Constraints on the polarized gluon density in the proton from charm photoproduction

Abstract

We consider the possibility of a direct determination of the polarized gluon density in the proton using charm production with polarized beams at HERA. We study total cross sections and distributions at leading order using different parametrizations of the polarized gluon density. We conclude that charm photoproduction data can be used to constrain the polarized gluon density in the proton if an integrated luminosity of 100~pb$^{-1}$ will be achieved at HERA.