Search

Beyond leading-order, perturbative QCD requires a choice of factorisation scheme to define the parton distribution functions (PDFs) and hard-process cross-section. The modified minimal-subtraction ($\overline{\mathrm{MS}}$) scheme has long been adopted as the default choice due to its simplicity. Alternative schemes have been proposed with specific purposes, including, recently, PDF positivity and NLO parton-shower matching. In this paper we assemble these schemes in a common notation for the first time. We perform a detailed comparison of their features, both analytically and numerically, and estimate the resulting factorisation-scheme uncertainty for LHC phenomenology., Comment: 53 pages, 31 figures, 9 tables

We have extended {\tt MadGraph5\_aMC@NLO} capabilities by implementing computations for asymmetric hadron-hadron collisions, including proton-nucleus, pion-hadron or nucleus-nucleus collisions in order to obtain a tool for automated perturbative computations of cross sections (or ratios of cross sections) in asymmetric reactions at next-to-leading (NLO) order in $\alpha_S$ in collinear factorisation. This tool, like the original symmetric version of \texttt{MadGraph5\_aMC@NLO}, automatically computes cross sections for different factorisation and renormalisation scales and PDFs provided by the {\tt LHAPDF} library, thereby allowing for an easy assessment of the associated theoretical uncertainties. In this paper, we present the validation of our code using $W$ and $Z$ boson production in $p$Pb collisions and Drell-Yan-pair production in $\pi W$ collisions. We also illustrate the capabilities of the framework by providing cross section and nuclear modification factors with their uncertainties for the production of $W$ and $Z$ bosons, charm and bottom quarks as well as associated production of $b\bar b+H^0$ in $p$Pb collisions at the LHC., Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures

The current scientific standard in PDF uncertainty estimation relies either on repeated fits over artificially generated data to arrive at Monte Carlo samples of best fits or on the Hessian method, which uses a quadratic expansion of the figure of merit, the $\chi^2$-function. Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods allows one to access the uncertainties of PDFs without making use of quadratic approximations in a statistically sound procedure while at the same time preserving the correspondence between the sample and $\chi^2$-value. Rooted in Bayesian statistics the $\chi^2$-function is repeatedly sampled to obtain a set of PDFs that serves as a representation of the statistical distribution of the PDFs in their function space. After removing the dependence between the samples (the so-called autocorrelation) the set can be used to propagate the uncertainties to physical observables. The final result is an independent procedure to obtain PDF uncertainties that can be confronted by the state-of-the-art in order to ultimately arrive at a better understanding of the proton's structure., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures; contributed talk to DIS2024

High energy collisions at the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (LHC) produce a large number of particles along the beam collision axis, outside of the acceptance of existing LHC experiments. The proposed Forward Physics Facility (FPF), to be located several hundred meters from the ATLAS interaction point and shielded by concrete and rock, will host a suite of experiments to probe Standard Model (SM) processes and search for physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM). In this report, we review the status of the civil engineering plans and the experiments to explore the diverse physics signals that can be uniquely probed in the forward region. FPF experiments will be sensitive to a broad range of BSM physics through searches for new particle scattering or decay signatures and deviations from SM expectations in high statistics analyses with TeV neutrinos in this low-background environment. High statistics neutrino detection will also provide valuable data for fundamental topics in perturbative and non-perturbative QCD and in weak interactions. Experiments at the FPF will enable synergies between forward particle production at the LHC and astroparticle physics to be exploited. We report here on these physics topics, on infrastructure, detector, and simulation studies, and on future directions to realize the FPF's physics potential., Comment: 429 pages, contribution to Snowmass 2021

