Incoherent Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering on the Deuteron

Incoherent deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) on the deuteron gives direct access to Compton form factors of the neutron by breaking up the deuteron. Compton form factors are a convolution of a hard scattering kernel with generalized parton distribution functions (GPDs) which are of interest to study 3D structure of the nucleon and get access to their gravitational form factors. The neutron GPDs are needed (in combination with the proton GPDs) for quark flavor separation of GPDs. In modeling this reaction we use the deuteron light-front wavefunction to separate nuclear and nucleonic structure of the deuteron in a controlled manner. Bethe-Heitler contributions, interference effects,and final state interactions are included in the model. We perform a phenomenological study of the process and compare to recent JLab data and kinematics to identify the different contributions to the total cross section and beam-spin asymmetry.