arXiv subjects

Constantia Alexandrou

Publications and source records attributed to Constantia Alexandrou.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Spin and momentum fraction carried by partons in the nucleon

We determine the momentum fraction and angular momentum carried by quarks and gluons in the proton in lattice QCD. We use four ensembles simulated with up, down, strange and charm quarks with their masses tuned to their physical values. These ensembles have similar physical volume and different lattice spacings allowing us to take the continuum limit directly at the physical pion mass point. We extract the quark and gluon momentum fractions and total angular momentum in the continuum limit as well as the intrinsic quark spin and orbital angular momentum contributions to the proton spin. We find the total momentum fraction $\langle x_N \rangle= 0.995(60)(29)$ and the total spin $J_N = 0.507(43)(65)$, showing that both the momentum and spin sum rules are satisfied. We compare our results to those extracted from phenomenological analyses.

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arXiv2026

Nucleon unpolarized second Mellin moments using lattice QCD ensembles with physical quark masses and in the continuum limit

We compute the matrix elements of the energy-momentum tensor of the nucleon using four ensembles of twisted mass clover-improved fermions with the up, down, strange and charm quark masses tuned to approximately their physical values. The four ensembles have similar physical volume and lattice spacings $a=0.080$~fm, $0.068$~fm, $0.057$~fm, and $0.049$ fm, allowing us to take the continuum limit directly at the physical pion mass point. We compute both connected and disconnected quark contributions as well as gluon contributions. All renormalization functions, including the mixing of the quark singlet with the gluon, are determined non-perturbatively. We extract the gravitational form factors in the continuum limit at $Q^2=0$ and evaluate the contribution of quarks and gluons to the momentum and angular momentum of the proton. Using the values of the intrinsic quark spin computed using the same gauge ensembles we also determine the orbital angular momentum for each quark flavor.

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arXiv2026

The nucleon unpolarized generalized form factors and Mellin moments up to fourth order

Nucleon Mellin moments of parton distribution are computed up to the fourth order in lattice QCD. The computation is performed using one ensemble of twisted mass fermions at the physical pion mass point. We employ boosted frames to access the higher-order Mellin moments of generalized parton distributions. We also extract the forward-limit Mellin moments $\langle x^{n-1}\rangle$ for $n=2,3,4$. These Mellin moments are used to construct unpolarized parton distribution functions and compare to phenomenological extractions.

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arXiv2026

Performance of Low Mode Averaging on Twisted-Mass Fermion Ensembles at the physical pion mass point

We study the performance of low-mode averaging (LMA) on twisted-mass fermion ensembles at near-physical quark masses, assessing both its theoretical framework and practical cost-effectiveness in modern lattice QCD. In particular, we present a numerical study of light-quark meson and baryon observables. For mesons, we analyse two-point functions, including the vector-vector correlator relevant for the hadronic vacuum polarisation contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic moment, comparing two implementations of LMA: an exact approach based on explicit low modes and an approximate, high-statistics variant using multigrid techniques. For baryons, we restrict to the exact approach and study both two- and three-point functions, quantifying the resulting noise and cost reductions at large Euclidean times. In addition, we compute the eigenvalue density of the massless Wilson operator and determine the renormalised chiral condensate via the Banks-Casher relation, obtaining $\sqrt[3]{\Sigma_{\mathrm{R}}}=269.5(4.5)~\mathrm{MeV}$ for $N_f{=}2{+}1{+}1$ isospin-symmetric QCD at a scale $2~\mathrm{GeV}$ in the $\overline{\mathrm{MS}}$ scheme, with an uncertainty dominated by the chiral extrapolation. Additionally, from the pion-mass dependence of $\Sigma_{\mathrm{R}}$, we extract the scale-independent low-energy constant $\bar{h}_1=5.2(1.1)$.

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arXiv2026

Higher Mellin Moments of the Unpolarized PDF of the Pion and the Kaon from Lattice QCD

We present results on the Mellin moments of the unpolarized parton distribution function (PDF) of the pion and kaon up to the fourth order. The computation is done using one $N_f=2+1+1$ gauge ensemble of twisted mass fermions with quark masses tuned to approximately their physical values. We reconstruct the valence pion and kaon PDFs using the connected contributions to the three Mellin moments. We compare our results on the Mellin moments and the reconstructed PDFs with other lattice QCD and phenomenological determinations.

