Open-source QCD analysis of nuclear parton distribution functions at NLO and NNLO

Abstract

We present new sets of nuclear parton distribution functions (nPDFs) at next-to-leading order and next-to-next-to-leading order. Our analyses are based on deeply inelastic scattering data with charged-lepton and neutrino beams on nuclear targets. In addition, a set of proton baseline PDFs is fitted within the same framework with the same theoretical assumptions. The results of this global QCD analysis are compared to existing nPDF sets and to the fitted cross sections. Also, the uncertainties resulting from the limited constraining power of the included experimental data are presented. The published work is based on an open-source tool, xfitter, which has been modified to be applicable also for a nuclear PDF analysis. The required extensions of the code are discussed as well.