We evaluate the leading-order QED radiative corrections to the timelike Compton scattering (TCS) process $γp \to l^- l^+ p$. We study these corrections in two energy regimes using different models for the TCS amplitude. In the low-energy regime we calculate the contribution due to the proton and its lowest-energy excitation, the $Δ(1232)$ resonance. In the high-energy near-forward kinematical regime we calculate the TCS amplitude in a handbag approach in terms of Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs). On the level of cross sections we find the QED radiative corrections to be in the $5 -10\%$ range in the low-energy regime and around $20\%$ in the high-energy regime. We show that in both the di-lepton forward-backward asymmetry as well as in the photon beam helicity asymmetry these corrections nearly cancel out, making them gold-plated observables to extract the real and imaginary parts of the TCS amplitude. We demonstrate in particular the sensitivity of these asymmetries on GPD parameterizations for a recent CLAS12@JLab TCS experiment.
We investigate the exclusive photoproduction of a heavy timelike photon which decays into a lepton pair, gamma p -> l+ l- p. This can be seen as the analog of deeply virtual Compton scattering, and we argue that the two processes are complementary for studying generalized parton distributions in the nucleon. In an unpolarized experiment the angular distribution of the leptons readily provides access to the real part of the Compton amplitude. We estimate the possible size of this effect in kinematics where the Compton process should be dominated by quark exchange.
Exclusive photoproduction of dileptons, gamma N->e+e-N, is and will be measured in ultraperipheral collisions at hadron colliders, such as the Tevatron, RHIC and the LHC . We demonstrate that the timelike deeply virtual Compton scattering (TCS) mechanism gamma q -> e+e- q where the lepton pair comes from the subprocess gamma q -> gamma* q dominates in some accessible kinematical regions, thus opening a new way to study generalized parton distributions (GPD) in the nucleon. High energy kinematics enables to probe parton distributions at small skewedness. This subprocess interferes at the amplit…
We present a sample of results of our work to be published soon on Timelike Compton scattering off the proton, in the framework of the Generalized Parton Distributions formalism.
We study the timelike virtual Compton scattering process with a linearly polarized photon beam, in the generalized Bjorken scaling region and in the medium energy range which will be studied intensely at JLab12 experiments. We define new observables and show how they should help to access the polarized quark and gluon generalized parton distributions.
We report on a recent work proposing measurements of the deeply virtual Compton amplitude (DVCS) $γ^* \to h \bar h γ$ in the timelike kinematic domain which is accessible at electron-positron colliders via the radiative annihilation process $e^+ e^- \to h \bar h γ$.
We study the exclusive photoproduction of an electron-positron pair on a neutron target in the Jefferson Lab energy domain. The reaction consists of two processes: the Bethe-Heitler and the Timelike Compton Scattering. The latter process provides potentially access to the Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) of the nucleon. We calculate all the unpolarized, single- and double-spin observables of the reaction and study their sensitivities to GPDs.
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)$.
We review recent progress in the study of timelike Compton scattering (TCS), the crossed process of deeply virtual Compton scattering. We emphasize the need to include NLO corrections to any phenomenological program to extract Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) from near future experimental data. We point out that TCS at high energy should be available through a study of ultraperipheral collisions at RHIC and LHC, opening a window on quark and gluon GPDs at very small skewness.
We study the exclusive photoproduction of a lepton pair off the proton with the aim of studying the proton quark structure via the Generalized Parton Distributions (GPD) formalism. After deriving the amplitudes of the processes contributing to the $γP\to P' e^+e^-$, the Timelike Compton Scattering and the Bethe-Heitler process, we calculate all unpolarized, single- and double- beam-target spin observables in the valence region in terms of GPDs.
We study timelike and spacelike virtual Compton scattering in the generalized Bjorken scaling regime at next to leading order in the strong coupling constant, in the medium energy range which will be studied intensely at JLab12 and in the COMPASS-II experiment at CERN. We show that the Born amplitudes get sizeable O(α_s) corrections and, even at moderate energies, the gluonic contributions are by no means negligible. We stress that the timelike and spacelike cases are complementary and that their difference deserves much special attention.
