S. Boffi

Generalized parton distributions and the structure of the nucleon

Generalized parton distributions have been introduced in recent years as a suitable theoretical tool to study the structure of the nucleon. Unifying the concepts of parton distributions and hadronic form factors, they provide a comprehensive framework for describing the quark and gluon structure of the nucleon. In this review their formal properties and modeling are discussed, summarizing the most recent developments in the phenomenological description of these functions. The status of available data is also presented.

Linking generalized parton distributions to constituent quark models

Abstract The link between the nucleon generalized parton distributions and the non-diagonal one-body density matrix in momentum space is studied. Attention is focused on the region where quark generalized parton distributions (GPDs) describe emission and reabsorption of a single active quark by the target nucleon. The correct covariant connection with wave functions used in any constituent quark model is established. Results obtained with different constituent quark models are presented for the unpolarized quark GPDs.

Helicity-dependent generalized parton distributions in constituent quark models

Abstract Helicity-dependent generalized parton distributions of the nucleon are derived from the overlap representation of generalized parton distributions using light-cone wave functions obtained in constituent quark models. Results from two different quark models are used also to study the angular momentum sum rule and the spin asymmetry in polarized electron scattering.

Nonperturbative versus perturbative effects in generalized parton distributions

Generalized parton distributions (GPDs) are studied at the hadronic (nonperturbative) scale within different assumptions based on a relativistic constituent quark model. In particular, by means of a meson-cloud model we investigate the role of nonperturbative antiquark degrees of freedom and the valence-quark contribution. A QCD evolution of the obtained GPDs is used to add perturbative effects and to investigate the GPDs sensitivity to the nonperturbative ingredients of the calculation at larger (experimental) scale.

Probing the parton content of the nucleon

The parton content of the nucleon is explored within a meson-cloud model developed to derive light-cone wave functions for the physical nucleon. The model is here applied to study electromagnetic form factors, distribution amplitudes and nucleon-to-meson transition distribution amplitudes.

Spin force dependence of the parton distributions: The ratio F 2 n ( x , Q 2 ) / F 2 p ( x , Q 2 )

Light-front Hamiltonian dynamics is used to relate low-energy constituent quark models to deep inelastic unpolarized structure functions of the nucleon. The approach incorporates the correct Pauli principle prescription consistently and it allows a transparent investigation of the effects due to the spin-dependent SU(6)-breaking terms in the quark model Hamiltonian. Both Goldstone-boson-exchange interaction and hyperfine-potential models are discussed in a unified scheme and a detailed comparison, between the two(apparently) different potential prescriptions, is presented.

The structure of the nucleon from generalized parton distributions

Generalized parton distributions (GPDs) have become a standard QCD tool for analyzing and parametrizing the non perturbative parton structure of hadron targets. GPDs might be viewed as non-diagonal overlaps of light-cone wave functions and offer the opportunity to study the partonic content of the nucleon from a new perspective, allowing one to study the interplay between longitudinal and transverse partonic degrees of freedom. In particular, we will review some of the new information encoded in the GPDs through the definition of impact-parameter dependent parton distributions and form factors of the energy-momentum tensor, by exploiting different dynamical models for the nucleon state.

Generalized parton distributions and constituent quark models

Generalized parton distributions (GPDs) are studied at the hadronic (nonperturbative) scale within different assumptions based on a relativistic constituent quark model. In particular, by means of a meson‐cloud model we investigate the role of nonperturbative antiquark degrees of freedom and the valence quark contribution. A QCD evolution of the obtained GPDs is used to add perturbative effects and to investigate the GPDs’ sensitivity to the nonperturbative ingredients of the calculation at larger (experimental) scale.

Generalized parton distributions of the nucleon in constituent quark models

Generalized parton distributions (GPDs) are studied at the hadronic (nonperturbative) scale within different assumptions based on a relativistic constituent quark model. In particular, by means of a meson-cloud model we investigate the role of nonperturbative antiquark degrees of freedom and the valence quark contribution. A QCD evolution of the obtained GPDs is used to add perturbative effects and to investigate the GPDs sensitivity to the nonperturbative ingredients of the calculation at larger (experimental) scale.