Speaker
Description
A model independent decomposition of nuclear parton distribution functions for $A$$=$3 mirror nuclei into flavor-averaged ($\varepsilon_{\mathrm{avg}}$) and flavor-asymmetric ($\varepsilon_{\mathrm{a}}$) response functions is presented, where $\varepsilon_{\mathrm{a}} \neq 0$ is the condition for a flavor-dependent EMC effect. The full nPDFs for triton and helion are constructed from bound nucleon PDFs under the standard (isospin) charge symmetry assumption. The specific $\varepsilon_{\mathrm{a}}$, $\varepsilon_{\mathrm{avg}}$ formulae for $^{3}$He and $^{3}$H charged pion cross sections allows for a sensitivity to $\varepsilon_{\mathrm{a}}=0$. This means that for specific combinations of sums and differences of SIDIS cross sections, nonzero $\varepsilon_{\mathrm{a}}$ can be determined from the data, under the assumption of fragmentation function cancelation in cross section ratios. The proposed measurements can be carried out at JLab 12 GeV with $A$$\leq$3 fixed targets. The results from $(\varepsilon_{\mathrm{av}},\, \varepsilon_{\mathrm{a}})$ parametrization may be incorporated into global nPDF analyses alongside LHC data, potentially providing flavor-separated constraints at small $A$ that complement large $A$ flavor separation data. At the EIC, $^{3}$He is a planned beam species, enabling an independent measurement of the $^{3}$He/$^{2}$H ratios at higher $Q^2$ and broader $x$ range than JLab. Finally, a fixed-target program at the EIC, currently under feasibility study, could in principle carry out the same SIDIS experiment at EIC kinematics as a longer term prospect.