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arXiv · 2603.22976

Pion and Kaon Fragmentation Functions from Continuum Schwinger Function Methods

Abstract

Using the Drell-Levy-Yan relation, the pion and kaon elementary fragmentation functions (EFFs) are obtained from their hadron-scale parton distribution functions (DFs). These EFFs serve as driving terms in the hadron cascade equations, whose solution yields the complete array of hadron-scale fragmentation functions (FFs) for pion and kaon production in high energy reactions. Evolved to experimental scales, the continuum Schwinger function methods (CSMs) predictions satisfy QCD endpoint behavior: nonsinglet FFs vanish at $z=0$, singlet FFs diverge faster than $1/z$. Jet multiplicity predictions reveal SU(3) symmetry breaking in the charged/neutral kaon ratio, decreasing with energy, and show the pion/kaon ratio in $e^+e^-$ collisions asymptotes to a mass-independent value.

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BibTeXRIS

Hui-Yu Xing. 2026-03-24. Pion and Kaon Fragmentation Functions from Continuum Schwinger Function Methods. https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.22976

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