Why Gluons Matter: Unlocking Pion Secrets Through Light-Front Modeling

Exploring Gluon Distributions in Pions: A Light-Front Model Perspective Introduction: Why Study Gluons in Pions? Pions hold a unique position in quantum chromodynamics (QCD) as the lightest mesons and the Goldstone bosons of chiral symmetry breaking. While quarks have been extensively studied in these particles, the role of gluons—responsible for binding quarks and generating mass—remains less understood. Recent advances in lattice QCD and theoretical models now allow explicit incorporation of gluonic degrees of freedom, opening new avenues to explore their distributions within pions. Key Motivations: Nonperturbative QCD Insights: Pions serve as ideal laboratories for studying confinement and dynamical mass generation. …