Parton Distribution Functions Research Articles

Flavor asymmetry of light sea quarks in proton: a light-front spectator model

We formulate a light-front spectator model for the proton that incorporates the presence of light sea quarks. In this particular model, the sea quarks are seen as active partons, whereas the remaining components of the proton are treated as spectators. The proposed model relies on the formulation of the light-front wave function constructed by the soft wall AdS/QCD. The model wave functions are parameterized by fitting the unpolarized parton distribution functions of light sea quarks from the CTEQ18 global analysis. We then employ the light-front wave functions to obtain the sea quarks generalized parton distribution functions, transverse momentum dependent parton distributions, and their asymmetries, which are accessible in the upcoming Electron-Ion-Colliders. We investigate sea quarks’ spin and orbital angular momentum contributions to the proton spin.

Unpolarized transverse momentum dependent parton distributions of the nucleon from lattice QCD

We present a first lattice QCD calculation of the unpolarized nucleon’s isovector transverse-momentum-dependent parton distribution functions (TMDPDFs), which are essential to predict observables of multiscale, semi-inclusive processes in the standard model. We use a Nf=2+1+1 MILC ensemble with valence clover fermions on a highly improved staggered quark (HISQ) sea to compute the quark momentum distributions in a large-momentum nucleon on the lattice. The state-of-the-art techniques in renormalization and extrapolation in the correlation distance on the lattice are adopted. The perturbative kernel up to next-to-next-to-leading order is taken into account, and the dependence on the pion mass and the hadron momentum is explored. Our results are qualitatively comparable with phenomenological TMDPDFs, which provide an opportunity to predict high energy scatterings from first principles. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Perturbative T -odd asymmetries in the Drell-Yan process revisited

We calculate the perturbative T-odd contributions to the lepton angular distribution in the Drell-Yan process. Using collinear factorization, we work at the first order in QCD perturbation theory where these contributions appear, O(αs2), and address both W± and γ/Z0 boson exchange. A major focus of our calculation is on the regime where the boson’s transverse momentum QT is much smaller than its mass Q. We carefully expand our results up to next-to-next-to-leading power in QT/Q. Our calculation provides a benchmark for studies of T-odd contributions that employ transverse-momentum dependent parton distribution functions. In the neutral-current case we compare our results for the T-odd structure functions to available ATLAS data. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

High-energy neutrino deep inelastic scattering cross sections

We present a state-of-the-art prediction for cross sections of neutrino deep inelastic scattering (DIS) from nucleon at high neutrino energies, Eν, up to 1000 EeV (1012 GeV). Our calculations are based on the latest CT18 NNLO parton distribution functions (PDFs) and their associated uncertainties. To make predictions for the highest energies, we extrapolate the PDFs to small x according to several procedures and assumptions, thus affecting the uncertainties at ultrahigh Eν; we quantify the uncertainties corresponding to these choices. Similarly, we quantify the uncertainties introduced by the nuclear corrections that are required to evaluate neutrino-nuclear cross sections for the neutrino observatories. These results can be applied to currently running astrophysical neutrino observatories, such as IceCube and KM3NeT, as well as various future experiments that have been proposed. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Renormalization of asymmetric staple-shaped Wilson-line operators in lattice and continuum perturbation theory

In this work, we study the renormalization of nonlocal quark bilinear operators containing an asymmetric staple-shaped Wilson line at the one-loop level in both lattice and continuum perturbation theory. These operators enter the first-principle calculation of transverse momentum-dependent parton distribution functions (TMDPDFs) in lattice QCD using the formulation of large momentum effective theory. We provide appropriate RI′-type conditions that address the power and logarithmic divergences, as well as the mixing among staple operators of different Dirac structures, using a number of different possible projectors. A variant of RI′, including calculations of rectangular Wilson loops, which cancel the pinch-pole singularities of the staple operators at infinite length and reduce residual power divergences, is also employed. We calculate at one-loop order the conversion matrix, which relates the quasi-TMDPDFs in the RI′-type schemes to the reference scheme MS¯ for arbitrary values of the renormalization momentum scale and of the dimensions of the staple. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

QCD analysis of valence structure functions using deep inelastic lepton-nucleon scattering

A new “” nonsinglet QCD analysis of the structure functions at the NNLO approximation is performed, utilizing the global fit of the data from various charged lepton scattering experiments. We extract the valence parton distribution functions (PDFs) and provide a parametrization of them, along with the correlated errors for a wide range of x and Q2. We compare valence PDFs and their uncertainties with those from different PDF sets provided by various groups. We also obtain valence PDFs and the strong coupling constant αs(MZ2), taking into account the nuclear correction concerning large x as well as the target mass correction (TMC) and higher twist (HT) effects at the NNLO. In the large x region, we extract the higher twist contributions of xF3(x,Q2), F2p(x,Q2), and F2d(x,Q2). We determine αs(MZ2) without and with considering the TMC and HT corrections and perform a comparison with the world average of αs(MZ2) and other reported results. The extracted results concerning valence PDFs with their uncertainties and αs(MZ2) value agree with available theoretical models. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Top-quark pole mass extraction at NNLO accuracy, from total, single- and double-differential cross sections for tt¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ t\\overline{t} $$\\end{document} + X production at the LHC

