Probing the Nucleon's Transversity Via Two-Meson Production in Polarized Nucleon-Nucleon Collisions

Abstract

We explore the possibility of probing the nucleon's transversity distribution $\hat{I}´q(x)$ through the final state interaction between two mesons ($\ddot{I}{€}^{+}\ddot{I}{€}^{-}$, $\ddot{I}€K$, or $K\bar{K}$) produced in transversely polarized nucleon-nucleon collisions. We present a single spin asymmetry and estimate its magnitude under some assumptions for the transversity distribution function and the unknown interference fragmentation function.

10 pages, 4 figures