Exclusive photoproduction of dileptons, gamma N ->l+l- N, is and will be measured in ultraperipheral collisions at hadron colliders. We demonstrate that the timelike deeply virtual Compton scattering (TCS) mechanism gamma q -> l+l- q, where the lepton pair comes from the subprocess gamma q -> gamma* q, dominates in some accessible kinematical regions, thus opening a new way to study generalized parton distributions (GPD) in the nucleon at small skewedness.
We calculate the O(alpha_s) corrections to the timelike, spacelike and double deeply virtual Compton scattering amplitudes in the generalized Bjorken scaling region. Special attention is devoted to studies of the difference between the next to leading order timelike and spacelike coefficient functions, which plays for this process a role analogous to the large K factor which was much discussed in the analysis of inclusive Drell Yan cross sections. Also in the present studies the timelike nature of the hard scale gives rise to new absorptive part of the amplitude and to the presence of characte…
Exclusive photoproduction of dileptons, gamma N ->l+l- N, is and will be measured in ultraperipheralcollisions at hadron colliders. We demonstrate that the timelike deeply virtual Compton scattering (TCS) mechanism gamma q -> l+l- q, where the lepton pair comes from the subprocess gamma q -> gamma* q, dominates in some accessible kinematical regions, thus opening a new way to study generalized parton distributions (GPD) in the nucleon at small skewedness.
We emphasize the complementarity of timelike and spacelike studies of deep exclusive processes, taking as an example the case of timelike Compton Scattering (TCS) i.e. the exclusive photoproduction of a lepton pair with large invariant mass, vs deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) i.e. the exclusive leptoproduction of a real photon. Both amplitudes factorize with the same generalized parton distributions (GPDs) as their soft parts and coefficient functions which differ significantly at next to leading order in alpha_s. We also stress that data on TCS at very high energy should be available…
We propose measurements of the deeply virtual Compton amplitude (DVCS), gamma* to H H-bar gamma, in the timelike t = (p_{H} + p_{H-bar})^2 > 0 kinematic domain which is accessible at electron-positron colliders via the radiative annihilation process e+ e- to H H-bar gamma. These processes allow the measurement of timelike deeply virtual Compton scattering for a variety of H H-bar hadron pairs such as pi+ pi-, K+ K-, and D D-bar as well as p p-bar. As in the conventional spacelike DVCS, there are interfering coherent amplitudes contributing to the timelike processes involving C= - form factors.…
The study of exclusive processes in photon - induced interactions allow us to probe the generalized parton distributions (GPDs), which provide information about the 3 dimensional description of the quark and gluon content of hadrons. In this paper we investigate the timelike Compton scattering (TCS) in ultraperipheral $pPb$ collisions at the LHC. Such process is characterized by the exclusive dilepton production through the subprocess $γp \rightarrow γ^*p \rightarrow l^+ l^- p$, with the real photon in the initial state being emitted by the nucleus. Assuming a given model for the GPDs, the TCS…
In the framework of collinear QCD factorization, the leading twist scattering amplitudes for deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) and timelike Compton scattering (TCS) are intimately related thanks to analytic properties of leading and next-to-leading order amplitudes. We exploit this welcome feature to make data-driven predictions for TCS observables to be measured in near future experiments. Using a recent extraction of DVCS Compton form factors from most of the existing experimental data for that process, we derive TCS amplitudes and calculate TCS observables only assuming leading-twist…
In this work we consider the dilepton production via timelike Compton scattering (TCS) in electron-proton and proton-proton collisions. In particular, the differential cross section in terms of the dilepton invariant mass and rapidity is computed within the $k_T$-factorization approach. Besides, we utilize distinct unintegrated gluon distributions (UGD) in order to compare their impact on the differential cross section of TCS in $pp$ ($ep$) collisions evaluated at the LHC (LHeC), HL-LHC (LHeC), HE-LHC (LHeC) and FCC-hh (eh) center-of-mass energies.
