In grey, Ioffe time data computed at zero-skewness in a previous project. In red, the increased reach allowed by our new calculation. The increased kinematic range leads to a significant reduction of uncertainty in the Gaussian Process reconstruction at moderate and large values of x. Credit: Kostas Orginos, William and Mary University
This project will use lattice QCD and leadership-class computing to compute quark and gluon generalized parton distributions of nucleons and pions, providing ab initio insights into proton and neutron structure and supporting experiments at Jefferson National Laboratory and the future Electron-Ion Collider.
We will compute the structure of strongly coupled hadronic states directly from quantum chromodynamics (QCD). These calculations will provide essential theoretical support to the experimental program of the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) and the future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory. We will generate resources of direct benefit to others working in the computational nuclear physics community that will broaden the impact of this proposal, from complementary aspects of proton structure to form factors relevant to upcoming long-baseline neutrino science at Fermilab and the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment.
The main goal of the project is to compute the x-dependent, flavor-separated quark, and gluon generalized parton distributions (GPDs) of the nucleon and of the pion, in the continuum and physical quark-mass limits of lattice QCD. Leadership class computing is critical for our goals, which will provide the ab initio answers to the question of “how quarks and gluons make up protons and neutrons” which is central to the Department of Energy Experimental Nuclear Physics program.
