6 pages, Talk given at the International Workshop on Advanced Computing and Analysis Techniques in Physics Research (ACAT), Uxbridge, London, September 2011
We present a method developed by the NNPDF Collaboration that allows the inclusion of new experimental data into an existing set of parton distribution functions without the need for a complete refit. A Monte Carlo ensemble of PDFs may be updated by assigning each member of the ensemble a unique weight determined by Bayesian inference. The reweighted ensemble therefore represents the probability density of PDFs conditional on both the old and new data. This method is applied to the inclusion of W-lepton asymmetry data into the NNPDF2.1 fit producing a new PDF set, NNPDF2.2.
We discuss the parton branching (PB) evolution equation for transverse momentum dependent (TMD) parton distribution functions (PDFs), especially we concentrate on the angular ordering constrain and its effect on the TMD distributions. We discuss application of the PB TMDs to precise prediction of Drell-Yan transverse momentum spectrum at LHC, stressing the role of angular ordering in the low transverse momentum region. We compare the PB implementation of the angular ordering condition with the Kimber-Martin-Ryskin-Watt (KMRW), both at the analytical and numerical level.
A selection of the latest and most frequently used parton distribution functions (PDFs) is incorporated in Pythia8, including the Monte Carlo-adapted PDFs from the MSTW and CTEQ collaborations. This article examines the differences in PDFs as well as the effect they have on results of simulations and compare with data collected by the CDF experiment. Monte Carlo-adapted PDFs do a better job than leading- and next-to-leading order PDFs for many observables, but there is room for further improvements.
The separation of the connected and disconnected sea partons, which were uncovered in the Euclidean path-integral formulation of the hadronic tensor, is accommodated with the CT18 parametrization of the global analysis of the parton distribution functions (PDFs). This is achieved with the help of the distinct small $x$ behaviors of these two sea parton components and the constraint from the lattice calculation of the ratio of the strange momentum fraction to that of the ${\bar u}$ or ${\bar d}$ in the disconnected insertion. This allows lattice calculations of separate flavors in both the conn…
Evaluating parton density systematic uncertainties in Monte~Carlo event generator predictions has long been achieved by reweighting between the original and systematic PDFs for the initial state configurations of the individual simulated events. This weighting is now pre-emptively performed in many generators, providing convenient weight factors for PDF and scale systematics -- including for NLO calculations where counterterms make the weight calculation complex. This note attempts a pedagogical discussion and empirical study of the consequences of neglecting the effects of PDF variations on t…
Parton distribution functions (pdfs) are an important ingredient for LHC phenomenology. Recent progress in determining pdfs from global analyses is reviewed, and some of the most important outstanding issues are highlighted. Particular attention is paid to the precision with which predictions for LHC `standard-candle' cross sections can be made, and also to new information that LHC can provide on pdfs.
A selection of the latest and most frequently used PDFs is incorporated in PYTHIA8, including the MC-adapted PDFs from the MSTW and CTEQ collaborations. This thesis examines the differences in PDFs as well as the effect they have on results of simulations. The results are also compared to data collected by the CDF experiment.
The flow of information in high-energy collisions has been recently investigated by various groups: this includes the entanglement entropy of the proton becoming classical information entropy of pdfs, jet splitting affecting entropy, or the entropy distribution in hadron decays. Here we examine fragmentation functions in this context, including their entropy as probability distributions, and propose it as one convenient number to characterize progress in their extraction. We also use the Kullback-Leibler divergence to examine relations between FFs and pdfs such as that of Barone, Drago and Ma.
I review the current status of global analysis of nuclear parton distributions and discuss some near-future prospects. I also advocate proton-nucleus (p-$A$) measurements at the LHC with $A\ll 208$ from the viewpoint of nuclear parton distributions.
We explicitly demonstrate how to correctly define the hadronic parton distributions (PDFs, TMDs, and GPDs) in the soft-wall AdS/QCD approach, based on the use of a quadratic dilaton field, providing confinement and spontaneous breaking of conformal and chiral symmetries. The power behavior of parton distributions at large values of the light-cone variable is consistent with quark counting rules and Drell-Yan-West duality. All parton distributions are defined in terms of profile functions, which depend on the light-cone coordinate and are fixed from PDFs and electromagnetic form factors.
Transverse and longitudinal electroweak gauge boson parton distribution functions (PDFs) are computed in terms of deep-inelastic scattering structure functions, following the recently developed method to determine the photon PDF. The calculation provides initial conditions at the electroweak scale for PDF evolution to higher energies. Numerical results for the $W^\pm$ and $Z$ transverse, longitudinal and polarized PDFs, as well as the $γZ$ transverse and polarized PDFs are presented.
We derive relations between transverse momentum dependent distribution functions (TMDs) and the usual parton distribution functions (PDFs) in the 3D covariant parton model, which follow from Lorentz invariance and the assumption of a rotationally symmetric distribution of parton momenta in the nucleon rest frame. Using the known PDFs f_1(x) and g_1(x) as input we predict the x- and pT-dependence of all twist-2 T-even TMDs.
We study the gluon parton densities [parton distribution functions (PDFs), transverse momentum distributions (TMDs), generalized parton distributions (GPDs)] and form factors in soft-wall AdS/QCD. We show that the power behavior of gluon parton distributions and form factors at large values of the light-cone variable and large values of square momentum is consistent with quark counting rules. We also show that the transverse momentum distributions derived in our approach obey the model-independent Mulders-Rodrigues inequalities without referring to specific model parameters. All gluon parton d…
This article gives an introduction to transverse momentum dependent (TMD) parton distribution functions and their use in shower Monte Carlo event generators for high-energy hadron collisions, and describes recent progress in the treatment of sea quark effects within a TMD parton-shower framework.
We summarize several projects carried out by the CTEQ global analysis of parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the proton during 2010. We discuss a recently released CT10 family of PDFs with a fixed and variable QCD coupling strength; implementation of combined HERA and Tevatron lepton asymmetry data sets; theoretical issues associated with the analysis of $W$ charge asymmetry in PDF fits; PDFs for leading-order shower programs; and constraints on new color-octet fermions from the hadronic data.
We review the current state of the art in the determination of the parton substructure of the nucleon, as expressed in terms of parton distribution functions (PDFs), and probed in high-energy lepton-hadron and hadron-hadron collisions, and we assess their implications for current precision collider phenomenology, in particular at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). We review the theoretical foundations of PDF determination: the way cross sections are expressed in terms of PDFs using perturbative QCD factorization and evolution, the methodology used to extract PDFs from experimental data, and the …
The relations between TMDs and PDFs are obtained from the symmetry requirement: relativistic covariance combined with rotationally symmetric parton motion in the nucleon rest frame. This requirement is applied in the covariant parton model. Using the usual PDFs as an input, we are obtaining predictions for some polarized and unpolarized TMDs.
We present a new analysis to extract pion parton distribution functions (PDFs) within the framework of the statistical model. Starting from the statistical model first developed for the spin-1/2 nucleon, we extend this model to describe the spin-0 pion. Based on a combined fit to both the pion-induced Drell-Yan data and the pion-induced $J/Ψ$ production data, a new set of pion PDFs has been obtained. The inclusion of the $J/Ψ$ production data in the combined fit has provided additional constraints for better determining the gluon distribution in the pion. We also compare the pion PDFs obtained…
We suggest a classification scheme for parton distribution models, clarify the geometrical origin of unintegrated parton distribution relations, which were observed in various models, present new model relations, and provide for a so-called "spherical" model the analogous constraints for generalized parton distributions. Our findings suggest that various classes of uPDF and GPD models can be obtained from effective two-body light-cone wave functions.
The precise knowledge of parton distribution functions (PDFs) is indispensable to the accurate calculation of hadron-initiated QCD hard scattering observables. Much of our information on PDFs is extracted by comparing deep inelastic scattering (DIS) and lepton pair production (LPP) data to convolutions of the PDFs with the partonic cross sections of these processes. It is known that partonic cross sections receive large corrections in regions of phase space near partonic thresholds that can be resummed using threshold resummation techniques. The effect of threshold resummation on DIS and LPP d…
The formulas directly connecting parton distribution functions (PDFs) and fragmentation functions (FFs) at the next to leading order (NLO) QCD with the same quantities at the leading order (LO) are derived. These formulas are universal, i.e. have the same form for all kinds of PDFs and FFs, differing only in the respective splitting functions entering there.
