Mapping the kinematical regimes of semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering

Abstract

Abstract We construct a language for identifying kinematical regions of transversely differential semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering (SIDIS) cross sections with particular underlying partonic pictures, especially in the regions of moderate to low Q where sensitiv- ity to kinematical effects becomes non-trivial. These partonic pictures map to power law expansions whose leading contributions ultimately lead to well-known QCD factorization theorems. In order to establish the consistency of a particular observable in SIDIS process with an estimate of the appropriate underlying partonic picture, we introduce new quan- titative criteria expressed in terms of various ratios of partonic and hadronic momentum degrees of freedom. We propose how to use these criteria in phenomenology and provide a web tool which allows visualization of these ratios for any chosen kinematic configuration.