DVCS on nuclei: Observability and Consequences

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss the feasibility of measuring deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) on nuclei in a collider setting, as for example, the planned high-luminosity Electron-Ion-Collider (EIC). We demonstrate that employing our recent model for nuclear generalized parton distributions (nGPDs), the one-photon unpolarized DVCS cross section as well as the azimuthal- and spin asymmetry are of the same size as in the proton case. This will allow for an experimental extraction of nuclear GPDs with high precision shedding new light on nuclear shadowing at small $x_{bj}$ and the interplay of shadowing and nuclear enhancement at $x_{bj}~0.1$.

9 pages, 18 figures, uses EPJ style format, final version to appear in EPJ C