Reconstruction of the gluon density in the proton as an inverse problem
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We recently showed that the inference of the dipole amplitude from electron–proton deep inelastic scattering data can be written into a proper inverse problem. We identified that the problem is a linear integral transform problem, and implemented a numerical reconstruction and closure test to show that the approach is feasible. The dipole amplitude is related to the gluon density inside the proton at high energy. To give some context for the problem, I will begin with a crash course into high energy particle physics, what the proton is made of, and how inverse problems can help answer open questions about the structure of the proton and the strong nuclear force by enabling novel, powerful, and robust indirect measurement. Based on joint work with A. Kykkänen and H. Schlüter; https://doi.org/10.1103/7fhf-7fp4