We extract the top-quark mass value in the on-shell renormalization scheme from the comparison of theoretical predictions for pp → tt¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ t\\overline{t} $$\\end{document} + X at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) QCD accuracy with experimental data collected by the ATLAS and CMS collaborations for absolute total, normalized single-differential and double-differential cross-sections during Run 1, Run 2 and the ongoing Run 3 at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). For the theory computations of heavy-quark pair-production we use the MATRIX framework, interfaced to PineAPPL for the generation of grids of theory predictions, which can be efficiently used a-posteriori during the fit, performed within xFitter. We take several state-of-the-art parton distribution functions (PDFs) as input for the fit and evaluate their associated uncertainties, as well as the uncertainties arising from renormalization and factorization scale variation. Fit uncertainties related to the datasets are also part of the extracted uncertainty of the top-quark mass and turn out to be of similar size as the combined scale and PDF uncertainty. Fit results from different PDF sets agree among each other within 1σ uncertainty, whereas some datasets related to tt¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ t\\overline{t} $$\\end{document} decay in different channels (dileptonic vs. semileptonic) point towards top-quark mass values in slight tension among each other, although still compatible within 2.5 σ accuracy. Our results are compatible with the PDG 2022 top-quark pole-mass value. Our work opens the road towards more complex simultaneous NNLO fits of PDFs, the strong coupling αs(MZ) and the top-quark mass, using the currently most precise experimental data on tt¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ t\\overline{t} $$\\end{document} + X total and multi-differential cross sections from the LHC.

Analysis of HERA data with a PDF parametrization inspired by quantum statistical mechanics

We present a determination of the parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the proton from HERA data using a PDF parametrization inspired by a quantum statistical model of the proton dynamics. This parametrization is characterised by a very small number of parameters, yet it leads to a reasonably good description of the data, comparable with other parametrizations on the market. It may thus provide an alternative to standard parametrizations, useful for studying parametrization bias and to possibly simplify the fit procedure thanks to the small number of parameters. Interestingly, the model reproduces key physical features, such as a d¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\bar{d}$$\\end{document} distribution larger than u¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\bar{u}$$\\end{document}, that HERA data alone are not able to constrain when using more flexible parametrizations. Moreover, polarized distributions are described in the model by the same parameters of the unpolarized ones, giving us the possibility of extracting both types of distributions within the same fit.

Photons in the proton: implications for the LHC

We construct a set of parton distribution functions (PDFs), based on the recent NNPDF4.0 PDF set, that also include a photon PDF. The photon PDF is constructed using the LuxQED formalism, while QED evolution accounting for Oα\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\mathcal {O}}\\left( \\alpha \\right) $$\\end{document}, Oααs\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\mathcal {O}}\\left( \\alpha \\alpha _s\\right) $$\\end{document}, and Oα2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\mathcal {O}}\\left( \\alpha ^2\\right) $$\\end{document} corrections is implemented and benchmarked by means of the EKO code. We investigate the impact of QED effects on NNPDF4.0, and compare our results both to our previous NNPDF3.1QED PDF set and to other recent PDF sets that include the photon. We assess the impact of photon-initiated processes and electroweak corrections on a variety of representative LHC processes, and find that they can reach the 5% level in vector boson pair production at large invariant mass.

Measurement of t-channel production of single top quarks and antiquarks in pp collisions at 13 TeV using the full ATLAS Run 2 data sample