Timelike Compton scattering (TCS) i.e. the exclusive photoproduction of a lepton pair with large invariant mass nicely complements the already successful experimental study of deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS). The same Generalized Parton Distributions enter both amplitudes, which offer a promissing way to access the quark and gluon nucleon structure. We review recent progress in this domain, emphasizing the fact that analyticity and factorization properties dictate the relation of the NLO corrections to TCS to those of DVCS. We also stress that data on TCS at high energy should be avai…
We derive the forward photoproduction amplitude for the diffractive $γp \to l^+ l^- p$ reaction in the momentum space. within the formalism of $k_\perp$- factorization. Predictions for the $γp \to l^+ l^- p$ reaction are given using unintegrated gluon distribution from the literature. We calculate the total cross section as a function of photon-proton center of mass energy and the invariant mass distribution of the lepton pair. We also discuss whether the production of timelike virtual photons can be approximated by continuing to the spacelike domain $ q^2 < 0$. The present calculation provide…
We present some recent results on the analysis of hard scattering processes in the framework of Generalized Parton Distributions. In particular we compute DVCS observables on unpolarized targets with the Kroll - Goloskokov model (suited to DVMP analysis). We also discuss NLO contributions to DVCS and TCS processes for various kinematic settings.
In the present work, $k_T$-factorization formalism is applied to compute the exclusive dilepton production by timelike Compton scattering (TCS) in $eA$, $pA$ and $AA$ collisions. The nuclear effects are investigated considering heavy and light ions. The production cross section in terms of invariant mass and rapidity distribution of the lepton pair is shown. The analysis is done for electron-ion collisions at the Large Hadron-Electron Collider (LHeC), its high-energy upgrade (HE-LHeC) and at the Future Circular Collider (FCC) in lepton-hadron mode. Additionally, ultraperipheral heavy ion colli…
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…
Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) offer a new way to access the quark and gluon nucleon structure. We advocate the need to supplement the experimental study of deeply virtual Compton scattering by its crossed version, timelike Compton scattering. We review recent progress in this domain, emphasizing the need to include NLO corrections to any phenomenological program to extract GPDs from experimental data.
QED Compton scattering at HERA is discussed in terms of the information it may reveal on the proton structure at low momentum transfers Q2. Detailed Monte Carlo studies are performed which show that the analysis of inelastic QED Compton events allows the extension of present HERA structure function measurements to a kinematic regime, which up to now was only accessed in fixed target data. For these studies an improved version of the COMPTON event generator is used, where special emphasis has been put on modelling the hadronic final state at low invariant masses. As the low Q2 regime is sometim…
The QED radiative corrections to virtual Compton scattering (reaction $e p \to e p γ$) are calculated to first order in $α_{em} \equiv e^2 / 4 π$. A detailed study is presented for the one-loop virtual corrections and for the first order soft-photon emission contributions. Furthermore, a full numerical calculation is given for the radiative tail, corresponding with photon emission processes, where the photon energy is not very small compared with the lepton momenta. We compare our results with existing works on elastic electron-proton scattering, and show for the $e p \to e p γ$ reaction how t…
We investigate the QED Compton process (QEDCS) in $e p \to e γp$ and $e p \to e γX$, together with the major background coming from the virtual Compton scattering (VCS), where the photon is emitted from the hadronic vertex. We suggest new kinematical constraints which suppress the VCS background and are furthermore suitable for the extraction of the equivalent photon content of the proton at the HERA collider. We show that the cross section, commonly expressed in terms of the proton structure functions, is reasonably well described by the equivalent photon approximation of the proton, also in …
