T-odd effects in photon-jet production at the Tevatron

The angular distribution in photon-jet production in p (p) over bar -> gamma jet X is studied within a generalized factorization scheme taking into account the transverse momentum of the partons in the initial hadrons. Within this scheme an anomalously large cos2 phi asymmetry observed in the Drell-Yan process could be attributed to the T-odd, spin and transverse momentum dependent parton distribution function h(1)(perpendicular to q) (x, p(perpendicular to)(2)). This same function is expected to produce a cos 2 phi asymmetry in the photon-jet production cross section. We give the expression for this particular azimuthal asymmetry, which is estimated to be smaller than the Drell-Yan asymmetry but still of considerable size for Tevatron kinematics. This offers a new possibility to study T-odd effects at the Tevatron. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.