Search

Relying on the polynomiality property of generalized parton distributions, which roots on Lorentz covariance, we prove that it is enough to know them at vanishing- and low-skewness within the DGLAP region to obtain a unique extension to their entire support up to a D-term. We put this idea in practice using two methods: Reconstruction using artificial neural networks and finite-elements methods. We benchmark our results against standard models for generalized parton distributions. In agreement with the formal expectation, we obtain a very accurate reconstructions for a maximal value of the skewness as low as 20% of the longitudinal momentum fraction. This result might be relevant for reconstruction of generalized parton distribution from experimental and lattice QCD data, where computations are for now, restricted in skewness., Comment: 20 pages, 10 figures

We present the EpIC Monte Carlo event generator for exclusive processes sensitive to generalised parton distributions. EpIC utilises the PARTONS framework, which provides a flexible software architecture and a variety of modelling options for the partonic description of the nucleon. The generator offers a comprehensive set of features, including multi-channel capabilities and radiative corrections. It may be used both in analyses of experimental data, as well as in impact studies, especially for future electron-ion colliders.

Electron Ion Collider (EIC) is a particle accelerator facility planned for construction at Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island, New York by the United States Department of Energy. EIC will provide capabilities of colliding beams of polarized electrons with polarized beams of proton and light ions. EIC will be one of the largest and most sophisticated new accelerator facilities worldwide, and the only new large-scale accelerator facility planned for construction in the United States in the next few decades. The versatility, resolving power and intensity of EIC will present many new opportunities to address some of the crucial and fundamental open scientific questions in particle physics. This document provides an overview of the science case of EIC from the perspective of the high energy physics community., Comment: Submitted to the Proceedings of the US Community Study on the Future of Particle Physics (Snowmass 2021)

We discuss the use of machine learning techniques in effectively nonparametric modelling of generalised parton distributions (GPDs) in view of their future extraction from experimental data. Current parameterisations of GPDs suffer from model dependency that lessens their impact on phenomenology and brings unknown systematics to the estimation of quantities like Mellin moments. The new strategy presented in this study allows to describe GPDs in a way fulfilling theory-driven constraints, keeping model dependency to a minimum. Getting a better grip on the control of systematic effects, our work will help the GPD phenomenology to achieve its maturity in the precision era commenced by the new generation of experiments., Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures

We present in this letter the first systematic feasibility study of accessing generalised parton distributions of the pion at an electron-ion collider through deeply virtual Compton scattering at next-to-leading order. It relies on a state-of-the-art model, able to fulfil by construction all the theoretical constraints imposed on generalised parton distributions. Strikingly, our analysis shows that quarks and gluons interfere destructively and that gluon dominance could be spotted by a sign change of the DVCS beam spin asymmetry., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures

Deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) attracts a lot of interest due to its sensitivity to generalized parton distributions (GPDs) which provide a rich access to the partonic structure of hadrons. However, the practical extraction of GPDs for this channel requires a deconvolution procedure, whose feasibility has been disputed. We provide a practical approach to this problem based on a next-to-leading order analysis and a careful study of evolution effects, by exhibiting shadow GPDs with arbitrarily small imprints on DVCS observables at current and future experimental facilities. This shows that DVCS alone will not allow for a model independent extraction of GPDs and a multi-channel analysis is required for this purpose., Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, Submission to SciPost Proceedings DIS2021

Deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) and timelike Compton scattering (TCS) leading twist amplitudes are intimately related thanks to their analytic properties as a function of $Q^2$. We exploit this feature to use Compton form factors previously extracted from available DVCS data and derive data-driven predictions for TCS observables to be measured in near future experiments. Our results quantitatively illustrate the complementarity of DVCS and TCS experiments., Comment: 5 pages, contribution to the Proceedings for the XXVIII International Workshop on Deep-Inelastic Scattering and Related Subjects, Stony Brook University, New York, USA, 12-16 April 2021

The impact of potential future measurements of beam charge asymmetries on the current knowledge of Compton form factors is evaluated. Elaborating on the results of a global neural network fit to deeply virtual Compton scattering data, a Bayesian reweighting analysis quantifies the improved determination of the real part of the Compton form factor $\mathcal{H}$. Such an improvement is particularly relevant for the experimental determination of the proton mechanical properties or for universality studies of generalized parton distributions through analyses of virtual Compton scattering in both spacelike and timelike regions., Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures

