In addition to the inclusive cross sections discussed within the QCD-parton model, in the regime of multiple parton interactions, different and more exclusive cross sections become experimentally viable and may be suitably measured. Indeed, in its study of double parton collisions, the quantity measured by CDF was an "exclusive" rather than an inclusive cross section. The non perturbative input to the "exclusive" cross sections is different with respect to the non perturbative input of the inclusive cross sections and involves correlation terms of the hadron structure already at the level of single parton collisions. The matter is discussed in details keeping explicitly into account the effects of double and of triple parton collisions.
The spatial distribution of partons in the proton can be probed in suitable exclusive scattering processes. I report on recent performance estimates for parton imaging at a proposed Electron-Ion Collider.
The overlap representation of skewed parton distributions is discussed and applications to wide-angle Compton scattering and electroproduction of mesons are presented. The amplitudes for these processes factorise into parton-level subprocess amplitudes and form factors representing 1/x-moments of skewed parton distributions.
The exclusive photon-photon production of the $K$-meson pairs has been analyzed within the partonic model of QCD for the kinematical conditions of BELLE experiment. The cross section dependences on partonic masses, charges, and a shape of $K$-meson wave function have been studied for the process under discussion.
The handbag mechanism for wide-angle exlusive scattering reactions is discussed and compared with other theoretical approaches. Its application to Compton scattering, meson photoproduction and two-photon annihilations into pairs of hadrons is reviewed.
In a simplified model of Multiple Parton Interactions the inclusive cross sections, of processes with large momentum transfer exchange, acquire the statistical meaning of factorial moments of the distribution in multiplicity of interactions, while more exclusive cross sections, which can provide complementary information on the interaction dynamics, become experimentally viable. Inclusive and exclusive cross sections are linked by sum rules, which can be tested experimentally.
Recently dispersion relations have been applied to hard exclusive processes such as deeply virtual Compton scattering, and a holographic principle was proposed that maps out the generalized parton distributions entering the soft matrix elements for the processes from their values on a given kinematical ridge. We examine possible pitfalls associated with the implicit, direct identification in this approach of the physical hadronic states with colored partons, and suggest an improved treatment of this assumption.
Off-diagonal parton distributions occur in several hard exclusive reactions. They extend the study of hadron structure beyond what can be learned from ordinary distributions and have a particularly rich spin structure. The hard scattering subprocesses in electroproduction of mesons and of real photons satisfy helicity selection rules, which provide powerful tools to test leading-twist dominance at a given value of the hard scale.
The large luminosity and the increased kinematical domain accessible at the LHC will allow to isolate large numbers of events with multiple parton collisions. Interestingly, the hadron is probed in different points contemporarily in the process, which allows to obtain information on the correlations between partons in the hadron structure. The whole experimentally accessible information on multiple parton collisions consists in the probability distribution of the elementary interactions, while the inclusive cross sections, usually considered in large p_t processes, acquire a precise statistica…
Exclusive $π^o$ electroproduction is suggested for extracting both the tensor charge and the transverse anomalous magnetic moment from experimental data. A connection between partonic degrees of freedom, given in terms of Generalized Parton Distributions, and Regge phenomenology is discussed. Calculations are performed using a physically motivated parametrization that is valid at values of the skewness, $ζ\neq 0$. Our method makes use of information from the nucleon form factor data, from deep inelastuc scattering parton distribution functions, and from lattice results on the Mellin moments of…
We present an analysis of twist-2, leading order QCD amplitudes for hard exclusive leptoproduction of mesons in terms of double/nonforward parton distribution functions. After reviewing some general features of nonforward nucleon matrix elements of twist-2 QCD string operators, we propose a phenomenological model for quark and gluon nonforward distribution functions. The corresponding QCD evolution equations are solved in the leading logarithmic approximation for flavor nonsinglet distributions. We derive explicit expressions for hard exclusive pi^0, eta, and neutral vector meson production am…
We present a scheme for the generation of central exclusive final states in the Pythia 8 program. The implementation allows for the investigation of higher order corrections to such exclusive processes as approximated by the initial-state parton shower in Pythia 8. To achieve this, the spin and colour decomposition of the initial-state shower has been worked out, in order to determine the probability that a partonic state generated from an inclusive sub-process followed by a series of initial-state parton splittings can be considered as an approximation of an exclusive colour- and spin-singlet…
Exclusive meson leptoproduction from nucleons in the deeply virtual exchanged boson limit can be described by generalized parton distributions (GPDs). Including spin dependence in the description requires 8 independent quark-parton and gluon-parton functions. The chiral even subset of 4 quark-nucleon GPDs are related to nucleon form factors and to parton distribution functions. The chiral odd set of 4 quark-nucleon GPDs are related to transversity, the tensor charge, and other quantities related to transversity. Different meson or photon production processes access different combinations of GP…
We show for a first time ever a prototype of a fully exclusive QCD NLO parton shower for the initial state (albeit for a limited set of diagrams). It is based on the rigorous theorems of the collinear factorisation, however the standard DGLAP evolution kernels are replaced by their exclusive versions. Contrary to the standard DGLAP approach, the constructed parton shower provides fully exclusive events, i.e. four-momenta of all emitted partons. At the inclusive level it is identical to the MS-bar scheme of the DGLAP evolution.
