Exploring the Nucleon Structure from First Principles of QCD

TL;DR

This paper discusses recent progress in understanding nucleon structure from first principles of QCD using lattice simulations, focusing on non-perturbative analysis of structure functions.

Contribution

It presents new lattice QCD results for nucleon structure functions, addressing chiral symmetry and operator mixing issues.

Findings

Results for the Bjorken variable of a single quark

Results for the second Nachtmann moment of nucleon structure functions

Insights into non-perturbative QCD analysis of nucleon structure

Abstract

Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) is generally assumed to be the fundamental theory underlying nuclear physics. In recent years there is progress towards investigating the nucleon structure from first principles of QCD. Although this structure is best revealed in Deep Inelastic Scattering, a consistent analysis has to be performed in a fully non-perturbative scheme. The only known method for this purpose are lattice simulations. We first sketch the ideas of Monte Carlo simulations in lattice gauge theory. Then we comment in particular on the issues of chiral symmetry and operator mixing. Finally we present our results for the Bjorken variable of a single quark, and for the second Nachtmann moment of the nucleon structure functions.