Lattice calculations for Double Parton Distributions (DPDs)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Andreas Schäfer
• Subject Area: Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 493441321

In particular for proton-proton collisions at LHC there are significant contributions from Double Parton Interactions (DPIs), which are reactions in which not only one parton from each colliding proton undergoes a hard scattering, but two pairs simultaneously. For such reactions interference effects are relevant. While at present the theoretical QCD description of such reactions is far developed (also by us), the Double Parton Distributions (DPDs) which parameterize them are hardly known. Therefore, calculating Standard Model predictions including DPIs involves significant uncertainties which makes the identification of physics beyond the standard model more difficult. Because DPDs are genuinely non-perturbative objects and experimental data alone is insufficient to determine them, they can only be obtained from Lattice QCD simulations. We have developed and applied the needed techniques over the last years and have recently published first results for proton DPDs. We want to continue these calculations. To do so I am applying for one PhD position.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants