Layout of Wilson lines and light-cone peculiarities of transverse-momentum dependent PDFs

Abstract

We consider the problems of gauge invariance, path-dependence and treatment of overlapping UV/rapidity divergences peculiar to the transverse-momentum dependent parton distribution functions (TMDs). For different formulations of the TMDs available in the literature, we check the consistency of the TMD matrix elements with the collinear parton distribution functions possessing the well-known operator structure. Comparative on- and off-light-cone layout of the Wilson lines which secure the gauge-invariance of the TMDs is presented and briefly discussed.

Comments: 6 pages, 4 figures. Presented at the Sixth International Conference on Quarks and Nuclear Physics, Apr 16-20, 2012, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France; v2: minor corrections, journal reference added