A brief overview of the global DGLAP analyses of the nuclear parton distribution functions is given. Although all the current global nPDF sets describe $R_{F_2}^A(x,Q^2)$ well in the large-$x$ region where the data exist, variations between their parton distributions can be substantial.
The parton distributions functions (PDFs) derived from the NNLO QCD analysis of existing light-targets deep-inelastic-scattering data are presented. The NLO and NNLO PDFs are compared in order to analyze perturbative stability of the analysis and estimate impact of the higher-order QCD corrections. The main theoretical uncertainties and experimental uncertainties in PDFs due to all sources of experimental errors in data are estimated and used to assess corresponding uncertainties in the cross sections of other hadronic processes.
We review progress in the global QCD analysis by the CTEQ-TEA group since the publication of CT18 parton distribution functions (PDFs) in the proton. Specifically, we discuss comparisons of CT18 NNLO predictions with the LHC 13 TeV measurements as well as with the FNAL SeaQuest and BNL STAR data on lepton pair production. The specialized CT18X PDFs approximating saturation effects are compared with the CT18sx PDFs obtained using NLL/NLO small-$x$ resummation. Short summaries are presented for the special CT18 parton distributions with fitted charm and with lattice QCD inputs. A recent comparat…
In this contribution we briefly report on the progress and open problems in parton distribution functions (PDFs), with emphasis on their implications for LHC phenomenology. Then we study the impact of the recent ATLAS and CMS W lepton asymmetry data on the NNPDF2.1 parton distributions. We show that these data provide the first constrains on PDFs from LHC measurements.
We introduce a generalized definition of parton distribution functions (PDFs) for a more consistent all-order treatment of power corrections. We present a new set of modified DGLAP evolution equations for nuclear PDFs, and show that the resummed $α_s A^{1/3}/Q^2$-type of leading nuclear size enhanced power corrections significantly slow down the growth of gluon density at small-$x$. We discuss the relation between the calculated power corrections and the saturation phenomena.
A new and simple statistical approach is performed to calculate the parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the nucleon in terms of light-front kinematic variables. We do not put in any extra arbitrary parameter or corrected term by hand, which guarantees the stringency of our approach. Analytic expressions of the $x$-dependent PDFs are obtained in the whole $x$ region [0,1], and some features, especially the low-$x$ rise, are more agreeable with experimental data than those in some previous instant-form statistical models in the infinite-momentum frame (IMF). Discussions on heavy-flavored PDF…
It is common lore that Parton Distribution Functions (PDFs) in the $\overline{\rm { MS}}$ factorization scheme can become negative beyond leading order due to the collinear subtraction which is needed in order to define partonic cross sections. We show that this is in fact not the case and next-to-leading order (NLO) $\overline{\rm { MS}}$ PDFs are actually positive in the perturbative regime. In order to prove this, we modify the subtraction prescription, and perform the collinear subtraction in such a way that partonic cross sections remain positive. This defines a factorization scheme in wh…
Focusing on hadron scattering at large partonic momentum fractions $x$, we compare nonperturbative QCD predictions for the asymptotic behavior of DIS structure functions and parton distribution functions (PDFs) to the $x$ and $Q$ dependence of phenomenological PDFs. In the CT18 NNLO global QCD analysis, higher-order radiative contributions and functional mimicry of PDF parametrizations result in about one unit of uncertainty in the effective powers of $(1-x)$ falloff of nucleon PDFs. Similar uncertainties are present in the case of the pion PDF, an object of growing interest in phenomenology.
