Exploring nucleon spin by Drell-Yan process

Abstract

Contributions of parton's orbital motion to the nucleon spin are encoded in the transverse-momentum dependent distributions (TMDs) and generalized parton distributions (GPDs). Currently these distributions are accessed through the lepton-induced processes such as semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering (SIDIS) and deeply virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS). The (un)polarized Drell-Yan process with hadron beams provides a unique and complementary probe, enabling critical tests of the universality properties of TMDs and GPDs in the space-like and time-like approaches. This talk reviews recent results of TMDs obtained from the Drell-Yan measurements and discusses future prospects for accessing nucleon GPDs through measurements of the exclusive pion-induced Drell-Yan process at J-PARC.

10 pages, 3 figures, proceedings of plenary talk in 26th International Symposium on Spin Physics (SPIN2025)