Effects of transversity in deep-inelastic scattering by polarized protons
hep-ex
/ Authors
HERMES collaboration, A. Airapetian, N. Akopov, Z. Akopov, E. C. Aschenauer, W. Augustyniak, R. Avakian, A. Avetissian, E. Avetisyan, A. Bacchetta
and 135 more authors
S. Belostotski, N. Bianchi, H. P. Blok, A. Borissov, J. Bowles, I. Brodski, V. Bryzgalov, J. Burns, M. Capiluppi, G. P. Capitani, E. Cisbani, G. Ciullo, M. Contalbrigo, P. F. Dalpiaz, W. Deconinck, R. De Leo, L. De Nardo, E. De Sanctis, M. Diefenthaler, P. Di Nezza, M. Dueren, M. Ehrenfried, G. Elbakian, F. Ellinghaus
/ Abstract
Single-spin asymmetries for pions and charged kaons are measured in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering of positrons and electrons off a transversely nuclear-polarized hydrogen target. The dependence of the cross section on the azimuthal angles of the target polarization (phi_S)and the produced hadron (phi) is found to have a substantial sin(phi+phi_S) modulation for the production of pi+, pi- and K+. This Fourier component can be interpreted in terms of non-zero transversity distribution functions and non-zero favored and disfavored Collins fragmentation functions with opposite sign. For pi0 and K- production the amplitude of this Fourier component is consistent with zero.