Generalized parton distributions (GPDs) for hadron-to-resonance transitions provide a framework for describing the internal dynamics of hadron excitations in Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). Non-diagonal hard exclusive reactions, such as deeply virtual C...
Generalized parton distributions (GPDs) for hadron-to-resonance transitions provide a framework for describing the internal dynamics of hadron excitations in Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). Non-diagonal hard exclusive reactions, such as deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) and meson production (DVMP), involving 𝑁→ 𝐵∗ transitions provide an access to the corresponding transition GPDs.
Despite their importance, transition GPDs remain poorly studied. Our goal is to advance the theoretical and phenomenological analyses of transition GPDs and non-diagonal hard exclusive processes. To this end, we examine their experimental feasibility, perform dynamical model calculations, and develop theoretical frameworks for transition GPDs.
First we investigate the prospects of measuring non-diagonal hard exclusive processes, including 𝑒𝑁 → 𝑒𝛾Δ and 𝑒𝑁 → 𝑒𝜋Δ, at the future Electron–Ion Collider (EIC). Differential cross sections and asymmetry observables are evaluated for the kinematical conditions of the EIC. The analysis is further extended to the strange quark sector by examining the hard exclusive electroproduction of a strange meson, in particular the 𝑒𝑁 → 𝑒𝐾∗𝑌 process, described in terms of nucleon-to-hyperon transition GPDs. These results can provide reference cross section estimates for future feasibility studies at the EIC.
While phenomenological approaches are practical for analyzing hard exclusive processes, they offer limited insight into nonperturbative QCD dynamics. Dynamical descriptions of transition GPDs is thus essential for a deeper understanding of hadron resonance structure. We focus on the meson sector and perform model calculations of transition form factors and GPDs within the framework of light-front dynamics (LFD) for the 𝜋→ 𝜌 mesonic transition. A consistent description of the 𝜋→ 𝜌 transition form factors and GPDs is obtained using the Bethe–Salpeter approach. The non-diagonal 𝜋→ 𝜌 DVCS is addressed within the LFD framework, and the twist-2 vector and axial-vector 𝜋→ 𝜌 GPDs are computed, incorporating contributions from both the valence and non-valence regions. Key properties of the resulting transition GPDs, such as sum rules, forward limit, and continuity at the crossover line, are addressed.
To develop a general description of hadron–to–resonance transitions, we construct the hadron-to-two-hadron GPD framework for spinless hadron case, considering 𝜋→ 𝜋𝜋 transition GPDs. We introduce the definitions of twist-2 vector and axial-vector 𝜋→ 𝜋𝜋 transition GPDs with a specific choice of kinematic variables that characterize the final state 2𝜋 system. Basic properties of 𝜋→ 𝜋𝜋 GPDs, including symmetry properties and polynomiality, are addressed. Moreover, relying on the chiral dynamics, we work out the soft pion theorem for 𝜋→ 𝜋𝜋 GPDs in the 2𝜋 threshold region. We consider the 2𝜋 decay angular structure of the non-diagonal hard exclusive process 𝑒𝜋→ 𝑒𝛾𝜋𝜋 in the 𝜌(770) region. We account for both the Bethe-Heitler (BH) and DVCS contributions. The resulting BH and DVCS cross sections exhibit distinctive angular dependencies sensitive to the polarization states of the intermediate resonance. Furthermore, we construct the double partial-wave expansion of the 𝜋 → 𝜋𝜋 GPDs in the 2𝜋 decay angles and apply the dispersive techniques based on the Omnès representation to parametrize 𝜋 → 𝜋𝜋 transition GPDs above the 2𝜋 production threshold. We also construct the Froissart-Gribov projections of the 𝜋→ 𝜋𝜋 transition Compton form factors to isolate the contribution of the cross-channel spin-𝐽 exchange exciting 2𝜋 resonance states.