Duality in Semi-Exclusive Processes

Abstract

Semi-exclusive processes like \gamma p \to \pi^+ Y are closely analogous to DIS, ep \to eX, in the limit where the momentum transfer |t| to the pion and the mass of the inclusive system Y are large but still much smaller than the total CM energy. We apply Bloom-Gilman duality to this semi-exclusive process. The energy dependence of the \gamma p \to \pi^+ n cross section given by semi-local duality agrees with data for moderate values of |t|, but its normalization is underestimated by about two orders of magnitude. This indicates that rather high momentum transfers are required for the validity of PQCD in the hard subprocess \gamma u \to \pi^+ d. In the case of Compton scattering \gamma p \to \gamma p the analogous discrepancy is about one order of magnitude. In electroproduction the virtuality of the incoming photon can be used to directly measure the hardness of the subprocess.