Computing the gluon Sivers function at small-$x$

Abstract

We compute the gluon Sivers function $f_{1T}^{\perp g}(x,k_{\perp })$ of the transversely polarized nucleon at small-$x$ by exploiting the known connection between the dipole gluon Sivers function and the Odderon. We numerically solve the evolution equation for the Odderon both in the linear and nonlinear regimes. While we find that the $x$ and $k_{\perp }$ dependences of the Sivers function do not factorize as a result of the quantum evolution, factorization breaking is not numerically significant, and is much milder than what one expects in the case of unpolarized TMDs. We also point out the possibility that, due to the presence of a node in the Sivers function, single spin asymmetry for open charm production in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering flips signs as the transverse momentum of D-mesons is varied. This can be tested at the future Electron-Ion Collider.

Comments: 9 pages, 7 figures; minor changes, accepted in PLB