Target normal single-spin asymmetry in inclusive electron-nucleon scattering in the 1/Nc expansion

Abstract

The target normal single-spin asymmetry in electron nucleon scattering is studied in the framework of the 1/Nc expansion of QCD, which allows for a rigorous description in the energy range that includes the Delta resonance and below the second baryon resonance region. The asymmetry is driven by the absorptive part of the two-photon exchange component of the scattering amplitude, being therefore the most unambiguous two-photon exchange effect. Such amplitude is shown to be described up to the next to leading order in the 1/Nc expansion only in terms of the charge and magnetic form factors of the nucleons, consequence of the approximate $SU(4)$ spin flavor symmetry valid in the large Nc limit for baryons. A discussion is provided of the 1/Nc expansion framework along with the results for the asymmetries in elastic, inelastic, and inclusive electron-nucleon scattering.