Abstract
In this talk, I overview the recent progress on the global analysis of nuclear parton distribution functions (nuclear PDFs). After first introducing the contemporary fits, the analysis procedures are quickly recalled and the ambiguities in the use of experimental data outlined. Various nuclear-PDF parametrizations are compared and the main differences explained. The effects of nuclear PDFs in the LHC p–Pb hard-process observables are discussed and some future prospects sketched.
Highlights
The global analysis of nuclear PDFs is theoretically founded in collinear factorization [1], where the cross sections are convolutions between non-perturbative parton distribution functions fi(x, Q2f ) and perturbative matrix elements dσi j
While the momentum-fraction (x) dependence of the PDFs cannot be yet directly calculated from first principles, their scale (Q2f ) dependence is given by the partonic DGLAP evolution equations where the splitting functions Pi j can be computed by perturbative methods of QCD and electroweak theory
All the current analyses adopt the following fit procedure which is depicted in Fig. 3 here: The PDFs are first parametrized with some variables a at a low scale Q2 = Q20, and one solves the DGLAP evolution to higher Q2 and computes the cross sections corresponding to the input data
Summary
The global analysis of nuclear PDFs is theoretically founded in collinear factorization [1], where the cross sections are convolutions between non-perturbative parton distribution functions fi(x, Q2f ) and perturbative matrix elements dσi j. While the momentum-fraction (x) dependence of the PDFs cannot be yet directly calculated from first principles, their scale (Q2f ) dependence is given by the partonic DGLAP evolution equations where the splitting functions Pi j can be computed by perturbative methods of QCD and electroweak theory. Factorization is often supplemented with external models for hadronization (like the one in PYTHIA [3]), and in extreme case even with fluid dynamical descriptions [4]. Q cut in DIS datapoints free parameters error analysis error tolerance Δχ2 Free proton baseline PDFs Heavy-quark effects Flavor separation Reference
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
