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Pion and kaon PDFs from lattice QCD via large momentum effective theory and short-distance factorization

Joshua Miller1,*, Joseph Torsiello1,†, Isaac Anderson2,1, Krzysztof Cichy3, Martha Constantinou1,‡, Joseph Delmar1, and Sarah Lampreich1

  • *Contact author: joshua.miller0007@temple.edu
  • †Contact author: joseph.torsiello@temple.edu
  • ‡Contact author: marthac@temple.edu
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Phys. Rev. D 113, 114506 – Published 10 June, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/xz1w-8vgf

Abstract

In this work, we present a first-principles lattice-QCD calculation of the unpolarized quark parton distribution functions (PDF) for the pion and the kaon. The lattice data rely on matrix elements calculated for boosted mesons coupled to nonlocal operators containing a Wilson line. The calculations on this lattice ensemble correspond to two degenerate light, a strange, and a charm quark (Nf=2+1+1), using maximally twisted mass fermions with a clover term. The lattice volume is 323×64, with a lattice spacing of 0.0934 fm, and a pion mass of 260 MeV. Matrix elements are calculated for hadron boosts of |P3|=0, 0.41, 0.83, 1.25, 1.66, and 2.07 GeV. To match lattice QCD results to their light cone counterparts, we employ two complementary frameworks: the large-momentum effective theory (LaMET) and the short-distance factorization. Using these approaches in parallel, we also test the lattice data to identify methodology-driven systematics. Results are presented for the standard quark PDFs, as well as the valence sector. Beyond obtaining the PDFs, we also explore the possibility of extracting information on SU(3) flavor-symmetry-breaking effects. For LaMET, we also parametrize the momentum dependence to obtain the infinite-momentum PDFs. Since the present calculation is performed on a single ensemble at a pion mass of 260 MeV and fixed lattice spacing, the uncertainties reported are statistical only, and systematic uncertainties remain to be addressed in future multiensemble studies.

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Phys. Rev. D 113, 114506– Published 10 June, 2026
  • Received 19 December 2025
  • Accepted 4 May 2026
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI. Funded by SCOAP3.

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