Soft-gluon resummation and the valence parton distribution function of the pion

We determine the valence parton distribution function of the pion by performing a new analysis of data for the Drell-Yan process π- N → μ+ μ- X. Compared to previous analyses, we include next-to-leading-logarithmic threshold resummation effects in the calculation of the Drell-Yan cross section. As a result of these, we find a considerably softer valence distribution at high momentum fractions x than obtained in previous next-to-leading-order analyses, in line with expectations based on perturbative-QCD counting rules or Dyson-Schwinger equations.     

Moments of the heavy-quark parton distribution function from QCD sum rules

The moments of the heavy-quark parton distribution functions in a heavy pseudoscalar meson are calculated from QCD sum rules. Expanding these sum rules in the inverse heavy-quark mass we obtain the heavy-mass limits of the moments. Comparison with the finite-mass results reveals that while the heavy-mass expansion works reasonably well for the b quark, one has to take into account terms of higher order than (1/m _c )² for the c quark. This result can provide a quantitative assessment of c- and b-quark fragmentation models based on the heavy-quark mass limit. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Dynamical and thermal descriptions in parton distribution functions

We suggest a duality between the standard (dynamical) and statistical distributions of partons in the nucleons. The temperature parameter entering into the statistical form for the quark distributions is estimated. It is found that this effective temperature is practically the same for the dependence on longitudinal and transverse momenta and, in turn, it is close to the freeze-out temperature in high-energy heavy-ion collisions.     

Statistical effect in the parton distribution functions of the nucleon

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]$[0,1]$, 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 PDFs are also presented.     

Measurement of the polarized parton distribution functions at HERMES

The HERMES experiment at DESY has measured the inclusive and semi-inclusive double-spin asymmetries of polarized positrons scattering from polarized hydrogen and deuterium targets in the kinematic range of Bjørken-x 0.023 < x < 0.06 and 1 GeV ² < Q ² < 10 GeV². A RICH detector was installed for the deuterium running period and by providing the identification of charged pions and kaons has enabled the first measurement of charged kaon asymmetries. Based on the measured proton and deuterium asymmetries the polarized quark distributions have been extracted in leading-order pQCD.Received: 30 September 2002, Published online: 22 October 2003PACS: 13.60.Hb Total and inclusive cross-sections (including deep-inelastic processes) - 13.88. + e Polarization in interactions and scatteringJ. Stewart: For the HERMES Collaboration     

Extent of sensitivity of single photon production to parton distribution functions

We have studied the production of single isolated prompt photons in high-energy proton–proton collisions at the RHIC ( \(\sqrt {s}\) = 200 GeV) and the LHC ( \(\sqrt {s}\) = 7 TeV) energies within the framework of perturbative QCD upto next-to leading order of strong coupling (α _s). We have used five different parametrizations of parton distribution function (PDF) starting from the old CTEQ4M to the new CT10 distributions and compared our results with the recent single-prompt photon data from the PHENIX and the CMS Collaborations. The prompt photon cross-section is found to be described equally well by all the PDFs within the experimental errors at the RHIC and the LHC energies. The deviation in the single-prompt photon yield for different PDF sets is within ±20% when compared to CTEQ4M, indicating the upper bound of uncertainty in determining the gluon density. The diphoton measurement could be a potential candidate to constrain the gluon distribution inside the proton.     

Coherent effects in the perturbative QCD parton jets

The influence of coherence in a soft parton bremsstrahlung on hadron spectra in jets is discussed. We present a simple functional method for calculation of different inclusive parton distributions in the “plateau” region. Inclusive parton cross sections, spectra, multiplicities, energy and angular correlations, etc. are derived in the Double Logarithmic approximation.     

Perturbation theory and the parton model in QCD

We prove that for any process which admits a parton-model interpretation, the naive parton model can be modified to include the effects of QCD interactions to all orders in perturbation theory. This requires that the mass singularities in quark and gluon inclusive cross sections factor into universal functions which renormalize the naive parton model distribution and decay functions. We prove that this factorization takes place for all leading and non-leading logs and thus check consistency of the parton model to all orders in perturbation theory.     

