2023 Impact factor 2.6
Hadrons and Nuclei

EPJA Topical Collection on Tensor Spin Observables

Guest Editors: Wim Cosyn, Douglas Higinbotham, Dustin Keller, Elena Long, Nathaly Santiesteban, Karl Slifer

Several experiments are planned at Jefferson Lab and other facilities which will utilize a solid tensor polarized target to investigate properties of spin-1 systems. This exciting new program will help clarify how the properties of the nucleus arise from the underlying partons, and provide novel information about gluon contributions, quark angular momentum, and the polarization of the quark sea that is not accessible in spin-1/2 targets. Theoretical interest in spin-1 systems has dramatically accelerated in recent years, as polarized target technology has developed that now allow access to these observables.

During the summer of 2023, the European Centre for Theoretical Studies in nuclear physics and related areas (ECT*) hosted a workshop focused on tensor spin observables. The ECT* workshop brought together the foremost experts in the field to review the current state of experimental and theoretical progress, and to devise a clear strategy for moving forward on both fronts. The focus of the planned EPJA article collection will be to record the highlights of this workshop, quantify the recent tremendous increase of our knowledge of spin-1 systems, and to establish a strong foundation for the success of the planned experimental program.

The goals of the papers are:

  • 1. To summarize the current status of the solid tensor target and plans to optimize target polarization and polarimetry.
  • 2. To discuss present and future technology required tensor polarization enhancement.
  • 3. To summarize the status and anticipated impact of the two fully approved tensor polarized target experiments.
  • 4. To summarize recent developments of theoretical treatments of spin-1 systems, e.g. cross-sections calculations and observables predictions.
  • 5. To discuss realistic opportunities for new measurements with tensor polarized targets: Topics to be covered include SIDIS and deep exclusive processes at JLab, quasi-elastic deuteron breakup, polarized deuteron interactions at the electron-ion collider. We aim that these sections will be the equivalent of a white paper for future proposals.
  • 6. To highlight the physics motivation for polarized deuterons in the electron-ion collider, and to emphasize the need for the spin community advocacy and action in order to actualize this upgrade.
  • 7. To discuss the overlap of newly proposed measurements with tensor polarized targets at Fermilab.
  • 8. To emphasize the need to establish a unified theoretical terminology for tensor spin observables and distributions, and to identify the most efficient avenues to establish this consistent terminology.

Deadline for Submission: March 7th, 2025

Guest editors of the Topical Collection:

Wim Cosyn, Florida International University, USA, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Douglas Higinbotham, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, USA, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dustin Keller, University of Virginia, USA, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Elena Long, University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Nathaly Santiesteban, University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Karl Slifer, University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

While the core of the contributions to this Topical Issue is by invitation, well-motivated relevant submissions will be also considered.

Authors are invited to submit their paper electronically through the https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/epja specifying in the cover letter that their paper belongs to the Topical Collection on "Tensor Spin Observables".

Please note that the publication of this Topical Collection will follow the EPJA standards and thus all contributions will be peer-reviewed.

Authors should carefully read the Aims and Scope and select the proper article category for their planned contribution. The article category will also be required at submission.

Manuscripts should be prepared following the instructions for authors available here.

The LaTeX template can be downloaded here.

EPJ A is a transformative journal offering Open Access (OA) publication via a rapidly growing number of Open Access Agreements which enable corresponding authors affiliated to institutions participating in these agreements to publish OA, the fee being then covered by the institutional partner. Eligibility will be automatically verified when the corresponding author is requested to complete the relevant affiliation information after acceptance of the paper. Further information can be found here.

General information about the journal can be found on http://epja.epj.org/.

For any kind of assistance during the submission procedure or for any technical questions, feel free to contact the editorial office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Editors-in-Chief
David Blaschke, Silvia Leoni and Dario Vretenar
Thanks to the referees for their helpful suggestions, and thanks to all EPJA Editorial and Production Office team for their professionalism and kindness! Thank you!

Danut Argintaru, Universitatea Maritima din Constanta, Romania

ISSN (Electronic Edition): 1434-601X

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