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arXiv2026

Nucleon strange electromagnetic form factors using $N_f=2+1+1$ twisted-mass fermions at the physical point

We present the strange electromagnetic form factors of the nucleon using lattice QCD with $N_f=2+1+1$ twisted mass clover-improved fermions and quark masses tuned to their physical values. Using four ensembles with lattice spacings of $a=0.080$ fm, $0.068$ fm, $0.057$ fm and $0.049$ fm, and similar physical volume, we obtain the continuum limit directly at the physical pion mass. The disconnected strange contributions are computed using high statistics two-point functions combined with stochastic noise mitigation techniques, such as spin-color dilution and hierarchical probing in the estimation of the quark loop. From the momentum dependence of the form factors, we provide the strange electric and magnetic radii, as well as the strange magnetic moment in the continuum limit.

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arXiv2026

Scalar and Tensor Form Factors for $\Lambda \rightarrow p\ell \bar{\nu}_\ell$ from Lattice QCD

We present a determination of the scalar and tensor $\Lambda\to p$ transition form factors using lattice QCD. These form factors are relevant for semileptonic hyperon decays in the presence of extensions of the Standard Model that include scalar and tensor interactions. The calculation is carried out using a gauge ensemble of twisted mass fermions at the physical pion mass, following the same strategy as our recent study on vector and axial form factors for the same transition. We provide the complete set of form factors as functions of $q^2$ employing a model-independent parametrization. We examine their impact on searches for non-standard charged-current interactions via the muon-to-electron decay-rate ratio $R^{\mu e}=\Gamma(\Lambda\to p\mu\bar\nu_\mu)/\Gamma(\Lambda\to pe\bar\nu_e)$, where scalar and tensor contributions enter linearly and are helicity-enhanced relative to the electron channel. We compare this first-principles prediction for the decay-rate ratio with recent experimental measurements, thereby enabling improved constraints on non-standard charged-current interactions.

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arXiv2026

Hadron Structure from lattice QCD in the context of the Electron-Ion Collider

Hadron structure calculations using lattice Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) have advanced significantly in recent years. Results for charges, form factors, and lower Mellin moments can be obtained to high precision, generalized parton distributions can now be computed either directly or reconstructed from moments, and transverse-momentum-dependent distributions can be accessed through direct lattice calculations. Together, these quantities provide detailed and complementary insights into the internal structure of hadrons. These theoretical developments are highly relevant to the experimental program of the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) and of other facilities. We review the most pertinent lattice QCD results for hadron structure that inform the EIC scientific agenda, with particular emphasis on the pion, kaon, and nucleon.

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arXiv2026

Nucleon strange electromagnetic form factors from $N_f=2+1+1$ lattice QCD

We present the nucleon strange electromagnetic form factors using four lattice QCD ensembles with $N_f=2+1+1$ twisted mass clover-improved fermions and quark masses tuned to approximately their physical values. The four ensembles have similar physical volume and lattice spacings of $a=0.080$ fm, $0.068$ fm, $0.057$ fm and $0.049$ fm allowing us to take the continuum limit directly at the physical pion mass point. We compute nucleon three-point correlation functions with high statistics, where the disconnected fermion loops are evaluated stochastically with spin-color dilution and hierarchical probing. We find non-zero values for both electric and magnetic form factors. We extract the strange electric and magnetic radii, as well as the strange magnetic moment in the continuum limit by studying the momentum dependence of the form factors. We also compute the charm electromagnetic form factors within the same setup, which we find to be consistent with zero within the statistical precision of our data.

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arXiv2026

Strangeness of nucleons from $N_f=2+1+1$ lattice QCD

We present the strange electromagnetic form factors of the nucleon using lattice QCD simulations with degenerate light, a strange, and a charm quark in the sea with masses tuned to their physical values. For the first time, the strange electromagnetic form factors are computed at the continuum limit using only ensembles simulated with physical quark masses, eliminating the need for chiral extrapolations and their associated systematic uncertainty. We obtain the momentum transfer dependence of the form factors using the $z$-expansion and provide the strange electric and magnetic radii, as well as the strange magnetic moment. When combining our statistical errors and systematic uncertainties stemming from the momentum transfer dependence fit, our errors are an order of magnitude smaller than those associated with experimental determinations of the strange electromagnetic form factor.

