Kinematic Azimuthal Asymmetries and Lam-Tung Relation

Abstract

The origin of Lam-Tung relation for the angular asymmetry of Drell-Yan dileptons is analyzed. The asymmetry constrained by this relation is shown to belongto the class of kinematic azimuthal asymmetries, emerging due to the deviation of the reference axis from the natural physical one. The validity and violation of Lam-Tung relation due to radiative and power QCD corrections is discussed. The relation is generalized to the case when the virtual photon is not the transverse oneand the possible applications are suggested.