Results for the two real parton differential distributions needed for implementing a next-to-leading order (NLO) parton shower Monte Carlo are presented. They are also integrated over the phase space in order to provide solid numerical control of the MC codes and for the discussion of the differences between the standard $\bar{MS}$ factorization and Monte Carlo implementation at the level of inclusive NLO evolution kernels. Presented results cover the class of non-singlet diagrams entering into NLO kernels. The classic work of Curci-Furmanski-Pertonzio was used as a guide in the calculations.
The hard exclusive electroproduction processes provide new information about hadronic structure accumulated in nonforward parton distributions. The NFPD's are universal hybrid functions having the properties of parton densities, hadronic form factors and distribution amplitudes. They give a unified description of various hard exclusive and inclusive reactions. The basic supplier of information about nonforward parton distributions is deeply virtual Compton scattering which offers a remarkable example of Bjorken scaling phenomena in exclusive processes. Wide-angle real Compton scattering is an …
Using a physically motivated parameterization based on the reggeized diquark model we perform a flavor separation of the chiral-odd generalized parton distributions obtained from both $π^0$ and $η$ exclusive electroproduction. In our approach we exploit a connection between the chiral-even and chiral-odd reduced helicity amplitudes using Parity transformations that are relevant for a class of models that includes two-component models. We compare our results for $η$ production to the previously obtained $π^0$ results, and we make predictions for the transverse single spin asymmetry components w…
Exclusive proton-antiproton annihilation into two photons at large s (~10 GeV^2) and |t|,|u| ~ s can be described by a generalized parton picture analogous to the 'soft mechanism' in wide-angle real Compton scattering. The two photons are emitted in the annihilation of a single fast quark and antiquark. The matrix element describing the transition of the p-pbar system to a q-qbar pair can be related to the timelike proton elastic form factors as well as to the quark/antiquark distributions measured in inclusive deep-inelastic scattering. The reaction could be studied with the proposed 1.5-15 G…
The soft physics approach to Compton scattering at moderately large momentum transfer is reviewed. It will be argued that in that approach the Compton cross section as well as other exclusive observables exhibit approximate scaling in a limited range of momentum transfer. Invited talk held at the workshop on exclusive and semi-exclusive processes at high momentum transfer, Jefferson Lab, May (1999).
In our work, we describe two types of Compton processes. As an example of an inclusive process, we consider the high-energy photoproduction of massive muon pairs off the nucleon. We analyze the process in the framework of the QCD parton model, in which the usual parton distributions emerge as a tool to describe the nucleon in terms of quark and gluonic degrees of freedom. To study its exclusive version, a new class of phenomenological functions is required, namely, generalized parton distributions. They can be considered as a generalization of the usual parton distributions measured in deeply …
I briefly review how a three-dimensional picture of parton dynamics is rendered in the impact parameter representation, applied to generalized parton distributions and to the dipole picture of high-energy scattering.
The role of generalized parton distributions in wide-angle exclusive reactions will be discussed. In contrast to deep virtual exclusive reactions the wide angle processes offer the possibility of investigating the generalized parton distributions at large momentum transfer.
We present the EpIC Monte Carlo event generator for exclusive processes sensitive to generalised parton distributions. EpIC utilises the PARTONS framework, which provides a flexible software architecture and a variety of modelling options for the partonic description of the nucleon. The generator offers a comprehensive set of features, including multi-channel capabilities and radiative corrections. It may be used both in analyses of experimental data, as well as in impact studies, especially for future electron-ion colliders.
The project of constructing a complete NLO-level Parton Shower Monte Carlo for the QCD processes developed in IFJ PAN in Krakow is reviewed. Four issues are discussed: (1) the extension of the standard inclusive collinear factorization into a new, fully exclusive scheme; (2) reconstruction of the LO Parton Shower in the new scheme; (3) inclusion of the exclusive NLO corrections into the hard process and (4) inclusion of the exclusive NLO corrections into the evolution (ladder) part.