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arXiv2025

Collins-Soper Kernel and Reduced Soft Function in Lattice QCD

We evaluate the Collins-Soper kernel and the reduced soft function in lattice QCD, incorporating $\mathcal{O}(\alpha_s)$ matching corrections. The calculation relies on the evaluation of the quasi-transverse momentum-dependent wave function with asymmetric staple-shaped quark bilinear operators and four-point meson form factors. These quantities are computed non-perturbatively using two $N_f=2+1+1$ twisted-mass fermion ensembles with the same lattice spacing of $a=0.093$ fm: the first ensemble has a lattice size of $24^3 \times 48$ and a pion mass of 346 MeV; the second one has a lattice size of $32^3 \times 64$ and a pion mass of 261 MeV. The Collins-Soper kernel and the soft function are needed for the determination of the transverse momentum-dependent parton distribution functions.

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arXiv2025

Proton and neutron electromagnetic form factors from lattice QCD in the continuum limit

We compute the electromagnetic form factors of the proton and neutron using lattice QCD. We employ $N_\mathrm{f}$=2+1+1 twisted mass clover-improved fermions with quark masses tuned to their physical values. Three ensembles with lattice spacings of $a$=0.080 fm, 0.068 fm, and 0.057 fm, and approximately the same physical volume allow us to obtain the continuum limit directly at the physical pion mass. For each ensemble, we use several values of the sink-source time separation, ranging from 0.5 fm to 1.5 fm, to allow for a thorough analysis of excited state effects via multi-state fits. The disconnected contributions are also analyzed using high statistics combined with techniques to mitigate stochastic noise in the estimation of the fermion loop. These techniques include low-mode deflation, dilution in the color and spin components, and hierarchical probing. We study the momentum transfer dependence of the form factors using the $z$-expansion and dipole Ans\"atze, thereby enabling the extraction of the electric and magnetic radii and the magnetic moments, as well as the Zemach and Friar radii in the continuum limit. Results for the proton and neutron electric and magnetic mean square radii are $\sqrt{\langle r_E^2\rangle^p} = 0.860(38)(23)$ fm, $\langle r_E^2\rangle^n = -0.147(48)$ fm$^2$, $\sqrt{\langle r_M^2\rangle^p} = 0.870(53)(15)$ fm and $\sqrt{\langle r_M^2\rangle^n} = 0.913(67)(19)$ fm, and for the proton and neutron magnetic moments $\mu^p=2.849(92)(52)$ and $\mu^n=-1.819(76)(29)$, respectively. In all cases, the first error is statistical and the second systematic, where the latter includes an estimate of the error from the fits to the momentum dependence of the form factors and from the continuum extrapolation.

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arXiv2025

Realizing string breaking dynamics in a $Z_2$ lattice gauge theory on quantum hardware

We investigate static and dynamical aspects of string breaking in a $Z_2$ lattice gauge theory coupled to Kogut-Susskind staggered fermions. Using Tensor Network simulations, we demonstrate that the static potential as well as the site-resolved configuration of the matter sites and gauge links allows us to identify the regimes in which string breaking occurs. Furthermore, we develop a variational quantum eigensolver that allows for reliably preparing the ground state of the theory in both the absence and presence of static charges and to capture the static aspects of the phenomenon. Carrying out state preparation on real quantum hardware for up to 19 qubits, we demonstrate its suitability for current quantum devices. In addition, we study the real-time dynamics of a flux tube between two static charges using both Tensor Networks and quantum hardware. Using a trotterization for the time-evolution operator, we are able to show that the breaking process starts with the creation of charges inside the string. These eventually redistribute towards the static charges and screen them, which leads to the breaking of the flux tube.

