No Arabic abstract
We demonstrate a new method of extracting parton distributions from lattice calculations. The starting idea is to treat the generic equal-time matrix element ${cal M} (Pz_3, z_3^2)$ as a function of the Ioffe time $ u = Pz_3$ and the distance $z_3$. The next step is to divide ${cal M} (Pz_3, z_3^2)$ by the rest-frame density ${cal M} (0, z_3^2)$. Our lattice calculation shows a linear exponential $z_3$-dependence in the rest-frame function, expected from the $Z(z_3^2)$ factor generated by the gauge link. Still, we observe that the ratio ${cal M} (Pz_3 , z_3^2)/{cal M} (0, z_3^2)$ has a Gaussian-type behavior with respect to $z_3$ for 6 values of $P$ used in the calculation. This means that $Z(z_3^2)$ factor was canceled in the ratio. When plotted as a function of $ u$ and $z_3$, the data are very close to $z_3$-independent functions. This phenomenon corresponds to factorization of the $x$- and $k_perp$-dependence for the TMD ${cal F} (x, k_perp^2)$. For small $z_3 leq 4a$, the residual $z_3$-dependence is explained by perturbative evolution, with $alpha_s/pi =0.1$.
We discuss the physical nature of quasi-PDFs, especially the reasons for the strong nonperturbative evolution pattern which they reveal in actual lattice gauge calculations. We argue that quasi-PDFs may be treated as hybrids of PDFs and the rest-frame momentum distributions of partons. The latter is also responsible for the transverse momentum dependence of TMDs. The resulting convolution structure of quasi-PDFs necessitates using large probing momenta $p_3 gtrsim 3$ GeV to get reasonably close to the PDF limit. To deconvolute the rest-frame distribution effects, we propose to use a method based directly on the coordinate representation. We treat matrix elements $M(z_3,p_3)$ as distributions ${cal M} ( u, z_3^2)$ depending on the Ioffe-time $ u = p_3 z_3$ and the distance parameter $z_3^2$. The rest-frame spatial distribution is given by ${cal M} (0, z_3^2)$. Using the reduced Ioffe function ${mathfrak M} ( u, z_3^2) equiv {cal M} ( u, z_3^2)/ {cal M} (0, z_3^2)$ we divide out the rest frame effects,including the notorious link renormalization factors. The $ u$-dependence remains intact and determines the shape of PDFs in the small $z_3$ region. The residual $z_3^2$ dependence of the ${mathfrak M} ( u, z_3^2)$ is governed by perturbative evolution. The Fourier transform of ${cal M} ( u, z_3^2)$ produces pseudo-PDFs ${cal P}(x, z_3^2)$ that generalize the light-front PDFs onto spacelike intervals. On the basis of these findings we propose a new method for extraction of PDFs from lattice calculations.
We show that quasi-PDFs may be treated as hybrids of PDFs and primordial rest-frame momentum distributions of partons. This results in a complicated convolution nature of quasi-PDFs that necessitates using large $p_3 sim 3$ GeV momenta to get reasonably close to the PDF limit. As an alternative approach, we propose to use pseudo-PDFs $P(x, z_3^2)$ that generalize the light-front PDFs onto spacelike intervals and are related to Ioffe-time distributions $M ( u, z_3^2)$, the functions of the Ioffe time $ u = p_3 z_3$ and the distance parameter $z_3^2$ with respect to which it displays perturbative evolution for small $z_3$. In this form, one may divide out the $z_3^2$ dependence coming from the primordial rest-frame distribution and from the problematic factor due to lattice renormalization of the gauge link. The $ u$-dependence remains intact and determines the shape of PDFs.
We present for the first time complete next-to-next-to-leading-order coefficient functions to match flavor non-singlet quark correlation functions in position space, which are calculable in lattice QCD, to parton distribution functions (PDFs). Using PDFs extracted from experimental data and our calculated matching coefficients, we predict valence-quark correlation functions that can be confronted by lattice QCD calculations. The uncertainty of our predictions is greatly reduced with higher order matching coefficients. By performing Fourier transformation, we also obtain matching coefficients for corresponding quasi-PDFs and pseudo-PDFs. Our method of calculations can be readily generalized to evaluate the matching coefficients for sea-quark and gluon correlation functions, putting the program to extract partonic structure of hadrons from lattice QCD calculations to be comparable with and complementary to that from experimental measurements.
Using the approach proposed a few years ago by X. Ji, it has become feasible to extract parton distribution functions (PDFs) from lattice QCD, a task thought to be extremely difficult before Jis proposal. In this talk, we discuss this approach, in particular different systematic effects that need to be controlled to ultimately have precise determinations of PDFs. Special attention is paid to the analysis of excited states. We emphasize that it is crucial to control excited states contamination and we show an analysis thereof for our lattice data, used to calculate quasi-PDFs and finally light-cone PDFs in the second part of this proceeding (C. Alexandrou et al., Quasi-PDFs from Twisted mass fermions at the physical point).
Our ability to resolve new physics effects is, largely, limited by the precision with which we calculate. The calculation of observables in the Standard (or a new physics) Model requires knowledge of associated hadronic contributions. The precision of such calculations, and therefore our ability to leverage experiment, is typically limited by hadronic uncertainties. The only first-principles method for calculating the nonperturbative, hadronic contributions is lattice QCD. Modern lattice calculations have controlled errors, are systematically improvable, and in some cases, are pushing the sub-percent level of precision. I outline the role played by, highlight state of the art efforts in, and discuss possible future directions of lattice calculations in flavor physics.