In the strong uniform magnetic field, the noncommutative plane (NCP) caused by the lowest Landau level (LLL) effect, and QED with NCP (QED-NCP) are studied. Being similar to the condensed matter theory of quantum Hall effect, an effective filling factor $f(B)$ is introduced to character the possibility that the electrons stay on the LLL. The analytic and numerical results of the differential cross section for the process of backward Compton scattering in the accelerator with unpolarized or polarized initial photons are calculated. The existing data of BL38B2 in Spring-8 have been analyzed roug…
In strong uniform magnetic field, the vacuum Non-Commutative Plane (NCP) caused by the lowest Landau level(LLL) effect and the QED with NCP (QED-NCP) are studied. Being similar to the theory of Quantum Hall effect, an effective filling factor $f(B)$ is introduced to character the possibility that the electrons stays on LLL. The backward Compton scattering amplitudes of QED-NCP are derived, and the differential cross sections for the process with polarized initial electrons and photons are calculated. The existing Spring-8's data has been analyzed primitively and some hints for QED-NCP effects …
The complete QED corrections of O(alpha) to polarized Compton scattering are calculated for finite electron mass and including the real corrections induced by the processes e^- gamma -> e^- gamma gamma and e^- gamma -> e^- e^- e^+. All relevant formulas are listed in a form that is well suited for a direct implementation in computer codes. We present a detailed numerical discussion of the O(alpha)-corrected cross section and the left-right asymmetry in the energy range of present and future Compton polarimeters, which are used to determine the beam polarization of high-energetic e^+- beams. Fo…
We calculate the unpolarized QED Compton scattering cross section in a manifestly covariant way. Our approach allows a direct implementation of the specific kinematical cuts imposed in the experiments, {\it e. g.} HERA-H1. We compare the 'exact' cross section in terms of the structure functions $F_{1,2} (x_B,Q^2)$, assuming the Callan-Gross relation, with the one obtained using the equivalent photon approximation (EPA) as well as with the experimental results. We find that the agreement with the EPA is better in $x_γ$ bins, where $x_γ$ is the fraction of the longitudinal momentum of the proton…
We study the Compton scattering in the noncommutative counter part of QED (NC QED). Interactions in NC QED have momentum dependent phase factors and the gauge fields have Yang Mills type couplings, this modifies the cross sections and are different from the commuting Standard Model. Collider signals of noncommutative space-time are studied at the Next Linear Collider (NLC) operating in the $e γ$ mode. Results for different polarised cases are presented and it is shown that the Compton process can probe the noncommutative scale in the range of 1 - 2.5 TeV for typical proposed NLC energies.
Gravitational Compton scattering process with a massive fermion is studied in the context of the linearized gravity. Gravitational gauge invariance and graviton transversality cause the transition amplitude to be factorized into that of scalar QED Compton scattering and that of fermion QED Compton scattering with an overall kinematical factor. The factorization is shown explicitly and its physical implications are discussed.
The recoil associated with photon emission is key to the dynamics of ultrarelativistic electrons in strong electromagnetic fields, as are found in high-intensity laser-matter interactions and astrophysical environments such as neutron star magnetospheres. When the energy of the photon becomes comparable to that of the electron, it is necessary to use quantum electrodynamics (QED) to describe the dynamics accurately. However, computing the appropriate scattering matrix element from strong-field QED is not generally possible due to multiparticle effects and the complex structure of the electroma…
We emphasize how large O(α_s) corrections to timelike and spacelike virtual Compton scattering amplitudes are in the generalized Bjorken scaling regime, and in particular the gluonic contributions, even in the medium energy range which will be studied intensely at JLab12 and in the COMPASS-II experiment at CERN. We stress that the timelike and spacelike cases are complementary and that their difference deserves much special attention.
Exclusive processes of heavy meson production and spacelike and timelike deeply virtual Compton scattering allow us to investigate the hadron structure in terms of Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs). We review recent developments in the NLO description of such processes.
We investigate the Compton scattering vertex of charged scalars and photons in scalar quantum electrodynamics (SQED). We carry out its non perturbative construction consistent with Ward-Fradkin-Green-Takahashi identity (WFGTI) which relates 3-point vertices to the 4-point ones. There is an undetermined part which is transverse to one or both the external photons, and needs to be evaluated through perturbation theory. We present in detail how the transverse part at the 1-loop order can be evaluated for completely general kinematics of momenta involved in covariant gauges and dimensions. This in…
Timelike and spacelike virtual Compton scattering in the generalized Bjorken scaling regime are complementary tools to access generalized parton distributions. We stress that the gluonic contributions are by no means negligible, even in the medium energy range which will be studied intensely at JLab12 and in the COMPASS-II experiment at CERN. Ultraperipheral collisions with proton or ion beams may also be used at RHIC and at collider or fixed target experiments at LHC.
A covariant relativistic formalism for the electron-photon and nuclear dynamics is summarised making more accurate predictions in agreement with experiments for Compton scattering in shells with large electron binding energy. An exact solution for the Dirac equation for an electron in the nuclear Coulomb field is obtained, in order to write the relativistic dynamics for this QED process. This is a preparation for the calculation of the relativistic cross-section for Compton scattering on bound electrons; as a precision test for QED.
We derived analytic formulae for the polarization single--spin asymmetries (SSA) in the Bethe--Heitler process $e^- + p \to e^- + γ+ p$. The asymmetries arise due to one-loop QED radiative corrections to the leptonic part of the interaction and present a systematic correction for the studies of virtual Compton Scattering on a proton through interference with the Bethe-Heitler amplitude. Considered are SSA with either longitudinally polarized electron beam or a polarized proton target. The computed effect appears to be small, not exceeding 0.1 per cent for kinematics of current virtual Compton …
In this paper we derive and discuss the completely spin- and photon-polarisation dependent probability rates for nonlinear Compton scattering and nonlinear Breit-Wheeler pair production. The locally constant field approximation, which is essential for applications in plasma-QED simulation codes, is rigorously derived from the strong-field QED matrix elements in the Furry picture for a general plane-wave background field. We discuss important polarisation correlation effects in the spectra of both processes. Asymptotic limits for both small and large values of $χ$ are derived and their spin/pol…
The spin-2 graviton excitations in the Randall-Sundrum gravity model provides a t-channel contribution to electron Compton scattering which competes favourably with the standard QED contributions. The phenomenological implications of these contributions to the unpolarized and polarized cross-sections are evaluated.
Exclusive photoproduction of dileptons, gamma p ->l+ l- p, will be measured in ultraperipheral collisions at LHC. The mechanism where the lepton pair comes from a heavy timelike photon radiated from a quark interferes with the pure QED process gamma gamma ->l+ l- As an analog of deeply virtual Compton scattering, this timelike Compton scattering is a way to study generalized parton distributions in the nucleon or the nucleus. High energy kinematics will enable to focus on gluon distributions. Nuclear effects may be scrutinized in heavy ion collisions.
We study the double deeply virtual Compton scattering (DDVCS) process off the nucleon, through the scattering of a spacelike virtual photon with large virtuality resulting in the production of a timelike virtual photon, decaying into an e^+ e^- pair. This process is expressed in the Bjorken regime in terms of generalized parton distributions (GPDs) and it is shown that by varying the invariant mass of the lepton pair, one can directly extract the GPDs from the observables. We give predictions for the DDVCS cross section and beam helicity asymmetry and discuss its experimental feasibility.
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.
The method originally developed for the exact calculations in QED theory is applied for the calculation of NLO effects in QCD Compton processes. QCD corrections to the structure functions and sum rules are obtained. Different interpretations of the NLO effects due to finite quark mass are discussed.
