The differential cross sections \sigma_0=\sigma_T+\epsilon \sigma_L, \sigma_{LT}, and \sigma_{TT} of \pi^0 electroproduction from the proton were measured from threshold up to an additional center of mass energy of 40 MeV, at a value of the photon four-momentum transfer of Q^2= 0.05 GeV^2/c^2 and a center of mass angle of \theta=90^\circ. By an additional out-of-plane measurement with polarized electrons \sigma_{LT'} was determined. This showed for the first time the cusp effect above the \pi^+ threshold in the imaginary part of the s-wave. The predictions of Heavy Baryon Chiral Perturbation Theory are in disagreement with these data. On the other hand, the data are somewhat better predicted by the MAID phenomenological model and are in good agreement with the dynamical model DMT.

We have measured the forward-backward charge asymmetry in the process of b-quark production in e + e − annihilation at TRISTAN. It was made possible by detecting prompt leptons from b-quarks. The obtained asymmetry is A = −0.55±0.15±0.08. If corrected for B-meson mixing effects with the assumptions given in the text, the asymmetry becomes A = f −0.78±0.21±0.11, which is consistent with the prediction of the standard model, namely the assignment of the b-quark to the isospin doublet of the third quark generation.

We have measured, with electron tagging, the forward-backward asymmetries of charm- and bottom-quark pair productions at $\langle \sqrt{s} \rangle$=58.01GeV, based on 23,783 hadronic events selected from a data sample of 197pb$~{-1}$ taken with the TOPAZ detector at TRISTAN. The measured forward-backward asymmetries are $A_{FB}~c = -0.49 \pm 0.20(stat.) \pm 0.08 (sys.)$ and $A_{FB}~b = -0.64 \pm 0.35(stat.) \pm 0.13 (sys.)$, which are consistent with the standard model predictions.

The production of the neutral strange hadrons $K^{0}_{S}$, $\Lambda$ and $\bar{\Lambda}$ has been measured in $ep$ collisions at HERA using the ZEUS detector. Cross sections, baryon-to-meson ratios, relative yields of strange and charged light hadrons, $\Lambda$ ($\bar{\Lambda}$) asymmetry and polarization have been measured in three kinematic regions: $Q^2 > 25 \gev^2$: $5 < Q^2 < 25 \gev^2$: and in photoproduction ($Q^2 \simeq 0$). In photoproduction the presence of two hadronic jets, each with at least $5 \gev$ transverse energy, was required. The measurements agree in general with Monte Carlo models and are consistent with measurements made at $e^+ e^-$ colliders, except for an enhancement of baryon relative to meson production in photoproduction.

We present a direct measurement of the parity-violation parameter $A_c$ in the coupling of the $Z^0$ to $c$-quarks with the SLD detector. The measurement is based on a sample of 530k hadronic $Z^0$ decays, produced with a mean electron-beam polarization of $|P_e| = 73 %$. The tagging of $c$-quark events is performed using two methods: the exclusive reconstruction of $D^{\ast+}$, $D^+$, and $D^0$ mesons, and the soft-pions ($\pi_s$) produced in the decay of $D^{\ast+}\to D^0 \pi_s^+$. The large background from $D$ mesons produced in $B$ hadron decays is separated efficiently from the signal using precision vertex information. The combination of these two methods yields $A_c = 0.688 \pm 0.041.$

A measurement of the beam-spin asymmetry in the azimuthal distribution of pions produced in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering off protons is presented. The measurement was performed using the {HERMES} spectrometer with a hydrogen gas target and the longitudinally polarized 27.6 GeV positron beam of HERA. The sinusoidal amplitude of the dependence of the asymmetry on the angle $\phi$ of the hadron production plane around the virtual photon direction relative to the lepton scattering plane was measured for $\pi^+,\pi^-$ and $\pi^0$ mesons. The dependence of this amplitude on the Bjorken scaling variable and on the pion fractional energy and transverse momentum is presented. The results are compared to theoretical model calculations.

