Improved determination of hadron matrix elements using the variational method

The extraction of hadron form factors in lattice QCD using the standard two- and three-point correlator functions has its limitations. One of the most commonly studied sources of systematic error is excited state contamination, which occurs when correlators are contaminated with results from higher energy excitations. We apply the variational method to calculate the axial vector current gA and compare the results to the more commonly used summation and two-exponential fit methods. The results demonstrate that the variational approach offers a more efficient and robust method for the determination of nucleon matrix elements.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, talk presented at Lattice 2015, PoS (LATTICE2015

Nucleon distribution amplitudes from lattice QCD

We calculate low moments of the leading-twist and next-to-leading twist nucleon distribution amplitudes on the lattice using two flavors of clover fermions. The results are presented in the MSbar scheme at a scale of 2 GeV and can be immediately applied in phenomenological studies. We find that the deviation of the leading-twist nucleon distribution amplitude from its asymptotic form is less pronounced than sometimes claimed in the literature.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables. RevTeX style. Normalization for \lambda_i corrected. Discussion of the results extended. To be published in PR

Structure functions from the Compton amplitude

We have initiated a program to compute the Compton amplitude from lattice QCD with the Feynman-Hellman method. This amplitude is related to the structure function via a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind. It is known that these types of equations are inherently ill--posed - they are, e.g., extremely sensitive to perturbations of the system. We discuss two methods which are candidates to handle these problems: the model free inversion based on singular value decomposition and one Bayesian type approach. We apply the Bayesian method to currently available lattice data for the Compton amplitude

Exploring the Nucleon Structure from First Principles of QCD

Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) is generally assumed to be the fundamental theory underlying nuclear physics. In recent years there is progress towards investigating the nucleon structure from first principles of QCD. Although this structure is best revealed in Deep Inelastic Scattering, a consistent analysis has to be performed in a fully non-perturbative scheme. The only known method for this purpose are lattice simulations. We first sketch the ideas of Monte Carlo simulations in lattice gauge theory. Then we comment in particular on the issues of chiral symmetry and operator mixing. Finally we present our results for the Bjorken variable of a single quark, and for the second Nachtmann moment of the nucleon structure functions

Determining the glue component of the nucleon

Computing the gluon component of momentum in the nucleon is a difficult and computationally expensive problem, as the matrix element involves a quark-line-disconnected gluon operator which suffers from ultra-violet fluctuations. But also necessary for a successful determination is the non-perturbative renormalisation of this operator. As a first step we investigate here this renormalisation in the RI-MOM scheme. Using quenched QCD as an example, a statistical signal is obtained in a direct calculation using an adaption of the Feynman-Hellmann technique.Comment: 7 pages, Proceedings of the 37th Annual International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2019), 16-22 June 2019, Wuhan, Chin

Transverse spin densities of octet baryons using Lattice QCD

We present results from the QCDSF/UKQCD collaboration for the transverse spin densities of octet baryons obtained from simulations using Nf = 2+1 flavours of O(a)-improved Wilson fermions. These densities are revealed through an analysis of the electromagnetic and tensor form factors of the octet baryons at two different lattice spacings with pion masses as low as 220 MeV. We find SU(3) flavour-breaking effects of the form factors and use these to extrapolate to the physical mass. Constructing combinations of Fourier transformed form factors reveal non-trivial spin densities in the transverse plane, with similar deformations across the baryon octet

Non-perturbative renormalization of three-quark operators

High luminosity accelerators have greatly increased the interest in semi-exclusive and exclusive reactions involving nucleons. The relevant theoretical information is contained in the nucleon wavefunction and can be parametrized by moments of the nucleon distribution amplitudes, which in turn are linked to matrix elements of local three-quark operators. These can be calculated from first principles in lattice QCD. Defining an RI-MOM renormalization scheme, we renormalize three-quark operators corresponding to low moments non-perturbatively and take special care of the operator mixing. After performing a scheme matching and a conversion of the renormalization scale we quote our final results in the MSbar scheme at mu=2 GeV.Comment: 49 pages, 3 figure