We present the reweighting of two sets of nuclear PDFs, nCTEQ15 and EPPS16, using a selection of experimental data on heavy-flavor meson [D0, J/psi, J/psi from B and Upsilon(1S)] production in proton-lead collisions at the LHC which were not used in the original determination of these nuclear PDFs. The reweighted PDFs exhibit significantly smaller uncertainties thanks to these new heavy-flavor constraints. We present a comparison with another selection of data from the LHC and RHIC which were not included in our reweighting procedure. The comparison is overall very good and serves as a validation of these reweighted nuclear PDF sets, which we dub nCTEQ15_rwHF & EPPS16_rwHF. This indicates that the LHC and forward RHIC heavy-flavor data can be described within the standard collinear factorization framework with the same (universal) small-x gluon distribution. We discuss how we believe such reweighted PDFs should be used as well as the limitations of our procedure., Comment: Latex, 20 pages, 20 figures, 1 table; v2: a few references added

The strong force which binds hadrons is described by the theory of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). Determining the character and manifestations of QCD is one of the most important and challenging outstanding issues necessary for a comprehensive understanding of the structure of hadrons. Within the context of the QCD parton picture, the Parton Distribution Functions (PDFs) have been remarkably successful in describing a wide variety of processes. However, these PDFs have generally been confined to the description of collinear partons within the hadron. New experiments and facilities provide the opportunity to additionally explore the transverse structure of hadrons which is described by Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs) and Transverse Momentum Dependent Parton Distribution Functions (TMD PDFs). In our previous review, we compared and contrasted the two main approaches used to determine the collinear PDFs: the first based on perturbative QCD factorization theorems, and the second based on lattice QCD calculations. In the present report, we provide an update of recent progress on the collinear PDFs, and also expand the scope to encompass the generalized PDFs (GPDs and TMD PDFs). We review the current state of the various calculations, and consider what new data might be available in the near future. We also examine how a shared effort can foster dialog between the PDF and Lattice QCD communities, and yield improvements for these generalized PDFs., Comment: 2020 PDFLattice Report, 64 pages, 34 figures

We present the first open-source analysis of parton distribution functions (PDFs) of charged pions using xFitter, an open-source QCD fit framework to facilitate PDF extraction and analyses. Our calculations are implemented at next-to-leading order (NLO) using APPLgrids generated by MCFM generator. Using currently available Drell-Yan and photon production data, we find the valence distribution is well constrained; however, the considered data are not sensitive enough to unambiguously determine sea and gluon distributions. Fractions of momentum carried by the valence, sea and gluon components are discussed, and we compare with the results of JAM collaboration and the GRV group., Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures

Fits to the final combined HERA deep-inelastic scattering cross-section data within the conventional DGLAP framework of QCD have shown some tension at low $x$ and low $Q^2$. A resolution of this tension incorporating $\ln(1/x)$-resummation terms into the HERAPDF fits is investigated using the xFitter program. The kinematic region where this resummation is important is delineated. Such high-energy resummation not only gives a better description of the data, particularly of the longitudinal structure function $F_L$, it also results in a gluon PDF which is steeply rising at low $x$ for low scales, $Q^2 \simeq 2.5$ GeV$^2$, contrary to the fixed-order NLO and NNLO gluon PDF., Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures. Additional studies and various improvements. EPJC version

We study the relevance of experimental data on heavy-flavor [$D^0$, $J/\psi$, $B\rightarrow J/\psi$ and $\Upsilon(1S)$ mesons] production in proton-lead collisions at the LHC to improve our knowledge of the gluon-momentum distribution inside heavy nuclei. We observe that the nuclear effects encoded in both most recent global fits of nuclear parton densities at next-to-leading order (nCTEQ15 and EPPS16) provide a good overall description of the LHC data. We interpret this as a hint that these are the dominant ones. In turn, we perform a Bayesian-reweighting analysis for each particle data sample which shows that each of the existing heavy-quark(onium) data set clearly points --with a minimal statistical significance of 7 $\sigma$-- to a shadowed gluon distribution at small $x$ in the lead. Moreover, our analysis corroborates the existence of gluon antishadowing. Overall, the inclusion of such heavy-flavor data in a global fit would significantly reduce the uncertainty on the gluon density down to $x\simeq 7\times 10^{-6}$ --where no other data exist-- while keeping an agreement with the other data of the global fits. Our study accounts for the factorization-scale uncertainties which dominate for the charm(onium) sector., Comment: 4 pages + references + appendix, 1 figure; v2: match to the journal version, add the supplemental material

