Wilson lines in transverse-momentum dependent parton distribution functions with spin degrees of freedom Original Research Article

We propose a new framework for transverse-momentum dependent parton distribution functions, based on a generalized conception of gauge invariance which includes into the Wilson lines the Pauli term image. We discuss the relevance of this nonminimal term for unintegrated parton distribution functions, pertaining to spinning particles, and analyze its influence on their renormalization-group properties. It is shown that while the Pauli term preserves the probabilistic interpretation of twist-two distributions—unpolarized and polarized—it gives rise to additional pole contributions to those of twist-three. The anomalous dimension induced this way is a matrix, calling for a careful analysis of evolution effects. Moreover, it turns out that the crosstalk between the Pauli term and the longitudinal and the transverse parts of the gauge fields, accompanying the fermions, induces a constant, but process-dependent, phase which is the same for leading and subleading distribution functions. We include Feynman rules for the calculation with gauge links containing the Pauli term and comment on the phenomenological implications of our approach.