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Parametrization of nuclear parton distributions is investigated in the leading order of alpha_s. The parton distributions are provided at Q^2=1 GeV^2 with a number of parameters, which are determined by a chi^2 analysis of the data on nuclear structure functions. Quadratic or cubic functional form is assumed for the initial distributions. Although valence quark distributions in the medium x region are relatively well determined, the small x distributions depend slightly on the assumed functional form. It is difficult to determine the antiquark distributions at medium x and gluon distributions. From the analysis, we propose parton distributions at Q^2=1 GeV^2 for nuclei from deuteron to heavy ones with the mass number A~208. They are provided either analytical expressions or computer subroutines for practical usage. Our studies should be important for understanding the physics mechanism of the nuclear modification and also for applications to heavy-ion reactions. This kind of nuclear parametrization should also affect existing parametrization studies in the nucleon because "nuclear" data are partially used for obtaining the optimum distributions in the "nucleon".
Optimum nuclear parton distributions are obtained by analyzing available experimental data on electron and muon deep inelastic scattering (DIS). The distributions are given at Q^2=1 GeV^2 with a number of parameters, which are determined by a chi^2 analysis of the data. Valence-quark distributions are relatively well determined at medium x, but they are slightly dependent on the assumed parametrization form particularly at small x. Although antiquark distributions are shadowed at small x, their behavior is not obvious at medium x from the F_2 data. The gluon distributions could not be restricted well by the inclusive DIS data; however, the analysis tends to support the gluon shadowing at small x. We provide analytical expressions and computer subroutines for calculating the nuclear parton distributions, so that other researchers could use them for applications to other high-energy nuclear reactions.
Optimum nuclear parton distributions are determined by an analysis of muon and electron deep inelastic scattering data. Assuming simple A dependence and polynomial functions of x and 1-x for nuclear modification of parton distributions, we determine the initial distributions by a chi^2 analysis. Although valence-quark distributions are relatively well determined except for the small-x region, antiquark distributions cannot be fixed at medium and large x. It is also difficult to fix gluon distributions.
Determination of parton distribution functions in the nucleon and nuclei is important for obtaining precise hadron-reaction cross sections, from which any new exotic signature could be found. We show that a future neutrino factory provides important information on the parton distributions. First, a recent effort on the parametrization of nuclear parton distributions is explained. It suggests that the factory should be important for determining unknown behavior of valence-quark distributions in nuclei at small x. Second, the facility could be used for understanding spin structure of the nucleon and isospin violation in the parton distributions.
Nuclear parton distribution functions are obtained by a chi^2 analysis of lepton deep inelastic experimental data. It is possible to determine valence-quark distributions at medium x and antiquark distributions at small x; however, the distributions in other x regions and gluon distributions cannot be fixed. We need a variety of experimental data and also further analysis refinements.
Flavor asymmetry is investigated in polarized light-antiquark distributions by a meson-cloud model. In particular, rho meson contributions to Delta u-bar - Delta d-bar are calculated. We point out that the g_2 part of rho contributes to the structure function g_1 of the proton in addition to the ordinary longitudinally polarized distributions in rho. This kind of contribution becomes important at medium x (>0.2) with small Q^2 (~1 GeV^2). Including N->rho N and N->rho Delta splitting processes, we obtain the polarized rho effects on the light-antiquark flavor asymmetry in the proton. The results show Delta d-bar excess over Delta u-bar, which is very different from some theoretical predictions. Our model could be tested by experiments in the near future.
Polarized flavor asymmetry Delta u-bar/Delta d-bar is investigated in a meson-cloud model. A polarized nucleon splits into a rho meson and a baryon, then the polarized rho meson interacts with the virtual photon. Because of the difference between the longitudinally polarized distributions Delta u-bar and Delta d-bar in rho, the polarized flavor asymmetry is produced in the nucleon. In addition, we show that the g_2 part of rho contributes to the asymmetry especially at medium x with small Q^2.