It is an empirical question whether photons always obey Bose-Einstein statistics, but devising and interpreting experimental tests of photon statistics can be a challenge. The nonrelativistic cross section for Compton scattering illustrates how a small admixture nu of wrong-sign statistics leads to a loss of gauge invariance; there is a large anomalous amplitude for scattering timelike photons. Nevertheless, one can interpret the observed transparency of the solar wind plasma at low frequencies as a bound nu < 10^(-25) if Lorentz symmetry is required. If there is instead a universal preferred …
In the calculation of probabilities of physical processes occurring in a background classical field, the local constant field approximation (LCFA) relies on the possibility of neglecting the space-time variation of the external field within the region of formation of the process. This approximation is widely employed in strong-field QED as it allows to evaluate probabilities of processes occurring in arbitrary electromagnetic fields starting from the corresponding quantities computed in a constant electromagnetic field. Here, we demonstrate in the case of nonlinear single Compton scattering th…
The impact of potential future measurements of beam charge asymmetries on the current knowledge of Compton form factors is evaluated. Elaborating on the results of a global neural network fit to deeply virtual Compton scattering data, a Bayesian reweighting analysis quantifies the improved determination of the real part of the Compton form factor $\mathcal{H}$. Such an improvement is particularly relevant for the experimental determination of the proton mechanical properties or for universality studies of generalized parton distributions through analyses of virtual Compton scattering in both s…
We study the effects of non-commutative QED (NCQED) in fermion pair production, $γ+ γ\to f + \bar{f}$ and Compton scattering, $e + γ\to e + γ$. Non-commutative geometries appear naturally in the context of string/M-theory and gives rise to 3- and 4-point photon vertices and to momentum dependent phase factors in QED vertices which will have observable effects in high energy collisions. We consider $e^+ e^-$ colliders with energies appropriate to the TeV Linear Collider proposals and the multi-TeV CLIC project operating in $γγ$ and $eγ$ modes. Non-commutative scales roughly equal to the center …
The local-constant-field approximation (LCFA) is an essential theoretical tool for investigating strong-field QED phenomena in background electromagnetic fields with complex spacetime structure. In our previous work [Phys.~Rev.~A~\textbf{98}, 012134 (2018)] we have analyzed the shortcomings of the LCFA in nonlinear Compton scattering at low emitted photon energies for the case of a background plane-wave field. Here, we generalize that analysis to background fields, which can feature a virtually arbitrary spacetime structure. In addition, we provide an explicit and simple implementation of an i…
The Cottingham formula expresses the leading contribution of the electromagnetic interaction to the proton-neutron mass difference as an integral over the forward Compton amplitude. Since quarks and gluons reggeize, the dispersive representation of this amplitude requires a subtraction. We assume that the asymptotic behaviour is dominated by Reggeon exchange. This leads to a sum rule that expresses the subtraction function in terms of measurable quantities. The evaluation of this sum rule leads to $m_{QED}^{p-n}=0.58\pm 0.16\,\mbox{MeV}$.
The infrared behavior of QED changes drastically in the presence of a strong magnetic field: the electron self-energy and the vertex function are infrared {\em finite}, in contrast with field-free QED, while new infrared divergences appear that are absent in free space. One famous example of the latter is the infrared catastrophe of magnetic Compton scattering, where the cross section for scattering of photons from electrons which undergo a transition to the Landau ground state {\em diverges} as the frequency of the incoming photon goes to zero. We examine this divergence in more detail and pr…
We calculate the collisional energy loss of a muon of high energy $E$ in a hot QED plasma beyond logarithmic accuracy, i.e., we determine the constant terms of order O(1) in $-dE/dx \propto \ln{E}+ O(1)$. Considering first the $t$-channel contribution to $-dE/dx$, we show that the terms $\sim O(1)$ are sensitive to the full kinematic region for the momentum exchange $q$ in elastic scattering, including large values $q \sim O(E)$. We thus redress a previous calculation by Braaten and Thoma, which assumed $q << E$ and could not find the correct constant (in the large $E$ limit). The relevance of…
The covariant spectator quark model, tested before in a variety of electromagnetic baryon excitations, is applied here to the $γ^\ast N \to N^\ast(1520)$ reaction in the timelike regime. The transition form factors are first parametrized in the spacelike region in terms of a valence quark core model together with a parametrization of the meson cloud contribution. The form factor behavior in the timelike region is then predicted, as well as the $N^\ast(1520) \to γN$ decay width and the $N^\ast (1520)$ Dalitz decay, $N^\ast (1520) \to e^+ e^- N$. Our results may help in the interpretation of die…