We prove $k_T$ factorization theorem in perturbative QCD (PQCD) for exclusive processes by considering $πγ^*\to γ(π)$ and $B\toγ(π) l\barν$. The relevant form factors are expressed as the convolution of hard amplitudes with two-parton meson wave functions in the impact parameter $b$ space, $b$ being conjugate to the parton transverse momenta $k_T$. The point is that on-shell valence partons carry longitudinal momenta initially, and acquire $k_T$ through collinear gluon exchanges. The $b$-dependent two-parton wave functions with an appropriate path for the Wilson links are gauge-invariant. The …
We show how deeply virtual pseudoscalar meson production experiments single out the contribution of the four chiral odd quark-proton GPDs which are related to the so far elusive transversity distribution function, $h_1$. Furthermore, in the kinematical ranges of the proposed EIC, electroproduction of strange and charmed mesons will allow one to uniquely pin down the non-perturbative charmed component in the nucleon structure function, and at the same time provide new insights in the connection of the quark/gluon degrees of freedom with the meson-baryon description. The use of dispersion relati…
Soft pp interactions are considered in the framework of the phenomenological model with color strings formation. Under the assumption, that the elementary collision is realized as interaction of two color dipoles, the total inelastic cross section and the multiplicity of the charged particles are estimated and used for the parameters fixing. The special attention is given to the modelling of exclusive parton distributions taking into account the energy conservation and fixing the mass center that is necessary for the description of correlations, corresponding Monte Carlo procedures are develop…
Exclusive electroproduction of a K or K^* meson on the nucleon can give a Theta^+ pentaquark in the final state. This reaction offers an opportunity to investigate the structure of pentaquark baryons at parton level. We discuss the generalized parton distributions for the N -> Theta^+ transition and give the leading order amplitude for electroproduction in the Bjorken regime.
Several hard exclusive scattering processes admit a description in terms of generalized parton distributions and perturbative hard-scattering kernels. Both the physical amplitude and the hard-scattering kernels fulfill dispersion relations. We give a detailed investigation of their consistency at all orders in perturbation theory. The results shed light on the information about generalized parton distributions that can be extracted from the real and imaginary parts of exclusive amplitudes. They also provide a practical consistency check for models of these distributions in which Lorentz invari…
We developed the new parton model approach for exclusive semileptonic decays of $B$-meson to $D,~D^*$ by extending the inclusive parton model, and by combining with the results of the HQET, motivated by Drell-Yan process. Without the nearest pole dominance ansätze, we {\bf derived} the dependences of hadronic form factors on $q^2$. We also calculated numerically the slope of the Isgur-Wise function, which is consistent with the experimental results.
Motivated by the possibility to use high intensity neutrino beams for neutrino-nucleon scattering experiments we analyze charged current induced exclusive meson production within the framework of generalized parton distributions. The cross section for hard exclusive D_s production is estimated in this formalism to leading order in QCD. The integrated cross section proves to be sizable. It is shown that the considered process is well suited to provide novel information on the gluon structure of nucleons, which is contained in the generalized gluon parton distribution.
We summarize recent developments in understanding the concept of generalized parton distributions (GPDs), its relation to nucleon structure, and its application to high-Q2 electroproduction processes. Following a brief review of QCD factorization and transverse nucleon structure, we discuss (a) new theoretical methods for the analysis of deeply-virtual Compton scattering (t-channel-based GPD parametrizations, dispersion relations); (b) the phenomenology of hard exclusive meson production (experimental tests of dominance of small-size configurations, model-independent comparative studies); (c) …
Applications of perturbative QCD to deeply virtual Compton scattering and hard exclusive electroproduction processes require a generalization of usual parton distributions for the case when long-distance information is accumulated in nonforward matrix elements of quark and gluon light-cone operators. We describe two types of nonperturbative functions parametrizing such matrix elements: double distributions F(x,y;t) and skewed distribution functions F_ζ(X;t), discuss their properties, and basic uses in the QCD description of hard exclusive processes.