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arXiv2025

Quark and gluon momentum fractions in the pion and in the kaon

We present results on the momentum fraction carried by quarks and gluons in the pion and the kaon. We employ three gauge ensembles generated with $N_f=2+1+1$ Wilson twisted-mass clover-improved fermions with physical quark masses. We perform, for the first time, a continuum extrapolation directly at the physical pion. We find that the total momentum fraction carried by quarks is $\langle x \rangle_{q, R}^{\pi}= 0.575(79)$ and $\langle x \rangle_{q,R}^{K} = 0.683(50)$ and by gluons $\langle x \rangle_{g, R}^{\pi}=0.402(53)$ and $\langle x \rangle_{g, R}^{K}=0.422(67)$ in the pion and in the kaon, respectively, in the $\overline{\mathrm{MS}}$ scheme and at the renormalization scale of 2 GeV. Having computed both the quark and gluon contributions in the continuum limit, we verify the momentum sum, finding 0.984(89) for the pion and 1.13(11) for the kaon.

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arXiv2025

Proton and neutron electromagnetic form factors using $N_f$=2+1+1 twisted-mass fermions with physical values of the quark masses

We compute the electromagnetic form factors of the proton and neutron using lattice QCD with $N_f = 2 + 1 + 1$ twisted mass clover-improved fermions and quark masses tuned to their physical values. Three ensembles with lattice spacings of $a$=0.080 fm, 0.068 fm, and 0.057 fm, and approximately the same physical volume allow us to obtain the continuum limit directly at the physical pion mass. Several values of the source-sink time separation ranging from 0.5 fm to 1.5 fm are used, enabling a thorough analysis of excited state effects via multi-state fits. The disconnected contributions are analyzed using high statistics for the two-point functions combined with low-mode deflation and hierarchical probing for the fermion loop estimation. We study the momentum dependence of the form factors using the z-expansion and dipole Ansaetze, thereby enabling the extraction of the electric and magnetic radii, as well as the magnetic moments in the continuum limit, for which we provide preliminary results.

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arXiv2025

Isovector axial and pseudoscalar form factors from twisted mass lattice QCD at the physical point

We present the isovector axial, induced pseudoscalar, and pseudoscalar form factors of the nucleon using three twisted-mass fermion ensembles with degenerate up- and down-, strange-, and charm-quarks with masses tuned to their physical values (physical point). The three ensembles have lattice spacing $a$=0.08, 0.068, and 0.057 fm and approximately equal physical volume allowing for the continuum limit to be taken at the physical point. Excited-state contributions to the matrix elements are evaluated using several sink-source separations from 0.5 fm to 1.5 fm and multistate fits. We check the partially conserved axial-vector current (PCAC) hypothesis and the pion pole dominance (PPD) and show that in the continuum limit both relations are satisfied. We provide results at the continuum limit for the isovector nucleon axial charge, axial radius, pion-nucleon coupling constant, and for the induced pseudoscalar form factor at the muon capture point.

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arXiv2025

Nucleon axial, tensor, and scalar charges and $\sigma$-terms in lattice QCD

We determine the nucleon axial, scalar and tensor charges at the continuum limit by analyzing three $N_f=2+1+1$ twisted mass fermion ensembles with all quark masses tuned to approximately their physical values. We include all contributions from valence and sea quarks. We use the Akaike Information Criterion to evaluate systematic errors due to excited states and the continuum extrapolation. For the nucleon isovector axial charge we find $g_A^{u-d}=1.250(24)$, in agreement with the experimental value. We compute the axial, tensor and scalar charges for each quark flavor. The axial charge provides crucial information on the intrinsic spin carried by quark in the nucleon and the the latter two provide input for experimental searches of physics beyond the standard model. Moreover, we extract the nucleon $\sigma$-terms and find $\sigma_{\pi N}=41.9(8.1)$ MeV, for the strange $\sigma_{s}=30(17)$ MeV and for the charm $\sigma_{c}=82(29)$ MeV. We also present preliminary results on the isovector quantities using a fourth ensemble at smaller lattice spacing.

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arXiv2024

Investigation of $\pi N$ contributions to nucleon matrix elements

We investigate an improved method to extract nucleon matrix elements from lattice 3-point functions using a generalized eigenvalue problem (GEVP) with nucleon and pion-nucleon interpolating fields. Our method avoids the computation of the costly three-point functions that have pion-nucleon interpolators at both source and sink. We demonstrate that excited state contamination from $N\pi$ is minimized in nucleon matrix elements of the scalar, vector, pseudoscalar, axial, and tensor currents and discuss our results based on a physical-point ensemble with a pion mass value of 131 MeV. We find that the GEVP is most significant for the isovector pseudoscalar and axial currents.

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