Perturbative QCD contribution to transverse single spin asymmetries in Drell-Yan and SIDIS

Abstract

In a previous publication [Beni\' c et al., Phys. Rev. D104 (2021) 094027], we have computed the perturbative QCD contribution to transverse single spin asymmetries (SSAs) in semi-inclusive Deep Inelastic Scattering (SIDIS) involving the $g_T(x)$ distribution. In this paper, we first present a more efficient derivation of the asymmetries which is applicable to both transverse and longitudinal SSAs, and correct some inconsistencies in our previous calculation. We then adapt the method to compute transverse SSAs in Drell-Yan proportional to $g_T(x)$ and its gluonic counterpart, and discuss the crossing symmetry between the results for SIDIS and Drell-Yan. Finally, we present numerical results for various asymmetries measurable at the EIC, RHIC, COMPASS and Fermilab (SpinQuest), including also part of the genuine twist-three corrections to $g_T(x)$ from a recent global analysis. We find that the asymmetries can reach percent-level magnitude, if the kinematics predominantly probes the large-$x$ (valence) region of the polarized proton, but remain at sub-percent levels otherwise.