbative objects are described and the corresponding cross sections calculated. The background due to the electromagnetic Bethe-Heitler process is shown to be negligible in the kinematical regime of int…
We formulate a new power-counting scheme for a chiral effective field theory of nucleons, pions, and Deltas. This extends chiral perturbation theory into the Delta-resonance region. We calculate nucleon Compton scattering up to next-to-leading order in this theory. The resultant description of existing $γ$p cross section data is very good for photon energies up to about 300 MeV. We also find reasonable numbers for the spin-independent polarizabilities $α_p$ and $β_p$.
We address the question of interpolation of the virtual Compton scattering process off a polarized nucleon target between the deeply virtual regime for the initial-state photon and its near on-shell kinematics making use of the photon helicity-dependent Compton Form Factors (CFFs) as a main ingredient of the formalism. The five-fold differential cross section for the reaction with all possible polarization options for the lepton and nucleon spins is evaluated in terms of CFFs in the rest reference frame of the initial-state nucleon. We suggest a rather simple parametrization of the Compton had…
We present a calculation of the virtual Compton scattering amplitude for the pseudoscalar meson octet in the framework of chiral perturbation theory at ${\cal O}(p^4)$. We calculate the electromagnetic generalized polarizabilities and compare the results in the real Compton scattering limit to available experimental values. Finally, we give predictions for the differential cross section of electron-meson bremsstrahlung.
We analyze the nucleon's Compton scattering amplitude in the Dyson-Schwinger/Faddeev approach. We calculate a subset of diagrams that implements the nonperturbative handbag contribution as well as all t-channel resonances. At the quark level, these ingredients are represented by the quark Compton vertex whose analytic properties we study in detail. We derive a general form for a fermion two-photon vertex that is consistent with its Ward-Takahashi identities and free of kinematic singularities, and we relate its transverse part to the onshell nucleon Compton amplitude. We solve an inhomogeneous…
I give a summary of recent results on nucleon polarizabilities, with emphasis on chiral perturbation theory. The predictive calculations of Compton scattering off the nucleon are compared to recent empirical determinations and lattice QCD calculations of the polarizabilities, thereby testing chiral perturbation theory in the single-baryon sector.
Diffractive deeply virtual Compton scattering (DiDVCS) is the process $γ^*(- Q^2) + N \rightarrow ρ^0 + γ^* (Q'^2)+ N'$, where N is a nucleon or light nucleus, in the kinematical regime of large rapidity gap between the $ρ^0$ 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 li…
We study recent Deeply Virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) data within a dual parameterization of the Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs). This parameterization allows to quantify the maximum amount of information, that can be extracted from DVCS data, in a ``quintessence'' function. We present a ``zero step'' model for the latter solely based on the forward quark density, providing a parameter free prediction for the imaginary part of the DVCS amplitude. It is shown that the bulk effect of the $e p \to e p γ$ beam helicity asymmetry can be understood within such a model.
We derive an all order resummation formula for the deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) amplitude, which takes into account soft gluon exchanges in the non-singlet quark coefficient function. We identify the ladder diagrams responsible in light-like gauge for [alphaS log^2 (x +/- xi)]^n contributions. The resummed series results in a simple closed expression.
Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering in the near forward kinematic region is the golden access to Generalized Parton Distributions. We studied the O(alphaS) corrections to the scattering amplitude for both spacelike and timelike kinematics relevant respectively to the leptoproduction of a real photon and to the photoproduction of a lepton pair. It turns out that these corrections are phenomenologically important and that the gluonic contributions are by no means negligible, even in the moderate energy range of JLab12 and of the COMPASS-II experiment at CERN.
We consider the spin-averaged nucleon forward Compton scattering amplitude in heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory including all terms to order ${\cal O} (q^4)$. The chiral prediction for the spin-averaged forward Compton scattering amplitude is in good agreement with the data for photon energies $ω\le 110$ MeV. We also evaluate the nucleon electric and magnetic Compton polarizabilities to this order and discuss the uncertainties of the various counter terms entering the chiral expansion of these quantities.
