Several Topics on Transverse Momentum-Dependent Fragmentation Functions

Abstract

The hadronization of a high-energy parton is described by fragmentation functions which are introduced through QCD factorizations. While the hadronization mechanism per se remains uknown, fragmentation functions can still be investigated qualitatively and quantitatively. The qualitative study mainly concentrates on extracting genuine features based on the operator definition in quantum field theory. The quantitative research focuses on describing a variety of experimental data employing the fragmentation function given by the parameterizations or model calculations. With the foundation of the transverse-momentum-dependent factorization, the QCD evolution of leading twist transverse-momentum-dependent fragmentation functions has also been established. In addition, the universality of fragmentation functions has been proven, albeit model-dependently, so that it is possible to perform a global analysis of experimental data in different high-energy reactions. The collective efforts may eventually reveal important information hidden in the shadow of nonperturbative physics. This review covers the following topics: transverse-momentum-dependent factorization and the corresponding QCD evolution, spin-dependent fragmentation functions at leading and higher twists, several experimental measurements and corresponding phenomenological studies, and some model calculations.