Triple Regge exchange and transverse single-spin asymmetries of the very forward neutral pion production in polarized $p+p$ collisions

Abstract

Recently, the RHICf Collaboration measured the transverse single-spin asymmetries of the very forward neutral pion in polarized $p+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=510$ GeV, produced at large pseudorapidity ($\eta \gtrsim 6$). The data show large asymmetries both in longitudinal momentum fraction $x_F$ and transverse momentum $p_T$ at $p_T<1\mathrm{GeV}/c$. Employing baryonic triple Regge exchanges, we describe the complete RHICf data for the first time and show that the neutral pion production at low $p_T$ can be interpreted as a diffractive one.

Comments: 5 pages, 4 figures