Uncertainty of parton distribution functions due to physical observables in a global analysis

The recent measurement of the differential γ + c-jet cross section, performed at the Tevatron collider in Run II by the D0 collaboration, is studied in a next-to-leading order(NLO) global QCD analysis to assess its impact on the proton parton distribution functions(PDFs). We show that these data lead to a significant change in the gluon and charm quark distributions. We demonstrate also that there is an inconsistency between the new high precision HERA I+II combined data and Tevatron measurement. Moreover, in this study we investigate the impact of older EMC measurements of charm structure function F_c~2 on the PDFs and compare the results with those from the analysis of Tevatron data. We show that both of them have the same impact on the PDFs, and thus can be recognized as the same evidence for the inefficiency of perturbative QCD in dealing with charm production in some kinematic regions.     

A model calculation of double parton distribution functions of the pion

Two-parton correlations in the pion are investigated in terms of double parton distribution functions. A Poincaré covariant light-front framework has been adopted. As non perturbative input, the pion wave function obtained within the so-called soft-wall AdS/QCD model has been used. Results show how novel dynamical information on the structure of the pion, not accessible through one-body quantities, are encoded in double parton distribution functions.     

First glances at the transversity parton distribution through dihadron fragmentation functions

We present first observations of the transversity parton distribution based on an analysis of pion-pair production in deep-inelastic scattering off transversely polarized targets. The extraction of transversity relies on the knowledge of dihadron fragmentation functions, which we take from electron-positron annihilation measurements. This is the first attempt to determine the transversity distribution in the framework of collinear factorization.     

Parton distribution functions from the precise NNLO QCD fit

We report on the parton distribution functions (PDFs) determined from the NNLO QCD analysis of the world inclusive DIS data with account for the precise NNLO QCD corrections to the evolution equations kernel. The value of the strong coupling constant α _s ^NNLO (M _Z ) = 0.1141 ± 0.0014 (exp.), in fair agreement with the one obtained using the earlier approximate NNLO kernel by van Neerven-Vogt. The intermediate bosons rates calculated in the NNLO using the obtained PDFs are in agreement with the latest Run II results.     

Nuclear parton distribution functions and energy-loss effect in the Drell-Yan reaction off nuclei

The energy-loss effect in nuclear matter is another nuclear effect apart from the nuclear effects on the parton distribution as in deep inelastic scattering process. The quark energy loss can be measured best by the nuclear dependence of the high energy nuclear Drell-Yan process. By means of two typical kinds of quark energy-loss parametrization and the different sets of nuclear parton distribution functions, we present an analysis of the E866 experiments on the nuclear dependence of Drell-Yan lepton pair production resulting from the bombardment of Be, Fe and W targets by 800 GeV protons at Fermilab. It is found that the quark energy loss in cold nuclei is strongly dependent on the used nuclear parton distribution functions. The further prospects of using relatively low energy protons incident on nuclear targets are presented by combining the quark energy-loss rate determined from a fit to the E866 nuclear-dependent ratios versus x ₁, with the nuclear parton distribution functions given from lA deep inelastic scattering (DIS) data. The experimental study of the relatively low energy nuclear Drell-Yan process can give valuable insight in the energy loss of the fast quark propagating through cold nuclei and help to pin down nuclear parton distribution functions.Received: 8 September 2004, Revised: 18 October 2004, Published online: 11 January 2005PACS: 24.85. + p, 13.85.Qk, 25.40.-h, 25.75.Nq     

Parton distribution functions at LO,NLO and NNLO with correlated uncertainties between orders

Sets of parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the proton are reported for the leading (LO), next-to-leading (NLO) and next-to-next-to-leading-order (NNLO) QCD calculations. The parton distribution functions are determined with the HERAFitter program using the data from the HERA experiments and preserving correlations between uncertainties for the LO, NLO and NNLO PDF sets. The sets are used to study cross-section ratios and their uncertainties when calculated at different orders in QCD. A reduction of the overall theoretical uncertainty is observed if correlations between the PDF sets are taken into account for the ratio of \(WW\) di-boson to \(Z\) boson production cross sections at the LHC.