Research Publication

Moderate-to-Large-x Gluon Helicity from J/psi Production at sqrt(s) = 27 GeV

New research article on gluon helicity from J/psi production.

Authors

S. Sharma, A. Aparin, S. Puhan, N. Kumar, and H. Dahiya

Journal

e-Print: 2605.30945 [hep-ph]

Date

May 29, 2026

Abstract

We present a feasibility study of the longitudinal double-spin asymmetry A_LL in inclusive J/psi production in polarized proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) ~ 27 GeV at the Spin Physics Detector (SPD) of the Nuclotron-based Ion Collider fAcility (NICA). At these moderate energies, J/psi production is dominated by gluon-gluon fusion, probing gluon momentum fractions x ~ 0.1-0.2 at central rapidity and highly asymmetric configurations at forward rapidity, where one parton can reach x ~ 0.5-0.9. This provides direct sensitivity to the poorly constrained moderate- to large-x region of the gluon helicity distribution Delta g(x). We estimate A_LL as a function of transverse momentum and rapidity using polarized parton distribution functions, focusing on the underlying partonic spin asymmetry. Nonperturbative long-distance effects are treated in a simplified manner and largely cancel in the asymmetry, enabling a direct assessment of gluon polarization sensitivity. We find asymmetries reaching |A_LL| ~ 0.09 at p_T = 3 GeV, with enhanced sensitivity at forward rapidity. The dominant theoretical uncertainty arises from polarized parton distribution functions. These results demonstrate that inclusive J/psi measurements at SPD/NICA provide a sensitive and complementary probe of gluon polarization at moderate and large x, extending constraints from RHIC into a kinematic regime not directly accessible to the EIC.

Summary

Feasibility study of longitudinal double-spin asymmetry A_LL in inclusive J/psi production at NICA SPD (sqrt(s) = 27 GeV), showing sensitivity to the moderate-to-large-x gluon helicity distribution Delta g(x).

Authors: S. Sharma, A. Aparin, S. Puhan, N. Kumar, and H. Dahiya
Published in: e-Print: 2605.30945 [hep-ph]

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Kinematics and Rapidity Coverage

The partonic momentum fractions $x_{1,2}$ probed in NICA SPD kinematics ($\sqrt{s} = 27$ GeV) as a function of rapidity $y$ for different transverse momentum $p_T$ values:

Partonic momentum fractions x_1,2 and A_LL vs y

Figure 1: (Left) Partonic momentum fractions $x_{1,2}$ as a function of rapidity for various $p_T$. (Right-a) Longitudinal double-spin asymmetry $A_{LL}^{J/\psi}$ vs $y$ for $p_T = 1.5, 3.0, 5.0$ GeV. (Right-b) Theoretical uncertainties for $p_T = 3.0$ GeV.

Uncertainty Analysis

The relative fractional uncertainties at ($\sqrt{s} = 27$ GeV) and $p_T = 3$ GeV, highlighting the PDF, scale, and total uncertainties:

Relative uncertainties vs rapidity

Figure 2: Relative uncertainties of $A_{LL}^{J/\psi}$ as a function of rapidity $y$ at $p_T = 3$ GeV, separating PDF uncertainty, scale uncertainty, and total uncertainty.

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