Generalised parton distributions are instrumental to study both the three-dimensional structure and the energy-momentum tensor of the nucleon, and motivate numerous experimental programmes involving hard exclusive measurements. Based on a next-to-leading order analysis and a careful study of evolution effects, we exhibit non-trivial generalised parton distributions with arbitrarily small imprints on deeply virtual Compton scattering observables. This means that in practice the reconstruction of generalised parton distributions from measurements, known as the deconvolution problem, does not possess a unique solution for this channel. In this Letter we discuss the consequences on the extraction of generalised parton distributions from data and advocate for a multi-channel analysis., Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures

This report describes the physics case, the resulting detector requirements, and the evolving detector concepts for the experimental program at the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC). The EIC will be a powerful new high-luminosity facility in the United States with the capability to collide high-energy electron beams with high-energy proton and ion beams, providing access to those regions in the nucleon and nuclei where their structure is dominated by gluons. Moreover, polarized beams in the EIC will give unprecedented access to the spatial and spin structure of the proton, neutron, and light ions. The studies leading to this document were commissioned and organized by the EIC User Group with the objective of advancing the state and detail of the physics program and developing detector concepts that meet the emerging requirements in preparation for the realization of the EIC. The effort aims to provide the basis for further development of concepts for experimental equipment best suited for the science needs, including the importance of two complementary detectors and interaction regions. This report consists of three volumes. Volume I is an executive summary of our findings and developed concepts. In Volume II we describe studies of a wide range of physics measurements and the emerging requirements on detector acceptance and performance. Volume III discusses general-purpose detector concepts and the underlying technologies to meet the physics requirements. These considerations will form the basis for a world-class experimental program that aims to increase our understanding of the fundamental structure of all visible matter, Comment: 902 pages, 415 authors, 151 institutions

A unique feature of generalised parton distributions is their relation to the QCD energy-momentum tensor. In particular, they provide access to the mechanical properties of the proton i.e. the distributions of pressure and shear stress induced by its quark and gluon structure. In principle the pressure distribution can be experimentally determined in a model-independent way from a dispersive analysis of deeply virtual Compton scattering data through the measurement of the subtraction constant. In practice the kinematic coverage and accuracy of existing experimental data make this endeavour a challenge. Elaborating on recent global fits of deeply virtual Compton scattering measurements using artificial neural networks, our analysis presents the current knowledge on this subtraction constant and assesses the impact of the most frequent systematic assumptions made in this field of research. This study will pave the way for future works when more precise data will become available, e.g. obtained in the foreseen electron-ion colliders EIC and EIcC., Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures

Positron beams, both polarized and unpolarized, are identified as essential ingredients for the experimental programs at the next generation of lepton accelerators. In the context of the hadronic physics program at Jefferson Lab (JLab), positron beams are complementary, even essential, tools for a precise understanding of the electromagnetic structure of nucleons and nuclei, in both the elastic and deep-inelastic regimes. For instance, elastic scattering of polarized and unpolarized electrons and positrons from the nucleon enables a model independent determination of its electromagnetic form factors. Also, the deeply-virtual scattering of polarized and unpolarized electrons and positrons allows unambiguous separation of the different contributions to the cross section of the lepto-production of photons and of lepton-pairs, enabling an accurate determination of the nucleons and nuclei generalized parton distributions, and providing an access to the gravitational form factors. Furthermore, positron beams offer the possibility of alternative tests of the Standard Model of particle physics through the search of a dark photon, the precise measurement of electroweak couplings, and the investigation of charged lepton flavor violation. This document discusses the perspectives of an experimental program with high duty-cycle positron beams at JLab., Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures This version superseeds the previous version which scientific content was decomposed into several more elaborated articles. All of these articles will be collected in the EPJ A Topical Issue about "Positron beam and physics at Jefferson Lab (e+@Jlab)"

The detection of galactic binaries as sources of gravitational waves promises an unprecedented wealth of information about these systems, but also raises several challenges in signal processing. In particular the large number of expected sources and the risk of misidentification call for the development of robust methods. We describe here an original non-parametric reconstruction of the imprint of galactic binaries in measurements affected by instrumental noise typical of the space-based gravitational wave observatory LISA. We assess the impact of various approaches based on sparse signal modelling and focus on adaptive structured block sparsity. We carefully show that a sparse representation gives a reliable access to the physical content of the interferometric measurement. In particular we check the successful fast extraction of the gravitational wave signal on a simple yet realistic example involving verification galactic binaries recently proposed in LISA data challenges., Comment: 21 pages, 16 figures. Code available at https://github.com/GW-IRFU/gw-irfu

