The ratio $R={\rm d}\sigma_L/{\rm d}\sigma_T$ in heavy-quark pair leptoproduction as a probe of linearly polarized gluons in unpolarized proton

Understand

We study the Callan-Gross ratio $R={\rm d}\sigma_L/{\rm d}\sigma_T$ in heavy-quark pair leptoproduction, $lN\rightarrow l^{\prime}Q\bar{Q}X$, as a probe of linearly polarized gluons inside unpolarized proton, where ${\rm d}\sigma_T$ (${\rm d}\sigma_L$) is the differential cross section of the $\gamma^*N\rightarrow Q\bar{Q}X$ process initiated by a transverse (longitudinal) virtual photon.

• Note first that the maximal value for the quantity $R$ allowed by the photon-gluon fusion with unpolarized gluons is large, about 2.
• We calculate the contribution of the transverse-momentum dependent gluonic counterpart of the Boer-Mulders function, $h_{1}^{\perp g}$, describing the linear polarization of gluons inside unpolarized proton.
• Our analysis shows that the maximum value of the ratio $R$ depends strongly on the gluon polarization; it varies from 0 to $\frac{Q^2}{4m^2}$ depending on $h_{1}^{\perp g}$.