We report measurements of single- and double- spin asymmetries for $W^{\pm}$ and $Z/\gamma^*$ boson production in longitudinally polarized $p+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 510$ GeV by the STAR experiment at RHIC. The asymmetries for $W^{\pm}$ were measured as a function of the decay lepton pseudorapidity, which provides a theoretically clean probe of the proton's polarized quark distributions at the scale of the $W$ mass. The results are compared to theoretical predictions, constrained by recent polarized deep inelastic scattering measurements, and show a preference for a sizable, positive up antiquark polarization in the range $0.05<x<0.2$.
Longitudinal single-spin asymmetry $A_L$ for W+ production as a function of lepton pseudorapidity.
Longitudinal single-spin asymmetry $A_L$ for W- production as a function of lepton pseudorapidity.
Longitudinal single-spin asymmetry $A_L$ for W+ production as a function of lepton pseudorapidity.
We present the measurement of the transverse single-spin asymmetry of weak boson production in transversely polarized proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 500~\text{GeV}$ by the STAR experiment at RHIC. The measured observable is sensitive to the Sivers function, one of the transverse momentum dependent parton distribution functions, which is predicted to have the opposite sign in proton-proton collisions from that observed in deep inelastic lepton-proton scattering. These data provide the first experimental investigation of the non-universality of the Sivers function, fundamental to our understanding of QCD.
The amplitude of the transverse single-spin asymmetry for $W^{+-}$ boson production as a function of $P_T^W$, in the |$y^W$| < 1 region, measured by STAR in proton+proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=500$ GeV with a recorded luminosity of 25 $pb^{-1}$. The average boson's rapidity value for each $P_T^W$ bin is $y^W=0.0$.
The amplitude of the transverse single-spin asymmetry for $W^{+-}$ boson production as a function of $y^W$, in the 0.5 GeV/c < $P_T^W$ < 10 GeV/c region, measured by STAR in proton+proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=500$ GeV with a recorded luminosity of 25 $pb^{-1}$. The average boson's transverse-momentum value for each $y^W$-bin is $P_T^W=5.3$ GeV/c.
The amplitude of the transverse single-spin asymmetry for $Z^0$ boson production, measured by STAR in proton+proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=500$ GeV with a recorded luminosity of 25 $pb^{-1}$.