Stronger C-odd color charge correlations in the proton at higher energy

The nonforward eikonal scattering matrix for dipole-proton scattering at high-energy obtains an imaginary part due to a C-odd three gluon exchange. We present numerical estimates for the perturbative odderon amplitude as a function of dipole size, impact parameter, their relative azimuthal angle, and light-cone momentum cutoff x. The proton is approximated as yrqqqjqqqi thorn yrqqqgjqqqgi, where yrqqq is a nonperturbative three-quark model wave function while the gluon emission is computed in light-cone perturbation theory. We find that the odderon amplitude increases as x decreases from 0.1 to 0.01. At yet lower x, the reversal of this energy dependence would reflect the onset of universal small-x renormalization evolution.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the issue of the imaginary part of the nonforward eikonal scattering matrix for dipole-proton scattering at high energy, which is caused by a C-odd three-gluon exchange. Numerical estimates are presented for the perturbative odderon amplitude, considering the dipole size, impact parameter, relative azimuthal angle, and light-cone momentum cutoff x. The proton is approximated as yrqqqjqqqi thorn yrqqqgjqqqgi, where yrqqq represents a nonperturbative three-quark model wave function, and gluon emission is computed using light-cone perturbation theory. It is found that the odderon amplitude increases as x decreases from 0.1 to 0.01, and a reversal of this energy dependence is expected at even lower x, indicating the onset of universal small-x renormalization evolution.