Subject Area
Physics
Abstract
In the coming years, new experiments at the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will provide unprecedented insight into the building blocks of matter. To make the most of these opportunities, scientists must reduce uncertainties in the theoretical models that connect what we observe in experiments to what is happening inside particles like protons and pions. A critical part of these models involves describing how a particles momentum is shared among its internal components – quarks and gluons.
This work focuses on improving how we model the internal structure of the pion. We propose a new approach using smooth, flexible mathematical curves – called B´ezier curves – to describe this structure without overly rigid assumptions. Integrating this method into commonly used analytical tools allows us to study how different modeling choices affect our results. As future experiments deliver more data, our approach will help uncover a broader understanding of the pions inner structure and the forces that hold nuclei together.
Degree Date
Spring 5-17-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Department
Physics
Advisor
Fred Olness
Second Advisor
Pavel Nadolsky
Number of Pages
168
Format
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Kotz, Lucas, "A Novel Approach To Model The Pion Structure Using Advanced Polynomial Functions" (2025). Physics Theses and Dissertations. 20.
https://scholar.smu.edu/hum_sci_physics_etds/20