Using data from Fermilab fixed-target experiment E791, we have measured particle-antiparticle production asymmetries for lambda zero, cascade minus, and omega minus hyperons in pi minus-nucleon interactions at 500 GeV/c. The asymmetries are measured as functions of Feynman-x (x_F) and pt^2 over the ranges of -0.12 GE x_F LE 0.12 and 0 GE pt^2 LE 4 (GeV/c)^2. We find substantial asymmetries, even at x_F = 0. We also observe leading-particle- type asymmetries which qualitatively agree with theoretical predictions.

Using data from Fermilab fixed-target experiment E769, we have measured particle-antiparticle production asymmetries for Lambda0 hyperons in 250 GeV/c pi+-, K+- and p -- nucleon interactions. The asymmetries are measured as functions of Feynman-x (x_F) and p_t^2 over the ranges -0.12<=x_F<=0.12 and 0<=p_t^2<=3 (GeV/c)^2 (for positive beam) and -0.12<=x_F<=0.4 and 0<=p_t^2<=10 (GeV/c)^2 (for negative beam). We find substantial asymmetries, even at x_F around zero. We also observe leading-particle-type asymmetries. These latter effects are qualitatively as expected from valence-quark content of the target and variety of projectiles studied.

A measurement of the forward--backward asymmetry of $e^{+}e^{-} \to c\bar{c}$ and $e^{+}e^{-} \to b\bar{b}$ on the $Z$ resonance is performed using about 3.5 million hadronic $Z$ decays collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP in the years 1992 to 1995. The heavy quark is tagged by the exclusive reconstruction of several $D$ meson decay modes. The forward--backward asymmetries for $c$ and $b$ quarks at the $Z$ resonance are determined to be: \[ \renewcommand{\arraystretch}{1.6} \begin{array}{rcr@{}l} \Afbc(\sqrt{s} = 91.235 {\rm GeV}) &=& &0.0659 \pm 0.0094 (stat) \pm 0.0035 (syst) \Afbb (\sqrt{s} = 91.235 {\rm GeV}) &=& &0.0762 \pm 0.0194 (stat) \pm 0.0085 (syst) \Afbc(\sqrt{s} = 89.434 {\rm GeV}) &=&-&0.0496 \pm 0.0368 (stat) \pm 0.0053 (syst) \Afbb(\sqrt{s} = 89.434 {\rm GeV}) &=& &0.0567 \pm 0.0756 (stat) \pm 0.0117 (syst) \Afbc(\sqrt{s} = 92.990 {\rm GeV}) &=& &0.1180 \pm 0.0318 (stat) \pm 0.0062 (syst) \Afbb(\sqrt{s} = 92.990 {\rm GeV}) &=& &0.0882 \pm 0.0633 (stat) \pm 0.0122 (syst) \end{array} \] The combination of these results leads to an effective electroweak mixing angle of: SINEFF = 0.2332 \pm 0.0016

The charmed quark charge asymmetry has been measured at the average centre of mass energy of 35 GeV with the JADE detector at thee+e− storage ring PETRA. Charmed quarks were identified byD*± tagging using the ΔM technique.D*± mesons were reconstructed through their decay intoD0 mesons resulting in (Kπ) π and (K π π π) π final states. The measured charge asymmetryA=−0.149±0.067 is in agreement with the expectation from the electroweak interference effect in quantum flavour dynamics (QFD).

The forward-backward asymmetry of quarks produced in e+e− annihilations, summed over all flavors, is measured at √s between 50 and 60.8 GeV. Methods of determining the charge direction of jet pairs are discussed. The asymmetry is found to agree with the five-flavor standard model.

At the tagged photon facility PHOENICS at the Bonn accelerator ELSA a measurement of the target asymmetry of the reaction γp→pη from threshold to 1150 MeV has been performed. Simultaneously the reaction γp→pπ0 has been measured in the first resonance region. Results are presented for both reactions. The target asymmetry data are suited to put considerable constraints on the model parameters used for the theoretical description of meson photoproduction.

