Polarized light-flavor antiquarks from Drell-Yan processes of h+\vec{N}\to\vec{l^{+-}} + l^{-+} + X

Abstract

We propose a formula to determine the first moment of difference between the polarized $\bar u$- and $\bar d$-quarks in the nucleon, {\it i.e.} $Δ\bar u-Δ\bar d$ from the Drell-Yan processes in collisions of unpolarized hadrons with longitudinally polarized nucleons by measuring outgoing lepton helicities. As coefficients in the differential cross section depend on the $u$- and $d$-quark numbers in the unpolarized hadron beam, the difference $Δ\bar u-Δ\bar d$ can be independently tested by changing the hadron beam. Moreover, a formula for estimating the $K$-factor in Drell-Yan processes is also suggested.

10 pages, 1 figure