In the framework of collinear QCD factorization, the leading twist scattering amplitudes for deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) and timelike Compton scattering (TCS) are intimately related thanks to analytic properties of leading and next-to-leading order amplitudes. We exploit this welcome feature to make data-driven predictions for TCS observables to be measured in near future experiments. Using a recent extraction of DVCS Compton form factors from most of the existing experimental data for that process, we derive TCS amplitudes and calculate TCS observables only assuming leading-twist dominance. Artificial neural network techniques are used for an essential reduction of model dependency, while a careful propagation of experimental uncertainties is achieved with replica methods. Our analysis allows for stringent tests of the leading twist dominance of DVCS and TCS amplitudes. Moreover, this study helps to understand quantitatively the complementarity of DVCS and TCS measurements to test the universality of generalized parton distributions, which is crucial e.g. to perform the nucleon tomography., Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures

The extraction of Compton Form Factors (CFFs) in a global analysis of almost all Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS) proton data is presented. The extracted quantities are DVCS sub-amplitudes and the most basic observables which are unambiguously accessible from this process. The parameterizations of CFFs are constructed utilizing the artificial neural network technique allowing for an important reduction of model dependency. The analysis consists of such elements as feasibility studies, training of neural networks with the genetic algorithm and a careful regularization to avoid over-fitting. The propagation of experimental uncertainties to extracted quantities is done with the replica method. The resulting parameterizations of CFFs are used to determine the subtraction constant through dispersion relations. The analysis is done within the PARTONS framework., Comment: 25 pages, 23 figures

We propose new parameterizations for the border and skewness functions appearing in the description of 3D nucleon structure in the language of Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs). These parameterizations are constructed in a way to fulfill the basic properties of GPDs, like their reduction to Parton Density Functions and Elastic Form Factors. They also rely on the power behavior of GPDs in the $x \to 1$ limit and the propounded analyticity property of Mellin moments of GPDs. We evaluate Compton Form Factors (CFFs), the sub-amplitudes of the Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS) process, at the leading order and leading twist accuracy. We constrain the restricted number of free parameters of these new parameterizations in a global CFF analysis of almost all existing proton DVCS measurements. The fit is performed within the PARTONS framework, being the modern tool for generic GPD studies. A distinctive feature of this CFF fit is the careful propagation of uncertainties based on the replica method. The fit results genuinely permit nucleon tomography and may give some insight into the distribution of forces acting on partons., Comment: 29 pages, 19 figures

A systematic approach for the model building of Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs), based on their overlap representation within the DGLAP kinematic region and a further covariant extension to the ERBL one, is applied to the valence-quark pion's case, using light-front wave functions inspired by the Nakanishi representation of the pion's Bethe-Salpeter amplitudes (BSA). This simple but fruitful pion's GPD model illustrates the general model building technique and, in addition, allows for the ambiguities related to the covariant extension, grounded on the Double Distribution (DD) representation, to be constrained by requiring a soft-pion theorem to be properly observed., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, matches published version + typo correction

We present a novel approach to compute Generalized Parton Distributions within the Lightfront Wave Function overlap framework. We show how to systematically extend Generalized Parton Distributions computed within the DGLAP region to the ERBL one, fulfilling at the same time both the polynomiality and positivity conditions. We exemplify our method using pion Lightfront Wave Functions inspired by recent results of non-perturbative continuum techniques and algebraic nucleon Lightfront Wave Functions. We also test the robustness of our algorithm on reggeized phenomenological parameterizations. This approach paves the way to a better understanding of the nucleon structure from non-perturbative techniques and to a unification of Generalized Parton Distributions and Transverse Momentum Dependent Parton Distribution Functions phenomenology through Lightfront Wave Functions., Comment: 36 pages, 11 figures, matches published version in EPJC

We report on the first measurement of the beam-spin asymmetry in the exclusive process of coherent deeply virtual Compton scattering off a nucleus. The experiment used the 6 GeV electron beam from the CEBAF accelerator at Jefferson Lab incident on a pressurized $^4$He gaseous target placed in front of the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS). The scattered electron was detected by CLAS and the photon by a dedicated electromagnetic calorimeter at forward angles. To ensure the exclusivity of the process, a specially designed radial time projection chamber was used to detect the recoiling $^4$He nuclei. We measured beam-spin asymmetries larger than those observed on the free proton in the same kinematic domain. From these, we were able to extract, in a model-independent way, the real and imaginary parts of the only $^4$He Compton form factor, $\cal H_A$. This first measurement of coherent deeply virtual Compton scattering on the $^4$He nucleus, with a fully exclusive final state via nuclear recoil tagging, leads the way toward 3D imaging of the partonic structure of nuclei.