We formulate and prove a QCD factorization theorem for hard exclusive electroproduction of mesons in QCD. The proof is valid for the leading power in Q and all logarithms. This generalizes previous work on vector meson production in the diffractive region of small x. The amplitude is expressed in terms of off-diagonal generalizations of the usual parton densities. The full theorem applies to all kinds of meson and not just to vector mesons. The parton densities used include not only the ordinary parton density, but also the helicity density (g_1 or $Δq$) and the transversity density ($h_1$ or …
Applications of perturbative QCD to deeply virtual Compton scattering and hard exclusive electroproduction processes require a generalization of usual parton distributions for the case when long-distance information is accumulated in nonforward matrix elements <p'|O|p> of quark and gluon light-cone operators. We describe two types of nonperturbative functions parametrizing such matrix elements: double distributions F(x,y;t) and nonforward distribution functions F_ζ(X;t), discuss their spectral properties, evolution equations which they satisfy, basic uses and general aspects of factorization f…
Generalized parton distributions (GPDs) are important nonperturbative functions that provide tomographic images of partonic structures of hadrons. We introduce a type of exclusive processes, to be referred to as single diffractive hard exclusive processes (SDHEPs). We discuss the necessary and sufficient conditions for SDHEPs to be factorized into GPDs. We demonstrate that the SDHEP is not only sufficiently generic to cover all known processes for extracting GPDs, but is also well motivated for the search of new processes for the study of GPDs. We examine the sensitivity of the SDHEP to the pa…
We investigate the next-to-leading logarithmic (NLL) order contributions of the quantum chromodynamics (QCD) for exclusive processes evaluated by Monte Carlo methods. Ambiguities of the Monte Carlo calculation based on the leading-logarithmic (LL) order approximations are pointed out. To remove these ambiguities, we take into account the NLL order terms. In a model presented in this paper, interference contributions due to the NLL order terms are included for the generation of the transverse momenta in initial-state parton radiations. Furthermore, a kinematical constraint due to parton radiati…
We propose a new approach to the problem of rapidity gap survival (RGS) in the production of high-mass systems (H = dijet, heavy quarkonium, Higgs boson) in double-gap exclusive diffractive pp scattering, pp -> p + (gap) + H + (gap) + p. It is based on the idea that hard and soft interactions proceed over widely different time- and distance scales and are thus approximately independent. The high-mass system is produced in a hard scattering process with exchange of two gluons between the protons. Its amplitude is calculable in terms of the gluon generalized parton distributions (GPDs) in the pr…
I give a brief introduction to the physics of generalized parton distributions and distribution amplitudes. I then report on the status of the calculation of radiative corrections for the exclusive processes where these quantities occur.
The calculations of the double parton scattering cross sections are discussed. It is shown that the commonly used factorised formula is valid only in the limit of low cross sections. The applicability of this approximation is studied with a more general approach based on the Poisson distribution averaged over the impact parameter space.
I give an overview of recent theoretical results for exclusive Higgs-production cross sections, focusing in particular on processes where precise predictions will be relevant in the near future.
The next-to-leading order (NLO) evolution of the parton distribution functions (PDFs) in QCD is a common tool in the lepton-hadron and hadron-hadron collider data analysis. The standard NLO DGLAP evolution is formulated for inclusive (integrated) PDFs and done using inclusive NLO kernels. We report here on the ongoing project, called KRKMC, in which NLO DGLAP evolution is performed for the exclusive multiparton (fully unintegrated) distributions (ePDFs) with the help of the exclusive kernels. These kernels are calculated within the two-parton phase space for the non-singlet evolution, using Cu…
We update the theoretical predictions for the t-tbar production cross-section at the Tevatron, taking into account the most recent determinations of systematic uncertainties in the extraction of the proton parton densities.
We suggest the measurement of exclusive electroproduction of lepton pairs as a tool to study inter-parton correlations in the nucleon via generalized parton distributions in the kinematical region where this process is light-cone dominated. We demonstrate how the single beam-spin asymmetry allows to perform such kind of analysis and give a number of predictions for several experimental setups. We comment on other observables which allow for a clean separation of different species of generalized parton distributions.
We propose an extension of matrix element plus parton shower merging at tree level to preserve inclusive cross sections obtained from the merged and showered sample. Implementing this constraint generates approximate next-to-leading order (NLO) contributions similar to the LoopSim approach. We then show how full NLO, or in principle even higher order, corrections can be added consistently, including constraints on inclusive cross sections to account for yet missing parton shower accuracy at higher logarithmic order. We also show how NLO accuracy below the merging scale can be obtained.
We describe some ambiguities which take place when on calculates the cross-sections in parton models at high energies and the connected limitations on the asymptotic of high energy amplitudes that follows from the conditions of boost-invariance of cross-sections. It turns out that the resulting constraints are of the same type as the following from the t-channel unitarity conditions.~ So that on can suppose that this similarity, by their nature, has much more general grounds.