During the workshop "Compton Scattering off Protons and Light Nuclei: pinning down the nucleon polarisabilities" (ECT*, Trento, Italy, 29 July -- 2 August 2013, http://www.ectstar.eu/node/98), recent developments had been reviewed in experimental and theoretical studies of real and virtual Compton scattering, static and generalized dipole scalar and spin polarisabilities of nucleons, as well as related phenomena in physics of muonic atoms. A vivid topic at the workshop was pathways towards the most precise extraction of the static polarisabilities from low-energy Compton cattering---including …
Virtual Compton scattering off the nucleon (VCS) is studied in the regime of low energy of the outgoing real photon. This regime allows one to directly access the generalized polarizabilities of the nucleon in a VCS experiment. In the derivation of the low energy theorem for VCS that exists in the literature, the low energy limit taken for virtual initial photons does not match on that for real photons, when one approaches the initial photon's mass shell. While this problem has for a long time been attributed to the non-analyticity of the Compton amplitude with respect to the photon virtuality…
We use a generalization of the Rosenbluth separation method for a model independent simultaneous extraction of the Compton Form Factors ${\cal H}$ and ${\cal E}$, from virtual Compton scattering data on an unpolarized target. A precise evaluation of ${\cal H}$ and ${\cal E}$, enabled by the proposed method, is the first step towards pinning down the the distribution of angular momentum inside the proton.
Using hydrogen and deuterium targets, Compton scattering by the proton and neutron have been studied at the tagged photon beam of the MAMI (Mainz) accelerator using different experimental setups. The theoretical tools for the analysis of the experimental data have been investigated, as there are the nonsubtracted dispersion theory and the theory of quasi-free reactions on the proton and neutron bound in the deuteron. Experimental Compton scattering data are understood in the first and second resonance region with good precision. Precise electromagnetic polarizabilities and spin polarizabilitie…
We review theoretical progress and prospects for determining the nucleon's static dipole polarisabilities from Compton scattering on few-nucleon targets, including new values; see Refs. [1-5] for details and a more thorough bibliography.
We derive two new sum rules for the unpolarized doubly virtual Compton scattering process on a nucleon, which establish novel low-$Q^2$ relations involving the nucleon's generalized polarizabilities and moments of the nucleon's unpolarized structure functions $F_1(x,Q^2)$ and $F_2(x,Q^2)$. These relations facilitate the determination of some structure constants which can only be accessed in off-forward doubly virtual Compton scattering, not experimentally accessible at present. We perform an empirical determination for the proton and compare our results with a next-to-leading-order chiral pert…
This review gives an update on virtual Compton scattering (VCS) off the nucleon, $γ^* N \to N γ$, in the low-energy regime. We recall the theoretical formalism related to the generalized polarizabilities (GPs) and model predictions for these observables. We present the GP extraction methods that are used in the experiments: the approach based on the low-energy theorem for VCS and the formalism of Dispersion Relations. We then review the experimental results, with a focus on the progress brought by recent experimental data on proton generalized polarizabilities, and we conclude by some perspect…
We present a detailed derivation of the two sum rules relating the spin polarizabilities measured in real, virtual, and doubly-virtual Compton scattering. For example, the polarizability $δ_{LT}$, accessed in inclusive electron scattering, is related to the spin polarizability $γ_{E1E1}$ and the slope of generalized polarizabilities $P^{(M1,M1)1}-P^{(L1,L1)1}$, measured in, respectively, the real and the virtual Compton scattering. We verify these sum rules in different variants of chiral perturbation theory, discuss their empirical verification for the proton, and prospect their use in studie…
In addition to the E2/M1 ratio of the N->$Δ$ transition, the electromagnetic polarizabilities and spin-polarizabilities are important structure constants of the nucleon which serve as sensitive tests of chiral perturbation theory and of models of the nucleon. Recently, these quantities have been investigated experimentally at MAMI (Mainz) by high-precision Compton scattering using hydrogen and deuterium targets, where for the latter the method of quasi-free scattering has been applied.