We briefly report on a recent computation, with the help of a fruitful algebraic model, sketching the pion valence dressed-quark generalized parton distribution. Then, preliminary, we introduce on a sensible procedure to get reliable results in both Dokshitzer-Gribov-Lipatov-Altarelli-Parisi (DGLAP) and Efremov-Radyushkin-Brodsky-Lepage (ERBL) kinematical regions, grounded on the GPD overlap representation and its parametrization of a Radon transform of the so-called double distribution (DD)., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figues, Light Cone 2016

We review recent works on the modelling of Generalised Parton Distributions within the Dyson-Schwinger formalism. We highlight how covariant computations, using the impulse approximation, allows one to fulfil most of the theoretical constraints of the GPDs. Specific attention is brought to chiral properties and especially the so-called soft pion theorem, and its link with the Axial-Vector Ward-Takahashi identity. The limitation of the impulse approximation are also explained. Beyond impulse approximation computations are reviewed in the forward case. Finally, we stress the advantages of the overlap of lightcone wave functions, and possible ways to construct covariant GPD models within this framework, in a two-body approximation., Comment: Review paper, 52 pages, 20 figures

We review the phenomenological framework for accessing Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) using measurements of Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS) from a proton target. We describe various GPD models and fitting procedures, emphasizing specific challenges posed both by the internal structure and properties of the GPD functions and by their relation to observables. Bearing in mind forthcoming data of unprecedented accuracy, we give a set of recommendations to better define the pathway for a precise extraction of GPDs from experiment., Comment: 32 pages, 10 figures, contribution to the EPJA topical issue on 3D Structure of the Nucleon

We briefly report on a recent computation, with the help of a fruitful algebraic model, sketching the pion valence dressed-quark generalized parton distribution and, very preliminary, discuss on a possible avenue to get reliable results in both Dokshitzer-Gribov-Lipatov-Altarelli-Parisi (DGLAP) and Efremov-Radyushkin-Brodsky-Lepage (ERBL) kinematial regions., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, contribution to 21st International conference on Few-Body Problems

We describe the architecture and functionalities of a C++ software framework, coined PARTONS, dedicated to the phenomenology of Generalized Parton Distributions. These distributions describe the three-dimensional structure of hadrons in terms of quarks and gluons, and can be accessed in deeply exclusive lepto- or photo-production of mesons or photons. PARTONS provides a necessary bridge between models of Generalized Parton Distributions and experimental data collected in various exclusive production channels. We outline the specification of the PARTONS framework in terms of practical needs, physical content and numerical capacity. This framework will be useful for physicists - theorists or experimentalists - not only to develop new models, but also to interpret existing measurements and even design new experiments., Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures, use Tikz

We sketch here an approach to the computation of generalised parton distributions (GPDs), based upon a rainbow-ladder (RL) truncation of QCD's Dyson-Schwinger equations and exemplified via the pion's valence dressed-quark GPD, $H_\pi^{\rm v}(x,\xi,t)$. Our analysis focuses on the case of zero skewness, $\xi=0$, and underlines that the impulse-approximation used hitherto to define the pion's valence dressed-quark GPD is generally invalid owing to omission of contributions from the gluons which bind dressed-quarks into the pion. A simple correction enables us to identify a practicable improvement to the approximation for $H_\pi^{\rm v}(x,0,t)$, expressed as the Radon transform of a single amplitude. Therewith we obtain results for $H_\pi^{\rm v}(x,0,t)$ and the associated impact-parameter dependent distribution, $q_\pi^{\rm v}(x,|\vec{b}_\perp|)$, which provide a qualitatively sound picture of the pion's dressed-quark structure at an hadronic scale., Comment: 4th Symposium on Prospects in the Physics of Discrete Symmetries (DISCRETE 2014); CNUM: C14-12-02.1