The production of single top quarks and top antiquarks via the t-channel exchange of a virtual W boson is measured in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC using 140 fb−1 of ATLAS data. The total cross-sections are determined to be σtq=137−8+8\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\sigma (tq)={137}_{-8}^{+8} $$\\end{document} pb and σt¯q=84−5+6\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\sigma \\left(\\overline{t}q\\right)={84}_{-5}^{+6} $$\\end{document} pb for top-quark and top-antiquark production, respectively. The combined cross-section is found to be σtq+t¯q=221−13+13\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\sigma \\left( tq+\\overline{t}q\\right)={221}_{-13}^{+13} $$\\end{document} pb and the cross-section ratio is Rt=σtq/σt¯q=1.636−0.034+0.036\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ {R}_t=\\sigma (tq)/\\sigma \\left(\\overline{t}q\\right)={1.636}_{-0.034}^{+0.036} $$\\end{document}. The predictions at next-to-next-to-leading-order in quantum chromodynamics are in good agreement with these measurements. The predicted value of Rt using different sets of parton distribution functions is compared with the measured value, demonstrating the potential to further constrain the functions when using this result in global fits. The measured cross-sections are interpreted in an effective field theory approach, setting limits at the 95% confidence level on the strength of a four-quark operator and an operator coupling the third quark generation to the Higgs boson doublet: −0.37<CQq3,1/Λ2<0.06\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ -0.37<{C}_{Qq}^{3,1}/{\\Lambda}^2<0.06 $$\\end{document} and −0.87<CϕQ3/Λ2<1.42\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ -0.87<{C}_{\\phi Q}^3/{\\Lambda}^2<1.42 $$\\end{document}. The constraint |Vtb| > 0.95 at the 95% confidence level is derived from the measured value of σtq+t¯q\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\sigma \\left( tq+\\overline{t}q\\right) $$\\end{document}, assuming that the Wtb interaction is a left-handed weak coupling and that |Vtb| ≫ |Vtd|, |Vts|. In a more general approach, pairs of CKM matrix elements involving top quarks are simultaneously constrained, leading to confidence contours in the corresponding two-dimensional parameter spaces.

Measurements of the Z0/γ⁎ cross section and transverse single spin asymmetry in 510 GeV p + p collisions

The differential cross section for Z0 production, measured as a function of the boson's transverse momentum (pT), provides important constraints on the evolution of the transverse momentum dependent parton distribution functions (TMDs). The transverse single spin asymmetry (TSSA) of the Z0 is sensitive to one of the polarized TMDs, the Sivers function, which is predicted to have the opposite sign in p+p→W/Z+X from that which enters in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering. In this Letter, the STAR Collaboration reports the first measurement of the Z0/γ⁎ differential cross section as a function of its pT in p+p collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 510 GeV, together with the Z0/γ⁎ total cross section. We also report the measurement of Z0/γ⁎ TSSA in transversely polarized p+p collisions at 510 GeV.

Nucleon helicity parton distribution function in the continuum limit with self-renormalization

We present the first lattice calculation of the nucleon isovector helicity parton distribution function (PDF) in the framework of large-momentum effective theory (LaMET) that uses the hybrid scheme with self-renormalization. We use ensembles generated by the MILC collaboration at lattice spacings a={0.1207,0.0888,0.0582} fm, with Nf=2+1+1 flavors of highly improved staggered quarks at sea pion mass of Mπ≈315 MeV. We use clover-improved action for our valence quarks with nucleon boost momentum Pz≈1.75 GeV and high-statistics measurements for the LaMET matrix elements. We perform an extrapolation to the continuum limit and improve the handling of systematic errors using renormalization-group resummation (RGR) and leading-renormalon resummation (LRR). Our final nucleon helicity PDF is renormalized in the MS‾ scheme at energy scale μ=2.0 GeV. We compare our results with and without the two systematic improvements of RGR and LRR at each lattice spacing as well as the continuum limit, and we see that the application of RGR and LRR greatly reduces the systematic errors across the whole x range. Our continuum results with both RGR and LRR show a small positive antiquark region for the nucleon helicity PDF as well as a change of as much as a factor of two in the central values compared to results with neither RGR or LRR. By contrast, the application of RGR and LRR only changes the central values by about 5% in the quark region. We compare our lattice results with the global fits by the JAM, NNPDF and DSSV collaborations, and we observe some tension between our results.

Associated production of heavy quarkonia and D mesons in the improved color evaporation model with KaTie

In this article, we study associated production of prompt J/ψ(ϒ) and D mesons in the improved color evaporation model using the high-energy factorization approach as it is realized in the Monte Carlo event generator KaTie. The modified Kimber-Martin-Ryskin-Watt model for unintegrated parton distribution functions is used. We predict cross sections for associated J/ψ(ϒ) and D meson hadroproduction via the single and double parton scattering mechanisms using the set of model parameters which has been fixed early for description of prompt single and pair heavy quarkonium production at the LHC energies. We found the results of calculations agree with the LHCb Collaboration data at the energies s=7, 8 TeV and we present theoretical predictions for the energy s=13 TeV. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Parton distributions from boosted fields in the Coulomb gauge

We propose a new method to calculate parton distribution functions (PDFs) from lattice correlations of boosted quarks and gluons in the Coulomb gauge. Compared to the widely used gauge-invariant Wilson-line operators, these correlations greatly simplify the renormalization thanks to the absence of linear power divergence. Additionally, they enable access to larger off-axis momenta under preserved 3D rotational symmetry, as well as enhanced long-range precision that facilitates the Fourier transform. We verify the factorization formula that relates this new observable to the quark PDF at one-loop order in perturbation theory. Moreover, through a lattice calculation of the pion valence quark PDF, we demonstrate the aforementioned advantage and features of the Coulomb gauge correlation and show that it yields consistent results with the gauge-invariant method. This opens the door to a more efficient way to calculate parton physics on the lattice. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Classical information entropy of parton distribution functions and an application in searching gluon saturation