Chiral effective field theories have a long history studying the process of Compton scattering on the nucleon. In this contribution I want to focus on the new developments that have occured since the last Chiral Dynamics conference in Mainz 1997. I will focus exclusively on the spin-dependent sector, where most of the recent work has been done.
We discuss the low-energy behavior of the spin-averaged amplitude of virtual Compton scattering (VCS) off a nucleon. Based on gauge invariance, Lorentz invariance and the discrete symmetries, it is shown that to first order in the frequency of the final real photon only two generalized polarizabilities appear. Different low-energy expansion schemes are discussed and put into perspective.
These lectures give a pedagogical introduction to real and virtual Compton scattering at low energies. We will first discuss real Compton scattering off a point particle as well as a composite system in the framework of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. The concept of electromagnetic polarizabilities is introduced. We then address a description of the Compton-scattering tensor within quantum field theory with particular emphasis on the derivation of low-energy theorems. The importance of a consistent treatment of hadron structure in the use of electromagnetic vertices is stressed. Finally, th…
We perform an expansion of the virtual Compton scattering amplitude for low energies and low momenta and show that this expansion covers the transition from the regime to be investigated in the scheduled photon electroproduction experiments to the real Compton scattering regime. We discuss the relation of the generalized polarizabilities of virtual Compton scattering to the polarizabilities of real Compton scattering.
Virtual Compton scattering off nucleons and pions at low energies is discussed. Predictions for the generalized polarizabilities of the nucleon are presented within the framework of heavy-baryon chiral perturbation theory and the linear sigma model. First results for the generalized polarizabilities of the charged pion in chiral perturbation theory at ${\cal O}(p^4)$ are shown.
Photon-nucleon entanglement in Compton scattering at low and high energies
Physics Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory（布鲁克海文国家实验室物理系）；RIKEN BNL Research Center, Brookhaven National Laboratory（理化学研究所布鲁克海文研究中心）；Université Paris-Saclay - CEA - IRFU（巴黎萨克雷大学-法国原子能和替代能源委员会-核物理研究所）；Center for Frontiers in Nuclear Science, Stony Brook University（纽约州立大学石溪分校核科学前沿中心）
We summarize results from our recent paper* on nucleon Compton scattering in the Dyson-Schwinger approach. We study the Compton scattering phase space and its various kinematic limits, and we introduce a covariant, transverse tensor basis for the scattering amplitude that is free of kinematic singularities. We illustrate the decomposition of the Compton amplitude at the quark-gluon level and calculate its nonperturbative handbag part, which also includes all t-channel meson resonances. The calculation requires numerical solutions for the dressed quark propagator, the nucleon's Faddeev amplitud…
We calculated two--photon exchange effects for elastic electron--proton scattering at high momentum transfers. The corresponding nucleon Compton amplitude is defined by two space--like virtual photons that appear to have significant virtualities. We make predictions for a) a single--spin beam asymmetry, and b) a single--spin target asymmetry or recoil proton polarization caused by an unpolarized electron beam.
Two different topics relevant for DA$Φ$NE and CEBAF, respectively, are covered. First we analyze the rare radiative eta decay mode $η\toππγγ$ within the framework of chiral perturbation theory at ${\cal O}(p^4)$. We then discuss virtual Compton scattering off the nucleon at low energies. Predictions for the two spin-independent generalized polarizabilities are shown.
We review the current state of knowledge of the nucleon polarizabilities and of their role in nucleon Compton scattering and in hydrogen spectrum. We discuss the basic concepts, the recent lattice QCD calculations and advances in chiral effective-field theory. On the experimental side, we review the ongoing programs aimed to measure the nucleon (scalar and spin) polarizabilities via the Compton scattering processes, with real and virtual photons. A great part of the review is devoted to the general constraints based on unitarity, causality, discrete and continuous symmetries, which result in m…
New data points for unpolarized Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering cross sections have been extracted from the E00-110 experiment at Q$^2$=1.9 GeV$^2$ effectively doubling the statistics available in the valence region. A careful study of systematic uncertainties has been performed.
We give an overview of low-energy Compton scattering (gamma^(*) p --> gamma p) with a real or virtual incoming photon. These processes allow the investigation of one of the fundamental properties of the nucleon, i.e. how its internal structure deforms under an applied static electromagnetic field. Our knowledge of nucleon polarisabilities and their generalization to non-zero four-momentum transfer will be reviewed, including the presently ongoing experiments and future perspectives.
We analyze polarized Compton scattering which provides information on the spin-structure of the nucleon. For scattering processes with photon energies up to 100 MeV the spin-structure dependence can be encoded into four independent parameters-the so-called spin-polarizabilities $γ_i, i=1...4$ of the nucleon, which we calculate within the framework of the "small scale expansion" in SU(2) baryon chiral perturbation theory. Specific application is made to "forward" and "backward" spin- polarizabilities.
The dominance of the soft pomeron in soft high energy scattering and the evolution to the deeply virtual regime, predicted by perturbation theory, allow us to reveal generalized parton distributions from H1 and ZEUS measurements of deeply virtual Compton scattering. These distributions encode a holographic image of the proton, which will be presented.
We present fixed-$t$ subtracted dispersion relations for Compton scattering off the nucleon at energies $E_γ\leq$ 500 MeV, as a formalism to extract the nucleon polarizabilities with a minimum of model dependence. The subtracted dispersion integrals are mainly saturated by $πN$ intermediate states in the $s$-channel $γN \to πN \to γN$ and $ππ$ intermediate states in the $t$-channel $γγ\to ππ\to N \bar N$. For the subprocess $γγ\to ππ$, we construct a unitarized amplitude and find a good description of the available data. We show results for Compton scattering using the subtracted dispersion re…
We consider hard leptoproduction of a photon on a spin-one target and give the general azimuthal angular dependence of the differential cross section. Furthermore, we estimate the beam spin asymmetry for an unpolarized deuteron target at HERMES.
A review is given of the very recent developments in the fields of real and virtual Compton scattering off the nucleon. Both real and virtual Compton scattering reactions are discussed at low outgoing photon energy where one accesses polarizabilities of the nucleon. The real Compton scattering at large momentum transfer is discussed which is asymptotically a tool to obtain information on the valence quark wave function of the nucleon. The rapid developments in deeply virtual Compton scattering and associated meson electroproduction reactions at high energy, high photon virtuality and small mom…
We calculate timelike virtual Compton scattering amplitudes in the generalized Bjorken scaling regime and focus on a new polarization asymmetry in the scattering process with a linearly polarized photon beam in the medium energy range, which will be studied intensely at JLab12 experiments. We demonstrate that new observables help us to access the polarized quark and gluon generalized parton distributions $\tilde H(x, ξ, t)$ and $ \tilde E(x, ξ, t)$.
The status of Compton scattering by the nucleon at energies of the first and second resonance is summarized. In addition to a general test of dispersion theories and a precise determination of polarizabilities, the validities of four fundamental sum rules are explored. {\it Recommended} averages of experimental values for the electromagnetic polarizabilities and spin-polarizabilities of the nucleon are determined: $α_p=12.0\pm 0.6$, $β_p=1.9\mp 0.6$, $α_n= 12.5 \pm 1.7$, $β_n= 2.7 \mp 1.8$ (unit $10^{-4}$fm$^3$), $γ^{(p)}_π= -38.7 \pm 1.8$, $γ^{(n)}_π= 58.6 \pm 4.0$ (unit $10^{-4}$fm$^4$).