The forward-backward charge asymmetries of theb andc quarks are measured with the JADE detector at PETRA at\(\sqrt s= 35\) GeV and 44 GeV using both electrons and muons to tag the heavy quarks. At\(\sqrt s= 35\) GeV, a simultaneous fit for the two asymmetries yields the resultAb=−9.3±5.2% (state.) ndAc=−9.6±4.0% (stat.). The systematic errors are comparable with the statistical uncertainties. Combining the measurements at both energies and alternately constraining the weak coupling of thec andb quark to their Standard Model values (ac=1,ab=−1) increases the precision of the measurement of coupling constant of the other quark. Using this procedureab=−0.72±0.34 andac=0.79±0.40, where the numbers are corrected for\(B\bar B - mixing\) and the errors include both statistical and systematic contributions. The mixing parameter for continuum\(b\bar b - production\) is determined to be χ-0.24±0.12 if both heavy quark coupling constants are constrained to their values in the Standard Model.

We report on a measurement of the forward-backward charge asymmetry in e+e−→qq¯ at KEK TRISTAN, where the asymmetry is near maximum. We sum over all flavors and measure the asymmetry by determining the charge of the quark jets. In addition we exploit flavor dependencies in the jet charge determination to enhance the contributions of certain flavors. This provides a check on the asymmetries of individual flavors. The measurement agrees with the standard model expectations.

High p ⊥ inclusive muon events produced in e + e − annihilations at √ s =29 GeV have been analyzed to obtain a measurement of the b b forward-backward charge asymmetry. The result A b =0.034±0.070±0.035 differs from the theoretical expectation (−0.16) unless substantial B 0  B 0 mixing is assumed.

We report measurements of the asymmetry A_parallel for inclusive hadron production on longitudinally polarized proton and deuteron targets by circularly polarized photons. The photons were produced via internal and external bremsstrahlung from an electron beam of 48.35 GeV. Asymmetries for both positive and negative signed hadrons, and a subset of identified pions, were measured in the momentum range 10<P<30 GeV at 2.75 and 5.5 degrees. Small non-zero asymmetries are observed for the proton, while the deuteron results are consistent with zero. Recent calculations do not describe the data well.

Measurements of the forward-backward asymmetry of e + e − → cc events were carried out at a mean √s energy of 57.95 GeV at TRISTAN, KEK. The cc events were tagged either by the full-reconstruction of D ∗± or the inclusive P T spectrum of π s ± from D ∗± → D 0 ( D 0 )π s ± . The forward-backward asymmetry was measured to be A FB c = −0.49 −0.13 +0.14 (stat.) ± 0.06 (syst.), consistent with the standard model.

Spin asymmetries for the 16O(γ→,pπ−) reaction are reported for incident photon energies of 293 ± 20 MeV, proton angles ranging from 28° to 140° (lab), and pion angles of 35° to 115°. The data are compared with calculations in a quasifree plane-wave impulse approximation model. This model is in good agreement with the data at small momentum transfer q, but does not follow the trend of the data at large q. Sensitivity to the Δ-nucleus potential and to modification of the Δ lifetime from nuclear medium effects are explored using a simple modification of the Δ propagator in the calculations.

A leading charm meson is one with longitudinal momentum fraction, xF>0, whose light quark (or antiquark) is of the same type as one of the quarks in the beam particles. We report on the production asymmetry, A=[σ(leading-σ(nonleading)]/[σ(leading)+σ(nonleading)] as a function of xF. The data consist of 1500 fully reconstructed D± and D*± decays in Fermilab experiment E 769. We find a significant asymmetry for the production of charm quarks is not expected in perturbative quantum chromodynamics.

We present a measurement of asymmetries in the production of $\Lambda_c^+$ and $\Lambda_c^-$ baryons in 500 GeV/c $\pi^-$--nucleon interactions from the E791 experiment at Fermilab. The asymmetries were measured as functions of Feynman x ($x_F$) and transverse momentum squared ($p_T^2$) using a sample of $1819 \pm 62$ $\Lambda_c$'s observed in the decay channel $\Lambda_c \to pK^-\pi^+$. We observe more $\Lambda_c^+$ than $\Lambda_c^-$ baryons, with an asymmetry of $(12.7\pm3.4\pm1.3) %$ independent of $x_F$ and $p_T^2$ in our kinematical range $(-0.1 < x_F < 0.6$ and $0.0 < p_T^2 < 8.0 (GeV/c)^2$). This $\Lambda_c$ asymmetry measurement is the first with data in both the positive and negative $x_F$ regions.