We address the question as to whether data for J/ψmesons produced exclusively in the forward direction at the LHC can be used in global parton analyses (based on collinear factorization) to pin down the low x gluon PDF. We show that it may be possible to overcome the problems that (i) the process is described by a skewed or Generalized Parton Distribution (GPD), (ii) it is very sensitive to the choice of factorization scale and (iii) there is bad LO, NLO,... perturbative stability to the predictions. However, we start by briefly explaining how the alternative k_T factorization approach has bee…
It is reported on an analysis of electroproduction of light mesons at small Bjorken-x within the handbag approach. The partonic subprocesses, meson electroproduction off quarks or gluons, are calculated within the modified perturbative approach in which quark transverse momenta are retained. The soft hadronic matrix elements, generalized parton distributions, are constructed by means of double distributions. The constraints from parton distributions and sum rules are taken into account. Various moments of these generalized parton distributions are compared to recent results from lattice gauge …
We show that exclusive production of a pair of high transverse momentum photons in pion-nucleon collisions can be systematically studied in QCD factorization approach if the photon's transverse momentum $q_T$ with respect to the colliding pion is much greater than $Λ_{\rm QCD}$. We demonstrate that the leading power non-perturbative contributions to the scattering amplitudes of this exclusive process are process-independent and can be systematically factorized into universal pion's distribution amplitudes (DAs) and nucleon's generalized parton distributions (GPDs), which are convoluted with co…
Being the "mother distributions" of all types of two-parton correlation functions, generalized transverse momentum dependent parton distributions (GTMDs) have attracted a lot of attention over the last years. We argue that exclusive double production of pseudoscalar quarkonia ($η_c$ or $η_b$) in nucleon-nucleon collisions gives access to GTMDs of gluons.
We argue that the proton multiplicities measured in Roman pot detectors at an electron ion collider can be used to determine centrality classes in incoherent diffractive scattering. Incoherent diffraction probes the fluctuations in the interaction strengths of multi-parton Fock states in the nuclear wavefunctions. In particular, the saturation scale that characterizes this multi-parton dynamics is significantly larger in central events relative to minimum bias events. As an application, we study the centrality dependence of incoherent diffractive vector meson production. We identify an observa…
We perform calculations of Z+jet cross-section taking into account the transverse momenta of the initial partons. Transverse Momentum Dependent (TMD) parton densities obtained with the Parton Branching method are used and higher order corrections are included via TMD parton showers in the initial state. The predictions are compared to measurements of forward Z+jet production of the LHCb collaboration at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV. We show that the results obtained in kT-factorization are in good agreement with results obtained from a NLO calculation matched with traditional parton showers. We also demon…
The information about generalized parton distributions (GPDs) extracted from exclusive meson leptoproduction within the handbag approach is summarized. Details are only discussed for the GPD E and the transversity ones. It is also commented on results for deep virtual Compton scattering evaluated from these GPDs
The rates of multiparton collisions in high energy hadronic interactions provide information on the typical transverse distances between partons in the hadron structure. The different configurations of the hadron in transverse space are, on the other hand, at the origin of hadron diffraction. The relation between the two phenomena is exploted in an eikonal model of hadronic interactions.
The low $x$ behaviour of the gluon density $xg(x,μ^2)$ at scale $μ^2=2.4$ GeV$^2$ is determined using exclusive $J/ψ$ production data from HERA and LHCb within the framework of collinear factorisation at next-to-leading order (NLO). It is shown that in the interval $3\times 10^{-6} < x <10^{-3}$ the gluon distribution function grows as $xg(x,μ^2)\propto x^{-λ}$ with $λ=0.135\pm 0.006 $. The impact this experimental data will have for the global parton distribution function (PDF) analyses in this low $x$ domain is quantified. No indication in favour of parton density saturation is observed.
We apply the theory of parton-parton total cross sections at large ``s", due to Lipatov and collaborators, to compute the inclusive cross section for jets which accompany a large ``s" parton scattering process.
We propose a formalism for calculating the event cross-section of parton interactions. In this formalism, we use the light-front bound-state wave function to expand scattering initial state. This leads to an expression of the cross-section in terms of square of wave functions which can be used to define the parton distribution functions. The probability interpretation of the partonic interactions among hadron-hadron scattering is naturally achieved. We apply this formalism to calculate the 4-particle final state cross-section for single parton, double parton and gluon splitting interactions. W…
