Exploring GPDs through the photoproduction of a $\gamma \rho$ pair

Abstract

We describe the process $\gamma N \to \gamma\,\rho N'$ in the generalized Bjorken regime where the $\gamma\,\rho $ pair has a large invariant mass. In the collinear QCD factorization framework, the amplitude gives access to both chiral-even and chiral-odd quark generalized parton distributions (GPDs), and is insensitive to gluon GPDs. The separation of longitudinally and transversely polarized $\rho$ meson production allows to distinguish chiral-even and chiral-odd contributions. Production rates are estimated in the kinematics of the near-future JLab~12-GeV experiments.