We discuss strategies for comparisons of nonperturbative QCD predictions for parton distribution functions (PDFs) with high-energy experiments in the region of large partonic momentum fractions $x$. Analytic functional forms for PDFs cannot be uniquely determined solely based on discrete experimental measurements because of a mathematical property of mimicry of PDF parametrizations that we prove using a representation based on Bézier curves. Predictions of nonperturbative QCD approaches for the $x$ dependence of PDFs instead should be cast in a form that enables decisive comparisons against ex…
We study the global analysis for parton distributions as a function of the QCD strong coupling strength alpha_s, and present a new series of distributions that span the range 0.110 < alpha_s(m_Z) < 0.128. We use these distributions to explore the correlation between alpha_s and the gluon distribution; the viability of global analysis as a method to measure alpha_s; and the dependence on alpha_s of predictions for W, Z, inclusive jet, and Higgs boson production ($b \bar{b} \to H$ and $gg \to H$) cross sections at the Tevatron and the LHC. We find that the uncertainty in alpha_s is the dominant …
We present the parton distribution functions (PDFs) for un- polarised, longitudinally polarized and transversely polarized quarks in a proton using the light-front quark diquark model. We also present the scale evolution of PDFs and calculate axial charge and tecsor charge for $u$ and $d$ quarks at a scale of experimental findings.
We analyze the impact of the recent HERA run I+II combination of inclusive deep inelastic scattering cross-section data on the CT14 global analysis of PDFs. New PDFs at NLO and NNLO, called CT14$_{\textrm{HERA2}}$, are obtained by a refit of the CT14 data ensembles, in which the HERA run I combined measurements are replaced by the new HERA run I+II combination. The CT14 functional parametrization of PDFs is flexible enough to allow good descriptions of different flavor combinations, so we use the same parametrization for CT14$_{\textrm{HERA2}}$ but with an additional shape parameter for descri…
We perform a next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) analysis of nuclear parton distribution functions (nPDFs) using neutral current charged-lepton ($\ell ^\pm$ + nucleus) deeply inelastic scattering (DIS) data and Drell-Yan (DY) cross-section ratios $σ_{DY}^{A}/σ_{DY}^{A^\prime}$ for several nuclear targets. We study in detail the parametrizations and the atomic mass (A) dependence of the nuclear PDFs at this order. The present nuclear PDFs global analysis provides us a complete set of nuclear PDFs, $f_i^{(A,Z)}(x,Q^2)$, with a full functional dependence on $x$, A, Q$^2$. The uncertainties of th…
We present a new procedure to determine Parton Distribution Functions (PDFs), based on Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. The aim of this paper is to show that we can replace the standard $χ^2$ minimization by procedures grounded on Statistical Methods, and on Bayesian inference in particular, thus offering additional insight into the rich field of PDFs determination. After a basic introduction to these technics, we introduce the algorithm we have chosen to implement -- namely Hybrid (or Hamiltonian) Monte Carlo. This algorithm, initially developed for Lattice QCD, turns out to be very i…
We review the current status of spin-averaged and spin-dependent parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the nucleon. After presenting the formalism used to fit PDFs in modern global data analyses, we discuss constraints placed on the PDFs by specific data types. We give representative examples of unpolarized and polarized PDFs and their errors, and list open questions in global QCD fitting. Finally, we anticipate how future facilities, with fixed-target and collider experiments, may impact our knowledge of PDFs and reduce their uncertainties.
Parton distribution functions (PDFs) with QED corrections extracted from the QED$\otimes$QCD DGLAP evolution equations in the framework of "valon" model. Our results for the PDFs with QED corrections in this phenomenological model are in good agreement with the newly related CT14QED global fit code [Phys. Rev. D93, 114015 (2016)] and APFEL (NNPDF2.3QED) [Computer Physics Communications 185, 1647 (2014)] program in a wide range of $x=[10^{-5}, 1]$ and $Q^2=[0.283, 10^8] \, {\rm GeV}^2$. The model calculations agree rather well with those codes. We also proposed the new method for studying the s…
To facilitate lattice QCD calculations of nucleon structute, a set of quasi-parton distributions were recently introduced. These quasi-PDFs were shown to reduce to standard PDFs when the nucleon is boosted to high energies, $P_z\rightarrow \infty$. Since taking such limit is not feasible in lattice simulations, it is essential to provide guidance for what values of $P_z$ the quasi-PDFs are good approximations of standard PDFs. Within the framework of the spectator diquark model, we evaluate both the up and down quarks' quasi-PDFs and standard PDFs for all leading-twist distributions (unpolariz…
We present a study of the interplay between PDF and EFT effects in high-mass Drell-Yan at the LHC. We quantify the impact of a consistent joint determination of the PDFs and Wilson coefficients on the bounds obtained on the EFT and examine the effect on the PDFs, determining the extent to which EFT signals could be reabsorbed into the large-$x$ quark and anti-quark PDFs. Finally, we present dedicated projections for the High-Luminosity LHC and evaluate its ultimate potential to constrain the EFT parameters, while taking into account potential modifications of the proton structure.
