QCD Dynamics and Nucleon Structure

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $300,000 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

Understanding how quarks and gluons—the fundamental building blocks of matter—combine to form protons and other hadrons is essential to uncovering the structure of the visible universe. This research investigates how these elementary particles are distributed inside hadrons and how they interact through the strong nuclear force, as described by quantum chromodynamics (QCD). This project combines modern machine learning tools—especially transformer-based deep learning architectures—with advanced theoretical approaches to extract detailed physical information from high-energy particle collision data. Another central focus is on energy-energy correlators (EECs), observables that provide sharp insight into the dynamics of quarks and gluons in hadronic final states. This work contributes to fullfilling the scientific mission of U.S. nuclear physics facilities and supports future discoveries at the Electron-Ion Collider, while also advancing techniques relevant to particle physics research at the Large Hadron Collider. By integrating theory, computation, and data-driven analysis, the project promotes a deeper understanding of matter at its most fundamental level. This project develops new theoretical frameworks and global QCD analysis strategies that combine novel observables with machine learning to reveal the internal dynamics of strongly interacting particles. It incorporates hadron-in-jet observables to extract nonperturbative fragmentation functions within a QCD-based frame

Key facts

NSF award ID
2515057
Awardee
University of California-Los Angeles (CA)
SAM.gov UEI
RN64EPNH8JC6
PI
Zhongbo Kang
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Estimated total
$300,000
Funds obligated
$300,000
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
09/01/2025 → 08/31/2028