We report the first measurement of the lepton forward-backward asymmetry ${\cal A}_{\rm FB}$ as a function of the squared four-momentum of the dilepton system, $q^2$, for the electroweak penguin process $B \rightarrow X_s \ell^+ \ell^-$ with a sum of exclusive final states, where $\ell$ is an electron or a muon and $X_s$ is a hadronic recoil system with an $s$ quark. The results are based on a data sample containing $772\times10^6$ $B\bar{B}$ pairs recorded at the $\Upsilon(4S)$ resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB $e^+ e^-$ collider. ${\cal A}_{\rm FB}$ for the inclusive $B \rightarrow X_s \ell^+ \ell^-$ is extrapolated from the sum of 10 exclusive $X_s$ states whose invariant mass is less than 2 GeV/$c^2$. For $q^2 > 10.2$ GeV$^2$/$c^2$, ${\cal A}_{\rm FB} < 0$ is excluded at the 2.3$\sigma$ level, where $\sigma$ is the standard deviation. For $q^2 < 4.3$ GeV$^2$/$c^2$, the result is within 1.8$\sigma$ of the Standard Model theoretical expectation.

The COMPASS Collaboration at CERN has measured the transverse spin azimuthal asymmetry of charged hadrons produced in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering using a 160 GeV positive muon beam and a transversely polarised NH_3 target. The Collins asymmetry of the proton was extracted in the Bjorken x range 0.003<x<0.7. These new measurements confirm with higher accuracy previous measurements from the COMPASS and HERMES collaborations, which exhibit a definite effect in the valence quark region. The asymmetries for negative and positive hadrons are similar in magnitude and opposite in sign. They are compatible with model calculations in which the u-quark transversity is opposite in sign and somewhat larger than the d-quark transversity distribution function. The asymmetry is extracted as a function of Bjorken $x$, the relative hadron energy $z$ and the hadron transverse momentum p_T^h. The high statistics and quality of the data also allow for more detailed investigations of the dependence on the kinematic variables. These studies confirm the leading-twist nature of the Collins asymmetry.

The COMPASS Collaboration at CERN has measured the transverse spin azimuthal asymmetry of charged hadrons produced in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering using a 160 GeV positive muon beam and a transversely polarised NH_3 target. The Sivers asymmetry of the proton has been extracted in the Bjorken x range 0.003<x<0.7. The new measurements have small statistical and systematic uncertainties of a few percent and confirm with considerably better accuracy the previous COMPASS measurement. The Sivers asymmetry is found to be compatible with zero for negative hadrons and positive for positive hadrons, a clear indication of a spin-orbit coupling of quarks in a transversely polarised proton. As compared to measurements at lower energy, a smaller Sivers asymmetry for positive hadrons is found in the region x > 0.03. The asymmetry is different from zero and positive also in the low x region, where sea-quarks dominate. The kinematic dependence of the asymmetry has also been investigated and results are given for various intervals of hadron and virtual photon fractional energy. In contrast to the case of the Collins asymmetry, the results on the Sivers asymmetry suggest a strong dependence on the four-momentum transfer to the nucleon, in agreement with the most recent calculations.

We present a measurement of the azimuthal asymmetries of two charged pions in the inclusive process $e^+e^-\rightarrow \pi\pi X$ based on a data set of 62 $\rm{pb}^{-1}$ at the center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=3.65$ GeV collected with the BESIII detector. These asymmetries can be attributed to the Collins fragmentation function. We observe a nonzero asymmetry, which increases with increasing pion momentum. As our energy scale is close to that of the existing semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering experimental data, the measured asymmetries are important inputs for the global analysis of extracting the quark transversity distribution inside the nucleon and are valuable to explore the energy evolution of the spin-dependent fragmentation function.

We report the observation of transverse polarization-dependent azimuthal correlations in charged pion pair production with the STAR experiment in $p^\uparrow+p$ collisions at RHIC. These correlations directly probe quark transversity distributions. We measure signals in excess of five standard deviations at high transverse momenta, at high pseudorapidities eta>0.5, and for pair masses around the mass of the rho-meson. This is the first direct transversity measurement in p+p collisions. Comparing the results to data from lepton-nucleon scattering will test the universality of these spin-dependent quantities.