In the framework of quantum chromodynamics (QCD), parton distribution functions (PDFs) quantify how the momentum and spin of a hadron are divided among its quark and gluon constituents. Two main approaches exist to determine PDFs. The first approach, based on QCD factorization theorems, realizes a QCD analysis of a suitable set of hard-scattering measurements, often using a variety of hadronic observables. The second approach, based on first-principle operator definitions of PDFs, uses lattice QCD to compute directly some PDF-related quantities, such as their moments. Motivated by recent progress in both approaches, in this document we present an overview of lattice-QCD and global-analysis techniques used to determine unpolarized and polarized proton PDFs and their moments. We provide benchmark numbers to validate present and future lattice-QCD calculations and we illustrate how they could be used to reduce the PDF uncertainties in current unpolarized and polarized global analyses. This document represents a first step towards establishing a common language between the two communities, to foster dialogue and to further improve our knowledge of PDFs., Comment: 80 pages, 15 figures, 28 tables, minor typos corrected, published in Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics

Searches for new physics will increasingly depend on identifying deviations from precision Standard Model (SM) predictions. Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) will necessarily play a central role in this endeavor as it provides the framework for the parton model. However, as we move to higher orders and into extreme kinematic regions, we begin to see the full complexities of the QCD theory. Recent theoretical developments improve our ability to analyze both proton and nuclear PDFs across the full kinematic range. These developments are incorporated into the new nCTEQ15 PDFs, and we review these developments with respect to future measurements, and identify areas where additional effort is required., Comment: Published in the "6th International conference on Physics Opportunities at Electron-Ion colliders (POETIC6)"

We demonstrate that to a very good approximation the scale-evolution of the intrinsic heavy quark content of the nucleon is governed by non-singlet evolution equations. This allows us to analyze the intrinsic heavy quark distributions without having to resort to a full-fledged global analysis of parton distribution functions. This freedom is then exploited to model intrinsic bottom distributions which are so far missing in the literature in order to estimate the impact of this non-perturbative contribution to the bottom-quark PDF, and on parton--parton luminosities at the LHC. This technique can be applied to the case of intrinsic charm, albeit within the limitations outlined in the following., Comment: Proceedings of the XXIII International Workshop on Deep Inelastic Scattering and Related Subjects, April 27 - May 1, 2015, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75275. Change title, add a footnote

Heavy quark parton distribution functions (PDFs) play an important role in several Standard Model and New Physics processes. Most analyses rely on the assumption that the charm and bottom PDFs are generated perturbatively by gluon splitting and do not involve any non-perturbative degrees of freedom. It is clearly necessary to test this hypothesis with suitable QCD processes. Conversely, a non-perturbative, intrinsic heavy quark parton distribution has been predicted in the literature. We demonstrate that to a very good approximation the scale-evolution of the intrinsic heavy quark content of the nucleon is governed by non-singlet evolution equations. This allows us to analyze the intrinsic heavy quark distributions without having to resort to a full-fledged global analysis of parton distribution functions. We exploit this freedom to model intrinsic bottom distributions which are so far missing in the literature in order to estimate the impact of this non-perturbative contribution to the bottom-quark PDF, and on parton--parton luminosities at the LHC. This technique can be applied to the case of intrinsic charm, albeit within the limitations outlined in the following., Comment: 23 pages, 11 figures

We investigate the infrared singularity structure of Feynman diagrams entering the next-to-leading-order (NLO) DGLAP kernel (non-singlet). We examine cancellations between diagrams for two gluon emission contributing to NLO kernels. We observe the crucial role of color coherence effects in cancellations of infra-red singularities. Numerical calculations are explained using analytical formulas for the singular contributions., Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures