We argue that the Drell-Yan process in the x_A>=0.15 kinematics recently studied at FNAL by the E906/SeaQuest experiment may allow to observe an analogues of the EMC effect for antiquarks. The effects of Fermi motion and energy loss are considered. The preliminary E906/SeaQuest data are inconsistent with the growth of the sigma_A/A sigma_N ratio expected in the Fermi motion scenario at x_A >= 0.25. The pattern of the dependence of the ratio seems also inconsistent with a scenario in which the dominant nuclear effect is a suppression of the cross section due to the energy loss experienced by a quark of the projectile proton involved in the Drell-Yan process. All together the data suggest the possibility of a modification of the antiquark parton distributions in nuclei, with a pattern similar to the one observed in the EMC effect. We argue that optimal kinematics to look for an antiquark EMC-like effect would be to measure the sigma_A/A sima_N ratios for x_A = 0.2 - 0.4 and x_p ? constant.

Hunting for an EMC-like effect for antiquarks

Massimiliano Alvioli;
2023

Abstract

We argue that the Drell-Yan process in the x_A>=0.15 kinematics recently studied at FNAL by the E906/SeaQuest experiment may allow to observe an analogues of the EMC effect for antiquarks. The effects of Fermi motion and energy loss are considered. The preliminary E906/SeaQuest data are inconsistent with the growth of the sigma_A/A sigma_N ratio expected in the Fermi motion scenario at x_A >= 0.25. The pattern of the dependence of the ratio seems also inconsistent with a scenario in which the dominant nuclear effect is a suppression of the cross section due to the energy loss experienced by a quark of the projectile proton involved in the Drell-Yan process. All together the data suggest the possibility of a modification of the antiquark parton distributions in nuclei, with a pattern similar to the one observed in the EMC effect. We argue that optimal kinematics to look for an antiquark EMC-like effect would be to measure the sigma_A/A sima_N ratios for x_A = 0.2 - 0.4 and x_p ? constant.
2023
Istituto di Ricerca per la Protezione Idrogeologica - IRPI
Drell-Yan
EMC
antiquarks
Parton distribution functions
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14243/435517
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