It is shown that the Quark-Level Linear $σ$ Model (QLL$σ$M) leads to a prediction for the diamagnetic term of the polarizabilities of the nucleon which is in excellent agreement with the experimental data. The bare mass of the $σ$ meson is predicted to be $m_σ=666$ MeV and the two-photon width $Γ(σ\toγγ)=(2.6\pm 0.3)$ keV. It is argued that the mass predicted by the QLL$σ$M corresponds to the $γγ\toσ\to NN$ reaction, i.e. to a $t$-channel pole of the $γN\to Nγ$ reaction. Large -angle Compton scattering experiments revealing effects of the $σ$ meson in the differential cross section are discuss…
We calculate the nucleon resonance contributions to nucleon Compton scattering, including all states with J^P = 1/2^{+-} and J^P = 3/2^{+-} where experimental data for their electromagnetic transition form factors exist. To this end, we construct a tensor basis for the Compton scattering amplitude based on electromagnetic gauge invariance, crossing symmetry and analyticity. The corresponding Compton form factors provide a Lorentz-invariant description of the process in general kinematics, which reduces to the static and generalized polarizabilities in the appropriate kinematic limits. We deriv…
We study the deeply-virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) process $e^- N \to e^- γπN$ involving the transition between a nucleon and a nucleon resonance in the $πN$ system, within the framework of generalized parton distributions (GPDs). For the four lowest-lying nucleon resonances, $Δ(1232)$, $P_{11}(1440)$, $D_{13}(1520)$, and $S_{11}(1535)$, we express the DVCS amplitude in the Bjorken limit in terms of corresponding nucleon-to-resonance GPDs. Building upon the knowledge of the well studied electromagnetic nucleon-to-resonance transition form factors, which map the quark charge densities in tra…
We present a projector formalism which allows to define dynamical polarizabilities of the nucleon from a multipole expansion of the nucleon Compton amplitudes. We give predictions for the energy dependence of these dynamical polarizabilities both from dispersion theory and from leading-one-loop chiral effective field theory. Based on the good agreement between the two theoretical frameworks, we conclude that the energy dependence of the dynamical polarizabilities is dominated by chiral dynamics, except in those multipole channels where the first nucleon resonance Delta(1232) can be excited. Bo…
We compute the Compton scattering off the nucleons in the framework of manifestly covariant baryon chiral perturbation theory (B$χ$PT). The results for observables differ substantially from the corresponding calculations in heavy-baryon chiral perturbation theory (HB$χ$PT), most appreciably in the forward kinematics. We verify that the covariant $p^3$ result fulfills the forward-Compton-scattering sum rules. We also explore the effect of the $Δ$(1232) resonance at order $p^4/\varDelta$, with $\varDelta\approx 300$ MeV, the resonance excitation energy. We find that the substantial effect of the…
We show how quark-hadron duality can emerge for valence spin averaged structure functions, and for the non-forward distributions of Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering. Novel factorisations of the non-forward amplitudes are proposed. Some implications for large angle scattering and deviations from the quark counting rules are illustrated.
Neural networks are utilized to fit Compton form factor H to HERMES data on deeply virtual Compton scattering off unpolarized protons. We used this result to predict the beam charge-spin assymetry for muon scattering off proton at the kinematics of the COMPASS II experiment.
We propose a new way to experimentally determine the subleading low-energy structure constant of doubly-virtual Compton scattering on a proton. Such empirical determination will reduce the theoretical model error in estimates of the hadronic correction to the muonic hydrogen Lamb shift. We demonstrate that the di-lepton forward-backward asymmetry in the $e^- p \to e^- p \, e^- e^+$ process, which can be accessed at electron scattering facilities, yields a large sensitivity to this so far unknown low-energy constant.
