Accessing nucleon transversity with one-point energy correlators

Abstract

We propose a novel probe of the nucleon's transversity distribution, $h_1^q$, using the one-point energy correlator (OPEC), an infrared-and-collinear safe jet substructure observable. We demonstrate that in transversely polarized $p^{\uparrow }p$ collisions, the OPEC exhibits a single-spin asymmetry (SSA) with a clean $\sin (\ddot{I}{•}_s-\ddot{I}{•}_n)$ angular dependence. This method probes SSA over a much wider kinematic range in the angular scale $\hat{I}{¸}_n$ compared to traditional measurements of hadron transverse momentum~$j_{\perp }$, establishing a complementary and systematically distinct channel to study the nucleon's three-dimensional structure at RHIC and the future Electron-Ion Collider.

7 pages, 4 figures + Supplemental Material (4 pages, 1 figure)