Abstract.
A method is discussed to determine the hitherto unknown u-quark transversity distribution \(\delta u(x)\) from a planned HERMES measurement of a single target-spin asymmetry in semi-inclusive pion electroproduction off a transversely polarized target. Assuming u-quark dominance, the measurement yields the shapes of the transversity distribution \(\delta u(x)\) and of the ratio \(H_1^{\perp (1)u}(z)/D_1^u(z)\), of polarized and unpolarized u-quark fragmentation functions. The unknown relative normalization can be obtained by identifying the transversity distribution with the well-known helicity distribution at large x and small \(Q^2\). The systematic uncertainty of the method is dominated by the assumption of u-quark dominance.
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Received: 18 June 2000 / Revised version: 20 November 2000 / Published online: 5 February 2001
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Korotkov, V., Nowak, WD. & Oganessyan, K. Transversity distribution and polarized fragmentation function from semi-inclusive pion electroproduction. Eur. Phys. J. C 18, 639–644 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s100520100564
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s100520100564