Transverse spin asymmetries for inclusive $\rho^0$ production in SIDIS at COMPASS

Abstract

The production of vector mesons in SIDIS is a particularly interesting channel to study the polarized fragmentation and related phenomena. Preliminary COMPASS results for the first measurement of inclusive $\rho^0$ Collins and Sivers transverse-spin asymmetries are presented here for the first time. The analysis is based on the data-set collected by COMPASS in $2010$ using a $160\, \rm{GeV}/c$ $\mu^+$ beam and a transversely polarized $NH_3$ target. The asymmetries are extracted as function of Bjorken-$x$, of the total transverse momentum of the oppositely charged hadron pair and of the fraction of available energy $z$ carried by the pair. Indications for positive Collins and Sivers asymmetries are obtained as expected from models.