Unveiling the proton structure via transverse-momentum-dependent gluon distributions

Abstract

We present exploratory studies of the proton content via unpolarized and polarized transverse-momentum-dependent gluon distributions in the proton at leading twist. We make use of an enhanced spectator-model approach to encode in our densities both small- and moderate-$x$ effects. These studies are relevant to the investigation of the inner structure of hadrons via tomographic analyses at new-generation colliding machines.