Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Studying Transverse Momentum Dependent Distributions In Polarized Proton Collisions Via Azimuthal Single Spin Asymmetries Of Charged Pions In Jets, James Kevin Adkins

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

A complete, fundamental understanding of the proton must include knowledge of the underlying spin structure. The transversity distribution, h₁(x), which describes the transverse spin structure of quarks inside of a transversely polarized proton, is only accessible through channels that couple h₁(x) to another chiral odd distribution, such as the Collins fragmentation function (Δ^N D_π/q^↑(z,j_T)). Significant Collins asymmetries of charged pions have been observed in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering (SIDIS) data. These SIDIS asymmetries combined with e⁺e^- process asymmetries have allowed for …