2023/08/21 by Z. W. Sweger, Sweger, Zachary, Y. Ji +10
Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph) #High-Energy Particle Collisions Research #Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex) #Nuclear Theory (nucl-th) #Particle Detector Development and Performance #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2308.10478
openalex publication_date 2023/08/21 · openalex created_date 2023/08/23 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
High-energy backward (u-channel) reactions can involve very large momentum transfers to the target baryons, shifting them by many units of rapidity. These reactions are difficult to understand in conventional models in which baryon number is carried by the valence quarks. Backward Compton scattering is an especially attractive experimental target, because of its simple final state. There is currently limited data on this process, and that data is at low center-of-mass energies. In this paper, we examine the prospects for studying backward Compton scattering at the future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC). We model the cross-section and kinematics using the limited data on backward Compton scattering and backward meson production, and then simulate Compton scattering at EIC energies, in a simple model of the ePIC detector. Generally, the proton is scattered toward mid-rapidity, while the produced photon is in the far-forward region, visible in a Zero Degree Calorimeter (ZDC). We show that the background from backward π0 production can be rejected using a high-resolution, well-segmented ZDC.