The twist-3 gluon contribution to $A_N$ in $J/ψ$ production in $pp$ collisions

Abstract

We present our results for the twist-3 gluon contribution to the single transverse-spin asymmetry(SSA) in $J/ψ$ production in proton-proton collisions. Although the data were reported by the RHIC experiment more than a decade ago, a theoretical calculation based on rigorous collinear factorization has remained unavailable for the dominant gluonic contribution. Our results show that only the $C$-even type twist-3 gluon distribution, which has a direct relationship with the gluon TMD distribution function, contributes to the $J/ψ$ SSA. Therefore, this observable serves as a key probe to understand the three-dimensional motion of gluons inside the proton. We also perform numerical simulations of the $J/ψ$ SSA at RHIC and LHC energies. Our simulations indicate that a sizable SSA could be generated through a mechanism different from that responsible for the SSA in light hadron and $D$-meson production.