The beam-spin asymmetry, $\Sigma$, for the reaction $\gamma d\rightarrow pn$ has been measured using the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) for six photon-energy bins between 1.1 and 2.3 GeV, and proton angles in the center-of-mass frame, $\theta_{c.m.}$, between $25^\circ$ and $160^\circ$. These are the first measurements of beam-spin asymmetries at $\theta_{c.m.}=90^\circ$ for photon-beam energies above 1.6 GeV, and the first measurements for angles other than $\theta_{c.m.}=90^\circ$. The angular and energy dependence of $\Sigma$ is expected to aid in the development of QCD-based models to understand the mechanisms of deuteron photodisintegration in the transition region between hadronic and partonic degrees of freedom, where both effective field theories and perturbative QCD cannot make reliable predictions., Comment: 18 pages

First results from the longitudinally polarized frozen-spin target (FROST) program are reported. The double-polarization observable E, for the reaction $\vec \gamma \vec p \to \pi^+n$, has been measured using a circularly polarized tagged-photon beam, with energies from 0.35 to 2.37 GeV. The final-state pions were detected with the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer in Hall B at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. These polarization data agree fairly well with previous partial-wave analyses at low photon energies. Over much of the covered energy range, however, significant deviations are observed, particularly in the high-energy region where high-L multipoles contribute. The data have been included in new multipole analyses resulting in updated nucleon resonance parameters. We report updated fits from the Bonn-Gatchina, J\"ulich, and SAID groups., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures

There is a significant discrepancy between the values of the proton electric form factor, $G_E^p$, extracted using unpolarized and polarized electron scattering. Calculations predict that small two-photon exchange (TPE) contributions can significantly affect the extraction of $G_E^p$ from the unpolarized electron-proton cross sections. We determined the TPE contribution by measuring the ratio of positron-proton to electron-proton elastic scattering cross sections using a simultaneous, tertiary electron-positron beam incident on a liquid hydrogen target and detecting the scattered particles in the Jefferson Lab CLAS detector. This novel technique allowed us to cover a wide range in virtual photon polarization ($\varepsilon$) and momentum transfer ($Q^2$) simultaneously, as well as to cancel luminosity-related systematic errors. The cross section ratio increases with decreasing $\varepsilon$ at $Q^2 = 1.45 \text{ GeV}^2$. This measurement is consistent with the size of the form factor discrepancy at $Q^2\approx 1.75$ GeV$^2$ and with hadronic calculations including nucleon and $\Delta$ intermediate states, which have been shown to resolve the discrepancy up to $2-3$ GeV$^2$., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, submitted to PRL

In order to learn effectively from measurements of generalised parton distributions (GPDs), it is desirable to compute them using a framework that can potentially connect empirical information with basic features of the Standard Model. We sketch an approach to such computations, based upon a rainbow-ladder (RL) truncation of QCD's Dyson-Schwinger equations and exemplified via the pion's valence dressed-quark GPD, $H_\pi^{\rm v}(x,\xi,t)$. Our analysis focuses primarily on $\xi=0$, although we also capitalise on the symmetry-preserving nature of the RL truncation by connecting $H_\pi^{\rm v}(x,\xi=\pm 1,t)$ with the pion's valence-quark parton distribution amplitude. We explain that the impulse-approximation used hitherto to define the pion's valence dressed-quark GPD is generally invalid owing to omission of contributions from the gluons which bind dressed-quarks into the pion. A simple correction enables us to identify a practicable improvement to the approximation for $H_\pi^{\rm v}(x,0,t)$, expressed as the Radon transform of a single amplitude. Therewith we obtain results for $H_\pi^{\rm v}(x,0,t)$ and the associated impact-parameter dependent distribution, $q_\pi^{\rm v}(x,|\vec{b}_\perp|)$, which provide a qualitatively sound picture of the pion's dressed-quark structure at an hadronic scale. We evolve the distributions to a scale $\zeta=2\,$GeV, so as to facilitate comparisons in future with results from experiment or other nonperturbative methods., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures

We compute the pion quark Generalized Parton Distribution H and quark Double Distributions F and G in a coupled Bethe-Salpeter and Dyson-Schwinger approach in terms of quark flavors or isospin states. We use simple analytic expressions inspired by the numerical resolution of Dyson-Schwinger and Bethe-Salpeter equations. We explicitly check the support and polynomiality properties, and the behavior under charge conjugation or time invariance of our model. We obtain analytic expressions for the pion Double Distributions and Generalized Parton Distribution at vanishing pion momentum transfer at a low scale. Our model compares very well to experimental pion form factor or Parton Distribution Function data. This paper is the first stage of a GPD-modeling program which will be pursued by incorporating more realistic solutions of the Bethe-Salpeter and Dyson-Schwinger equations., Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures

We have measured the induced polarization of the ${\Lambda}(1116)$ in the reaction $ep\rightarrow e'K^+{\Lambda}$, detecting the scattered $e'$ and $K^+$ in the final state along with the proton from the decay $\Lambda\rightarrow p\pi^-$.The present study used the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS), which allowed for a large kinematic acceptance in invariant energy $W$ ($1.6\leq W \leq 2.7$ GeV) and covered the full range of the kaon production angle at an average momentum transfer $Q^2=1.90$ GeV$^2$.In this experiment a 5.50 GeV electron beam was incident upon an unpolarized liquid-hydrogen target. We have mapped out the $W$ and kaon production angle dependencies of the induced polarization and found striking differences from photoproduction data over most of the kinematic range studied. However, we also found that the induced polarization is essentially $Q^2$ independent in our kinematic domain, suggesting that somewhere below the $Q^2$ covered here there must be a strong $Q^2$ dependence. Along with previously published photo- and electroproduction cross sections and polarization observables, these data are needed for the development of models, such as effective field theories, and as input to coupled-channel analyses that can provide evidence of previously unobserved $s$-channel resonances., Comment: 13 figures

Exclusive neutral-pion electroproduction ($ep\to e^\prime p^\prime \pi^0$) was measured at Jefferson Lab with a 5.75-GeV electron beam and the CLAS detector. Differential cross sections $d^4\sigma/dtdQ^2dx_Bd\phi_\pi$ and structure functions $\sigma_T+\epsilon\sigma_L, \sigma_{TT}$ and $\sigma_{LT}$ as functions of $t$ were obtained over a wide range of $Q^2$ and $x_B$. The data are compared with Regge and handbag theoretical calculations. Analyses in both frameworks find that a large dominance of transverse processes is necessary to explain the experimental results. For the Regge analysis it is found that the inclusion of vector meson rescattering processes is necessary to bring the magnitude of the calculated and measured structure functions into rough agreement. In the handbag framework, there are two independent calculations, both of which appear to roughly explain the magnitude of the structure functions in terms of transversity generalized parton distributions., Comment: 28 pages, 25 figures, Submitted to Phys. Rev. C

The inclusive polarized structure functions of the proton and deuteron, g1p and g1d, were measured with high statistical precision using polarized 6 GeV electrons incident on a polarized ammonia target in Hall B at Jefferson Laboratory. Electrons scattered at lab angles between 18 and 45 degrees were detected using the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS). For the usual DIS kinematics, Q^2>1 GeV^2 and the final-state invariant mass W>2 GeV, the ratio of polarized to unpolarized structure functions g1/F1 is found to be nearly independent of Q^2 at fixed x. Significant resonant structure is apparent at values of W up to 2.3 GeV. In the framework of perturbative QCD, the high-W results can be used to better constrain the polarization of quarks and gluons in the nucleon, as well as high-twist contributions.

Much less is known about neutron structure than that of the proton due to the absence of free neutron targets. Neutron information is usually extracted from data on nuclear targets such as deuterium, requiring corrections for nuclear binding and nucleon off-shell effects. These corrections are model dependent and have significant uncertainties, especially for large values of the Bjorken scaling variable x. The Barely Off-shell Nucleon Structure (BONuS) experiment at Jefferson Lab measured the inelastic electron deuteron scattering cross section, tagging spectator protons in coincidence with the scattered electrons. This method reduces nuclear binding uncertainties significantly and has allowed for the first time a (nearly) model independent extraction of the neutron structure function. A novel compact radial time projection chamber was built to detect protons with momentum between 70 and 150 MeV/c. For the extraction of the free neutron structure function $F_{2n}$, spectator protons at backward angle and with momenta below 100 MeV/c were selected, ensuring that the scattering took place on a nearly free neutron. The scattered electrons were detected with Jefferson Lab's CLAS spectrometer. The extracted neutron structure function $F_{2n}$ and its ratio to the deuteron structure function $F_{2d}$ are presented in both the resonance and deep inelastic regions. The dependence of the cross section on the spectator proton momentum and angle is investigated, and tests of the spectator mechanism for different kinematics are performed. Our data set can be used to study neutron resonance excitations, test quark hadron duality in the neutron, develop more precise parametrizations of structure functions, as well as investigate binding effects (including possible mechanisms for the nuclear EMC effect) and provide a first glimpse of the asymptotic behavior of d/u as x goes to 1., Comment: 28 pages, 22 figures; published in Phys. Rev. C. Revised to include three authors inadvertently left off the original version: D. Dutta, R. Ent, and M. Ispiryan

Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering in the near forward kinematic region is the golden access to Generalized Parton Distributions. We studied the O(alphaS) corrections to the scattering amplitude for both spacelike and timelike kinematics relevant respectively to the leptoproduction of a real photon and to the photoproduction of a lepton pair. It turns out that these corrections are phenomenologically important and that the gluonic contributions are by no means negligible, even in the moderate energy range of JLab12 and of the COMPASS-II experiment at CERN., Comment: 10 pages, conference LIGHTCONE 2013, 20-24 May 2013, Skiathos, Greece

The inclusion of QCD corrections to the Born amplitude of deeply virtual Compton scattering in both spacelike (DVCS) and timelike (TCS) regimes modifies the extraction process of generalized parton distributions (GPDs) from observables. In particular, gluon contributions are by no means negligible even in the medium energy range accessible at JLab12. We emphasize the complementarity of spacelike and timelike measurements and raise the question of factorization scale dependence of the O(alpha_S) results., Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, Proceedings of the conference Photon 2013, 20-24 May 2013 Paris, France, to be published in Proceedings of Science

The study of $O(\alpha_s)$ QCD contributions to the timelike and spacelike virtual Compton scattering amplitudes in the generalized Bjorken scaling regime demonstrates that gluonic contributions are by no means negligible even in the medium energy range which will be studied intensely at JLab12 and in the COMPASS-II experiment at CERN., Comment: To be published in the proceedings of the INPC2013 conference

Timelike and spacelike virtual Compton scattering in the generalized Bjorken scaling regime are complementary tools to access generalized parton distributions. We stress that the gluonic contributions are by no means negligible, even in the medium energy range which will be studied intensely at JLab12 and in the COMPASS-II experiment at CERN. Ultraperipheral collisions with proton or ion beams may also be used at RHIC and at collider or fixed target experiments at LHC., Comment: 7 pages, Presented at the Low x workshop, May 30 - June 4 2013, Rehovot and Eilat, Israel

We emphasize how large O(\alpha_s) corrections to timelike and spacelike virtual Compton scattering amplitudes are in the generalized Bjorken scaling regime, and in particular the gluonic contributions, even in the medium energy range which will be studied intensely at JLab12 and in the COMPASS-II experiment at CERN. We stress that the timelike and spacelike cases are complementary and that their difference deserves much special attention., Comment: Presented on 21th International Workshop on Deep-Inelastic Scattering and Related Subjects (DIS 2013)

The discrepancy between proton electromagnetic form factors extracted using unpolarized and polarized scattering data is believed to be a consequence of two-photon exchange (TPE) effects. However, the calculations of TPE corrections have significant model dependence, and there is limited direct experimental evidence for such corrections. We present the results of a new experimental technique for making direct $e^\pm p$ comparisons, which has the potential to make precise measurements over a broad range in $Q^2$ and scattering angles. We use the Jefferson Lab electron beam and the Hall B photon tagger to generate a clean but untagged photon beam. The photon beam impinges on a converter foil to generate a mixed beam of electrons, positrons, and photons. A chicane is used to separate and recombine the electron and positron beams while the photon beam is stopped by a photon blocker. This provides a combined electron and positron beam, with energies from 0.5 to 3.2 GeV, which impinges on a liquid hydrogen target. The large acceptance CLAS detector is used to identify and reconstruct elastic scattering events, determining both the initial lepton energy and the sign of the scattered lepton. The data were collected in two days with a primary electron beam energy of only 3.3 GeV, limiting the data from this run to smaller values of $Q^2$ and scattering angle. Nonetheless, this measurement yields a data sample for $e^\pm p$ with statistics comparable to those of the best previous measurements. We have shown that we can cleanly identify elastic scattering events and correct for the difference in acceptance for electron and positron scattering. The final ratio of positron to electron scattering: $R=1.027\pm0.005\pm0.05$ for $=0.206$ GeV$^2$ and $0.830\leq \epsilon\leq 0.943$.