Hard Exclusive Meson Production and Nonforward Parton Distributions

Abstract

We present an analysis of twist-2, leading order QCD amplitudes for hard exclusive leptoproduction of mesons in terms of double/nonforward parton distribution functions. After reviewing some general features of nonforward nucleon matrix elements of twist-2 QCD string operators, we propose a phenomenological model for quark and gluon nonforward distribution functions. The corresponding QCD evolution equations are solved in the leading logarithmic approximation for flavor nonsinglet distributions. We derive explicit expressions for hard exclusive pi^0, eta, and neutral vector meson production amplitudes and discuss general features of the corresponding cross sections.

23 pages, Latex, to be published in Z. Phys. C

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• Vector meson electroproduction at next-to-leading order
• Signatures of the handbag mechanism in wide-angle photoproduction of pseudoscalar mesons
• Evolution Equation for Generalized Parton Distributions
• Modeling Nucleon Generalized Parton Distributions
• Helicity-dependent generalized parton distributions and composite constituent quarks
• Exclusive $J/\psi$ photoproduction and gluon polarization
• Hard exclusive $J/\psi$ leptoproduction on polarized targets
• On convergence properties of GPD expansion through Mellin/conformal moments and orthogonal polynomials