The dipole representation of vector meson electroproduction beyond leading twist

Abstract

We link the recent computation beyond leading twist of the impact factor of the transition gamma*T -> rhoT performed in the light-cone collinear approach, to the dipole picture by expressing the hard part of the process through its Fourier transform in coordinate space. We show that in the Wandzura-Wilczek approximation the impact factor up to twist 3 factorises in the wave function of the photon combined with the distribution amplitudes of the rho-meson and the colour dipole scattering amplitude with the t-channel gluons. We show also that beyond the Wandzura-Wilczek approximation, the hard contribution of the amplitude still exhibits the signature of the interaction of a single colour dipole with the t-channel gluons. This result allows a phenomenological approach of the helicity amplitudes of the leptoproduction of vector meson, by combining our results to a dipole/target scattering amplitude model.

63 pages, 18 figures