Single spin asymmetries of inclusive hadrons produced in electron scattering from a transversely polarized<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:msup><mml:mrow/><mml:mn>3</mml:mn></mml:msup></mml:math>He target

Abstract

We report the first measurement of target single spin asymmetries ($A$${}_{N}$) in the inclusive hadron production reaction, $e+\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{}^{3}{\text{He}}^{\ensuremath{\uparrow}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}h+X$, using a transversely polarized ${}^{3}$He target. The experiment was conducted at Jefferson Lab in Hall A using a 5.9-GeV electron beam. Three types of hadrons (${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$, ${K}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$, and proton) were detected in the transverse hadron momentum range 0.54 $&lt;{p}_{T}&lt;$ 0.74 GeV/c. The range of ${x}_{F}$ for pions was $\ensuremath{-}$0.29 $&lt;{x}_{F}&lt;$ $\ensuremath{-}$0.23 and for kaons was $\ensuremath{-}$0.25 $&lt;{x}_{F}&lt;$ $\ensuremath{-}$0.18. The observed asymmetry strongly depends on the type of hadron. A positive asymmetry is observed for ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ and ${K}^{+}$. A negative asymmetry is observed for ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$. The magnitudes of the asymmetries follow $|{A}^{{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}}|&lt;|{A}^{{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}}|&lt;|{A}^{{K}^{+}}|$. The K${}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and proton asymmetries are consistent with zero within the experimental uncertainties. The ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ asymmetries measured for the ${}^{3}$He target and extracted for neutrons are opposite in sign with a small increase observed as a function of ${p}_{T}$.