Exploring the structure of the proton through polarization observables in lp→jet X

Abstract

We present results for a complete set of polarization observables for jet production in lepton-proton collision, where the final-state lepton is not observed. The calculations are carried out in collinear factorization at the level of Born diagrams. For all the observables we also provide numerical estimates for typical kinematics of a potential future electron-ion collider. On the basis of this numerical study, the prospects for the transverse single target spin asymmetry are particularly promising. This observable is given by a certain quark-gluon correlation function, which has a direct relation to the transverse momentum dependent Sivers parton distribution. © 2011 American Physical Society.