Pseudo-scalar mesons: light front wave functions, GPDs and PDFs

Abstract: We develop a unified algebraic model which satisfactorily describes the internal structure of pion and kaon as well as heavy quarkonia ($\eta_c$ and $\eta_b$). For each of these mesons, we compute their generalized parton distributions (GPDs), built through the overlap representation of their light-front wave function, tightly constrained by the modern and precise knowledge of their quark distribution amplitudes. From this three-dimensional knowledge of mesons, we deduce parton distribution functions (PDFs) as well as electromagnetic form factors and construct the impact parameter space GPDs. The PDFs for mesons formed with light quarks are then evolved from the hadronic scale of around 0.3 GeV to 5.2 GeV, probed in experiments. We make explicit comparisons with experimental results available and with earlier theoretical predictions.