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arXiv · 2510.11979

First simultaneous global QCD analysis of kaon and pion parton distributions with lattice QCD constraints

P. C. Barry·Chueng-Ryong Ji·W. Melnitchouk·N. Sato·Fernanda Steffens
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Abstract

We perform the first simultaneous global QCD analysis of pion and kaon parton distribution functions (PDFs), constrained by pion- and kaon-induced Drell-Yan (DY) and leading neutron electroproduction data, together with lattice QCD data on pion and kaon PDF moments. The analysis indicates a softer valence $\bar u$ distribution in the $K^-$ than in the $\pi^-$, and a significantly more peaked valence $s$-quark density in $K^-$ compared with the $\bar u$. The effective exponent governing the high-$x$ behavior of the PDF is found to be larger for $\bar u$ in the kaon, $\beta_{\bar u}^{K^-}\!= 1.6(2)$, than in the pion, $\beta_{\bar u}^{\pi^-}\!= 1.16(4)$, in the range $0.7 \leq x \leq 0.95$. From the gluon momentum fractions we find the pion's gluon content accounts for $\approx 1/3$ of the mass budget of the pion at $\mu=2~{\rm GeV}$, but only $\approx 1/4$ for the kaon.

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P. C. Barry, Chueng-Ryong Ji, W. Melnitchouk, N. Sato, Fernanda Steffens. 2025-10-13. First simultaneous global QCD analysis of kaon and pion parton distributions with lattice QCD constraints. https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.11979

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