Collins Effect in Single Spin Asymmetries of the $p^{\uparrow}p \to \pi X$ Process

Abstract

We investigate the Collins effect in single spin asymmetries (SSAs) of the $p^{\uparrow}p \to \pi X$ process, by taking into account the transverse momentum dependence of the microscopic sub-processes cross sections, with the transverse momentum in the Collins function integrated over. We find that the asymmetries due to the Collins effect can only explain the available data at best qualitatively, by using our choices of quark distributions in the quark-diquark model and a pQCD-based analysis, together with several options of the Collins function. Our results indicate the necessity to take into account contributions from other effects such as the Sivers effect or twist-3 contributions.