The nucleon spin-averaged forward virtual Compton tensor determines important physical quantities such as electromagnetically-induced mass differences of nucleons, and two-photon exchange contributions in hydrogen spectroscopy. It depends on two kinematic variables: $ν$, the virtual photon energy in the proton rest frame, and $Q^2$, the photon's invariant four-momentum squared. Using the operator product expansion, we calculate the tensor's large-$Q^2$ behavior for $ν=0$, including for the first time the full spin-2 contribution and correcting a previous result in the literature for the spin-0…
We further analyze the holographic dipole-dipole scattering amplitude developed in arXiv:1202.0831, 1205.3223. Gribov diffusion at strong coupling yields the scattering amplitude in a confining background. We compare the holographic result for the differential cross section to proton-proton and deeply virtual Compton scattering data.
We investigate the low-energy behavior of the four-point Green's function $Γ^{μν}$ describing virtual Compton scattering off the nucleon. Using Lorentz invariance, gauge invariance, and crossing symmetry, we derive the leading terms of an expansion of the operator in the four-momenta $q$ and $q'$ of the initial and final photon, respectively. The model-independent result is expressed in terms of the electromagnetic form factors of the free nucleon, i.e., on-shell information which one obtains from electron-nucleon scattering experiments. Model-dependent terms appear in the operator at $O(q_αq'…
In this prize talk, I recall some of the history surrounding the discovery of deeply virtual Compton scattering, and explain why it is an exciting experimental tool to obtain novel tomographic pictures of the nucleons at Jefferson Lab 12 GeV facility and the planned Electron-Ion Collider in the United States.
As guideline for forthcoming experiments, we present predictions from Chiral Effective Field Theory for polarized cross sections in low energy Compton scattering for photon energies below 170 MeV, both on the proton and on the neutron. Special interest is put on the role of the nucleon spin polarizabilities which can be examined especially well in polarized Compton scattering. We present a model-independent way to extract their energy dependence and static values from experiment, interpreting our findings also in terms of the low energy effective degrees of freedom inside the nucleon: The pola…
The generalized parton distributions (GPDs) of the meson and nucleon at small and large values of the momentum transfer were determined on the basis of the comparative analysis of different sets of experimental data of electromagnetic form factors of the proton and neutron, using the different sets of the parton distribution functions (PDFs). As a result, different form factors of the nucleons and meson were calculated. The t-dependence of these form factors was checked up in the description of the nucleon-nucleon and meson-nucleon elastic scattering and the differential cross sections of the …
We investigate the spin-independent part of the virtual Compton scattering (VCS) amplitude off the nucleon within the framework of chiral perturbation theory. We perform a consistent calculation to third order in external momenta according to Weinberg's power counting. With this calculation we can determine the second- and fourth-order structure-dependent coefficients of the general low-energy expansion of the spin-averaged VCS amplitude based on gauge invariance, crossing symmetry and the discrete symmetries. We discuss the kinematical regime to which our calculation can be applied and compar…
We have generated a parametrization of the Compton form factor (CFF) H based on data from deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) using neural networks. This approach offers an essentially model-independent fitting procedure, which provides realistic uncertainties. Furthermore, it facilitates propagation of uncertainties from experimental data to CFFs. We assumed dominance of the CFF H and used HERMES data on DVCS off unpolarized protons. We predict the beam charge-spin asymmetry for a proton at the kinematics of the COMPASS II experiment.
Fixed-$t$ subtracted dispersion relations are presented for Compton scattering off the nucleon at energies $E_γ\leq 500$ MeV, as a formalism to extract the nucleon polarizabilities from the data with a minimum of model dependence. The scalar polarizabilities difference $α- β$ and the backward spin polarizability $γ_π$ enter directly as fit parameters in this formalism.
This PhD thesis is devoted to the low-energy structure of the nucleon (proton and neutron) as seen through electromagnetic probes, e.g., electron and Compton scattering. The research presented here is based primarily on dispersion theory and chiral effective-field theory. The main motivation is the recent proton radius puzzle, which is the discrepancy between the classic proton charge radius determinations (based on electron-proton scattering and normal hydrogen spectroscopy) and the highly precise extraction based on first muonic-hydrogen experiments by the CREMA Collaboration. The precision …
