Probing gluon helicity with heavy flavor at the EIC

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Authors: Anderle, Daniele Paolo, Dong, Xin, Hekhorn, Felix, Kelsey, Matthew, Radhakrishnan, Sooraj, Sichtermann, Ernst, Xia, Lei, Xing, Hongxi, Yuan, Feng, Zhao, Yuxiang
• Format: Paper Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 09.10.2021
• Subjects: Asymmetry; Distribution functions; Flavor (particle physics); Gluons; Helicity; Inelastic scattering; Partons; Physics - High Energy Physics - Experiment; Physics - High Energy Physics - Phenomenology; Physics - Nuclear Experiment; Physics - Nuclear Theory; Quantum chromodynamics; Subsystems
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2110.04489

We propose a new measurement of the heavy flavor hadron double spin asymmetry in deep-inelastic scattering at a future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) to constrain the polarized gluon distribution function inside the proton. Statistical projection on \(D^0\) meson double spin asymmetry is calculated with an EIC central detector using an all-silicon tracker and vertexing subsystem. A first impact study was done by interpreting pseudo-data at next-to-leading order in QCD. The sensitivity of the experimental observable in constraining gluon helicity distribution in a wide range of parton momentum fraction \(x\) has been investigated considering different beam energy configurations. This measurement complements the inclusive spin-dependent structure function measurement and provides an opportunity to constrain the gluon helicity distribution in the moderate \(x\) region.