Transversity Generalized Parton Distributions from gamma N -> pi rhot N' with a Large pi rhot Invariant Mass

Abstract

The chiral-odd transversity generalized parton distributions of the nucleon can be accessed experimentally through the exclusive photoproduction process gamma N -> pi rhoT N', with or without beam and target polarization, provided the vector meson is produced in a transversely polarized state. The kinematical domain of factorization is defined through a large invariant mass of the meson pair and a small transverse momentum of the final nucleon. We calculate perturbatively the scattering amplitude at leading order in alpha_s and build a simple model for the dominant transversity GPD H_T(x, xi, t) based on the concept of double distribution. Counting rate estimates are in progress.