Exploring proton structure using lattice QCD

Abstract

We calculate moments of the generalized parton distributions of the nucleon using lattice QCD. The generalized parton distributions determine the angular momentum decomposition of the nucleon and the transverse distributions of partons within the nucleon. Additionally, the generalized parton distributions reduce to the elastic form factors and ordinary parton distributions in particular kinematic limits. Thus by calculating moments of the generalized parton distributions in lattice QCD we can explore many facets of the structure of the nucleon. In this effort, we have developed the building block method to determine all the lattice correlation functions which con- tribute to the off forward matrix elements of the twist two operators. These matrix elements determine the generalized form factors of the nucleon which in turn give the moments of the generalized parton distributions. Thus we use our building block method to calculate all the matrix elements of the lowest twist two operators. Fur- thermore, we use our method to construct an overdetermined set of matrix elements allowing a more accurate calculation of the generalized form factors.