On the positivity of MS parton distributions

Abstract

We revisit our argument that shows that parton distribution functions (PDFs) in the MS scheme are nonnegative in the perturbative region, with the dual goals of clarifying its theoretical underpinnings and elucidating its domain of validity. We specifically discuss recent results proving that PDFs can turn negative at sufficiently low scale, we clarify quantitatively various aspects of our derivation of positivity in the perturbative region, and we provide an estimate for the scale above which PDF positivity holds.