Nuclear parton distribution functions (nuclear PDFs) are non-perturbative objects that encode the partonic behaviour of bound nucleons. To avoid potential higher-twist contributions, the data probing the high-$x$ end of nuclear PDFs are sometimes left out from the global extractions despite their potential to constrain the fit parameters. In the present work we focus on the kinematic corner covered by the new high-$x$ data measured by the CLAS/JLab collaboration. By using the Hessian re-weighting technique, we are able to quantitatively test the compatibility of these data with globally analyz…
We consider the impact that can be made on our understanding of parton distributions (PDFs) and QCD from early measurements at the LHCb experiment. The high rapidity values make the experiment uniquely suited to a detailed study of small-x parton distributions and hence will make a significant contribution towards the clarification of both experimental and theoretical uncertainties on PDFs and their applications.
We present LO, NLO and NNLO sets of parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the proton determined from global analyses of the available hard scattering data. These MMHT2014 PDFs supersede the `MSTW2008' parton sets, but are obtained within the same basic framework. We include a variety of new data sets, from the LHC, updated Tevatron data and the HERA combined H1 and ZEUS data on the total and charm structure functions. We also improve the theoretical framework of the previous analysis. These new PDFs are compared to the `MSTW2008' parton sets. In most cases the PDFs, and the predictions, are …
We demonstrate that theoretical predictions using current resummation techniques for the lepton pair production (LPP) rapidity and $x_F$ distributions can be inconsistent with data in high rapidity and $x_F$ kinematic regions by observing their effect in global fits of parton distribution functions (PDFs). We present an enhanced resummation technique for the LPP rapidity and $x_F$ distributions that agrees with LPP data. The enhanced resummation method is used in conjunction with threshold resummation in deep inelastic scattering (DIS) to perform two global fits of PDFs using the minimal and B…
I present a determination of longitudinally-polarized parton distribution functions of the proton from inclusive deep-inelastic scattering data: NNPDFpol1.0+. This determination, based on the NNPDF methodology, upgrades a previous analysis, NNPDFpol1.0, in two respects: first, it includes all new data sets which have recently become available from the COMPASS experiment at CERN and from the E93-009, EG1-DVCS and E06-014 experiments at JLAB; second, it uses the state-of-the-art unpolarized parton set NNPDF3.0 as a baseline for the reconstruction of fitted observables and for the determination o…
We extract new parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the proton by global analysis of hard scattering data in the general-mass framework of perturbative quantum chromodynamics. Our analysis includes new theoretical developments together with the most recent collider data from deep-inelastic scattering, vector boson production, and single-inclusive jet production. Due to the difficulty in fitting both the DO Run-II W lepton asymmetry data and some fixed-target DIS data, we present two families of PDFs, CT10 and CT10W, without and with these high-luminosity W lepton asymmetry data included in …
The electron, positron, and photon Parton Distribution Functions (PDFs) of the unpolarised electron have recently been computed at the next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy in QED, by adopting the $\overline{\rm MS}$ factorisation scheme. We present here analogous results, obtained by working in a different framework that is inspired by the so-called DIS scheme. We derive analytical solutions relevant to the large-$z$ region, where we show that the behaviour of the PDFs depends in a dramatic way on whether running-$α$ effects are included to all orders, as opposed to being truncated to some fix…
We present a detailed phenomenological study of direct photon production in association with a heavy-quark jet in pA collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at next-to-leading order in QCD. The dominant contribution to the cross-section comes from the gluon--heavy-quark (gQ) initiated subprocess, making γ+ Q production a process very sensitive to both the gluon and the heavy-quark parton distribution functions (PDFs). Additionally, the RHIC and LHC experiments are probing complementary kinematic regions in the momentum fraction x_2 carrie…
The un-integrated parton distribution functions (uPDFs) obtained from a CCFM evolution are studied in terms of the intrinsic transverse momentum distribution at low scales. The uPDFs are studied for variations of the renormalization and factorization scales.