Classical information entropy of parton distribution functions and an application in searching gluon saturation

Extraction of unpolarized transverse momentum distributions from the fit of Drell-Yan data at N4LL

We present an extraction of unpolarized transverse momentum dependent parton distributions functions (TMDPDFs) and Collins-Soper kernel from the fit of Drell-Yan and weak-vector boson production data. The TMDPDF are parameterized, as commonly done, using their (large transverse momentum) asymptotic matching to PDF. The analysis is done at the next-to-next-to-next-to-next-to leading logarithmic accuracy (N4LL) (performed only approximately because PDF evolution is known so far at next-to-next-to leading order (NNLO)). The non-perturbative model used for TMDPDF is flavor dependent to reduce the colllinear PDF bias. The estimation of uncertainties is done with the replica method and, for the first time, it includes the propagation of uncertainties due to the collinear distributions.

Proton PDFs with nonlinear corrections from gluon recombination

We present numerical studies of the leading nonlinear corrections to the Dokshitzer-Gribov-Lipatov-Altarelli-Parisi evolution equations of parton distribution functions (PDFs) resulting from gluon recombination. The effect of these corrections is to reduce the pace of evolution at small momentum fractions x while slightly increasing it at intermediate x. By implementing the nonlinear evolution in the framework, we have carried out fits of proton PDFs using data on lepton-proton deep inelastic scattering from HERA, BCDMS, and NMC. While we find no evidence for the presence of nonlinearities, they cannot be entirely excluded either, and we are able to set limits for their strength. In terms of the recombination scale Qr, which plays a similar role as the saturation scale in the dipole picture of the proton, we find that Qr≲2.5 GeV. We also quantify the impact of the nonlinear terms for the longitudinal structure function at the Electron-Ion Collider and the Large Hadron Electron Collider and find that these measurements could provide stronger constraints on the projected effects. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Compatibility and combination of world W-boson mass measurements

The compatibility of W-boson mass measurements performed by the ATLAS, LHCb, CDF, and D0 experiments is studied using a coherent framework with theory uncertainty correlations. The measurements are combined using a number of recent sets of parton distribution functions (PDF), and are further combined with the average value of measurements from the Large Electron–Positron collider. The considered PDF sets generally have a low compatibility with a suite of global rapidity-sensitive Drell–Yan measurements. The most compatible set is CT18 due to its larger uncertainties. A combination of all mW\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$m_W$$\\end{document} measurements yields a value of mW=80,394.6±11.5\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$m_W = 80{,}394.6 \\pm 11.5$$\\end{document} MeV with the CT18 set, but has a probability of compatibility of 0.5% and is therefore disfavoured. Combinations are performed removing each measurement individually, and a 91% probability of compatibility is obtained when the CDF measurement is removed. The corresponding value of the W boson mass is 80,369.2±13.3\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$80{,}369.2 \\pm 13.3$$\\end{document} MeV, which differs by 3.6σ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$3.6\\sigma $$\\end{document} from the CDF value determined using the same PDF set.

Intrinsic charm quark valence distribution of the proton

We provide a first quantitative indication that the wave function of the proton contains unequal distributions of charm quarks and antiquarks, i.e., a nonvanishing intrinsic valence charm distribution. A significant nonvanishing valence component cannot be perturbatively generated; hence, our results reinforce previous evidence that the proton contains an intrinsic (i.e., not radiatively generated) charm quark component. We establish our result through a determination of the parton distribution functions of charm quarks and antiquarks in the proton. We propose two novel experimental probes of this intrinsic charm valence component: D-meson asymmetries in Z+c-jet production at the LHCb experiment and flavor-tagged structure functions at the Electron-Ion Collider. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Polarized J/ψ production in semi-inclusive DIS at large Q2 : Comparing quark fragmentation and photon-gluon fusion

We compare the relative importance of different mechanisms for polarized J/ψ production in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering processes at large Q2. The transverse momentum dependent (TMD) factorization framework and nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics are used to study the leading contributions from light quark fragmentation to polarized J/ψ, and compared to direct production via photon-gluon fusion, which can proceed through color-singlet as well as color-octet mechanisms. We identify kinematic regimes where light quark fragmentation dominates, allowing for the extraction of the S31[8] matrix element, as well as regimes where photon gluon fusion dominates, suggesting that the gluon TMD parton distribution function can be probed. Published by the American Physical Society 2024