Insights into the Origin of Mass

TL;DR

This paper explores the fundamental origin of nucleon mass, emphasizing the role of quantum chromodynamics and strong-interaction dynamics, and advocates for experimental and theoretical efforts to uncover the mass distribution within nucleons.

Contribution

It highlights the importance of combined QCD phenomenology, theory, and experiments at various facilities to understand the origin of nucleon mass and the role of strong-interaction modes.

Findings

Potential of upcoming experiments to reveal mass distribution

Significance of Nambu-Goldstone modes in mass origin

Advocacy for coordinated theoretical and experimental efforts

Abstract

Atomic nuclei are the core of everything we can see. At the first level of approximation, their atomic weights are simply the sum of the masses of all the nucleons they contain. Each nucleon has a mass $m_N \approx 1\,$GeV, i.e. approximately 2000-times the electron mass. The Higgs boson produces the latter, but what produces the nucleon mass? This is the crux: the vast bulk of the mass of a nucleon is lodged with the energy needed to hold quarks together inside it; and that is supposed to be explained by quantum chromodynamics (QCD), the strong-interaction piece within the Standard Model. This contribution canvasses the potential for a coherent effort in QCD phenomenology and theory, coupled with experiments at existing and planned facilities, to reveal the origin and distribution of mass by focusing on the properties of the strong-interaction Nambu-Goldstone modes. Key experiments are approved at JLab 12; planned with COMPASS++/AMBER at CERN; and could deliver far-reaching insights by exploiting the unique capabilities foreseen at an electron ion collider.