Parton distribution functions from reduced Ioffe-time distributions

TL;DR

This paper establishes a factorization method to accurately extract parton distribution functions from reduced Ioffe-time distributions, improving the theoretical understanding of their relationship.

Contribution

It introduces a factorization formula for deriving PDFs from RITDs, clarifying the correct extraction procedure and demonstrating its application to existing results.

Findings

Factorization formula for RITD-based PDF extraction

Validation of the method using literature data

Enhanced theoretical understanding of infrared behavior

Abstract

We show that the correct way to extract parton distribution functions from the reduced Ioffe-time distribution (RITD), a ratio of the Ioffe-time distribution for a moving hadron and a hadron at rest, is through a factorization formula. This factorization exists because, at small distances, forming the ratio does not change the infrared behavior of the numerator, which is factorizable. We illustrate the effect of such a factorization by applying it to results in the literature.