New results in the CTEQ-TEA global analysis of parton distributions in the nucleon

TL;DR

This paper presents recent NNLO fits to LHC data for the CTEQ-TEA PDFs, introduces methodological advancements, and explores phenomenological implications for nucleon structure and high-energy physics observables.

Contribution

It provides the latest high-precision PDF fits at NNLO using LHC data and discusses new statistical, numerical, and phenomenological methods for PDF analysis.

Findings

Successful NNLO fits to high-precision LHC data at 8 and 13 TeV

Insights into the interplay of experimental constraints and nucleon structure

Enhanced methods for uncertainty quantification in PDFs

Abstract

This report summarizes the latest developments in the CTEQ-TEA global analysis of parton distribution functions (PDFs) in the nucleon. The focus is on recent NNLO fits to high-precision LHC data at 8 and 13 TeV, including Drell-Yan, jet, and top-quark pair production, pursued on the way toward the release of the new generation of CTEQ-TEA general-purpose PDFs. The report also discusses advancements in statistical and numerical methods for PDF determination and uncertainty quantification, highlighting the importance of robust and replicable uncertainties for high-stakes observables. Additionally, it covers phenomenological studies related to PDF determination, such as the interplay of experimental constraints, exploration of correlations between high-$x$ nucleon sea and low-energy parity-violating measurements, fitted charm in the nucleon, the photon PDF in the neutron, and simultaneous SMEFT-PDF analyses.