The Numerical Estimation of the Error Induced by the Valence Approximation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a systematic expansion method in full QCD that starts with the valence approximation and converges to full QCD when all higher terms are included.

Contribution

It presents a new systematic expansion framework for full QCD that quantifies the error of the valence approximation.

Findings

The leading term corresponds to the valence approximation.

The expansion converges to full QCD with all terms included.

Provides a method to estimate the error in the valence approximation.

Abstract

We describe a systematic expansion for full QCD. The leading term in the expansion gives the valence approximation. The expansion reproduces full QCD if an infinite number of higher terms are included.