We study nuclear effects of charged current deep inelastic neutrino-iron scattering in the framework of a chi^2 analysis of parton distribution functions (PDFs). We extract a set of iron PDFs which are used to compute x_Bj-dependent and Q^2-dependent nuclear correction factors for iron structure functions which are required in global analyses of free nucleon PDFs. We compare our results with nuclear correction factors from neutrino-nucleus scattering models and correction factors for charged-lepton--iron scattering. We find that, except for very high x_Bj, our correction factors differ in both…
Parton Distribution Functions (PDFs) are essential non-perturbative inputs for calculation of any observable with hadronic initial states. These PDFs are released by individual groups as discrete grids as a function of the Bjorken-x and energy scale Q. The LHAPDF project at HepForge maintains a repository of PDFs from various groups in a new standardized LHAPDF6 format, as well as older formats such as the CTEQ PDS grid format. ManeParse is a package that provides PDFs within the Mathematica framework to facilitate calculating and plotting. The program is self-contained so there are no externa…
We present preliminary results on the determination of spin-dependent, or polarised, Parton Distribution Functions (PDFs) from all relevant inclusive polarised DIS data. The analysis is performed within the NNPDF approach, which provides a faithful and statistically sound representation of PDFs and their uncertainties. We describe how the NNPDF methodology has been extended to the polarised case, and compare our results with other recent polarised parton sets. We show that polarised PDF uncertainties can be sizeably underestimated in standard determinations, most notably for the gluon.
We present the MCscales approach for incorporating scale uncertainties in parton distribution functions (PDFs). The new methodology builds on the Monte Carlo sampling for propagating experimental uncertainties into the PDF space that underlies the NNPDF approach, but it extends it to the space of factorisation and renomalisation scales. A prior probability is assigned to each scale combinations set in the theoretical predictions used to obtain each PDF replica in the Monte Carlo ensemble and a posterior probability is obtained by selecting replicas that satisfy fit-quality criteria. Our approa…
We study nuclear effects of charged current deep inelastic neutrino-iron scattering in the framework of a chi^2 analysis of parton distribution functions (PDFs). We extract a set of iron PDFs which are used to compute x_Bj-dependent and Q^2-dependent nuclear correction factors for iron structure functions which are required in global analyses of free nucleon PDFs. We compare our results with nuclear correction factors from neutrino-nucleus scattering models and correction factors for charged lepton-iron scattering. We find that, except for very high x_Bj, our correction factors differ in both …
The progress in constraining proton and nuclear parton distribution functions is briefly summarised. Some persistent uncertainties are pointed out and recent experimental advancements highlighted.
Parton distribution functions (PDFs) are nonperturbative objects defined by nonlocal light-cone correlations. They cannot be computed directly from Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). Using a standard lattice QCD approach, it is possible to compute moments of PDFs, which are matrix elements of local operators. Recently, an alternative approach has been proposed, based on the introduction of quasi-parton distribution functions (quasi-PDFs), which are matrix elements of equal-time spatial correlations and hence calculable on lattice. Quasi-PDFs approach standard PDFs in the limit of very large longitu…
In the spectator models of the nucleon with scalar and axial-vector diquarks, we show that the effect of Pauli coupling in photon-quark vertex to the parton distribution functions (PDFs) of nucleon and azimuthal asymmetry in the unpolarized semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering (SIDIS). This anomalous coupling gives obvious contribution to unpolarized and polarized PDFs, and also leads to a $\cos 2ϕ_h$ azimuthal asymmetry proportional to the squared Pauli form factor, due to the helicity flip of the struck quark. After determining the model parameters by fitting PDFs to the global fits, thi…
