η′g*g* vertex with arbitrary gluon virtualities in the perturbative QCD hard scattering approach -: art. no. 074020

We study the eta(')g(*)g(*) vertex for arbitrary gluon virtualities in the timelike and spacelike regions, using the perturbative QCD hard scattering approach and an input wave function of the eta(') meson consistent with the measured eta(')gamma(*)gamma transition form factor. The contribution of the gluonic content of the eta(') meson is taken into account, enhancing the form factor over the entire virtuality considered. However, data on the electromagnetic transition form factor of the eta(') meson are not sufficient to quantify the gluonic enhancement. We also study the effect of the transverse momenta of the partons in the eta(') meson on the eta(')g(*)g(*) vertex, using a modified hard scattering approach based on the Sudakov formalism, and contrast the results with the ones in the standard hard scattering approach in which such effects are neglected. Analytic expressions for the eta(')g(*)g(*) vertex are presented in limiting kinematic regions and parametrizations are given satisfying the QCD anomaly, for real gluons, and perturbative QCD behavior for large gluon virtualities, in both the timelike and spacelike regions. Our results have implications for the inclusive decay B-->eta(')X and exclusive decays, such as B-->eta(')(K,K-*), and for hadronic production processes N+N((N) over bar)-->eta(')X.