Measures of pion and kaon structure from generalised parton distributions

TL;DR

This paper explores the internal structure of pions and kaons using generalized parton distributions, revealing insights into mass emergence and pressure profiles within these mesons.

Contribution

It introduces novel expressions for meson structure in impact parameter space and pressure profiles derived from light-front wave functions constrained by experimental data.

Findings

Kaon pressure profiles are more compact than pion profiles.

Both mesons exhibit high core pressures comparable to neutron stars.

The approach links meson structure to fundamental mass generation mechanisms.

Abstract

Pion and kaon structural properties provide insights into the emergence of mass within the Standard Model and attendant modulations by the Higgs boson. Novel expressions of these effects, in impact parameter space and in mass and pressure profiles, are exposed via $\pi$ and $K$ generalised parton distributions, built using the overlap representation from light-front wave functions constrained by one-dimensional valence distribution functions that describe available data. Notably, e.g. $K$ pressure profiles are spatially more compact than $\pi$ profiles and both achieve near-core pressures of similar magnitude to that found in neutron stars.