Parton distributions in the SMEFT from high-energy Drell-Yan tails

Abstract

We present a study of the interplay between PDF and EFT effects in high-mass Drell-Yan at the LHC. We quantify the impact of a consistent joint determination of the PDFs and Wilson coefficients on the bounds obtained on the EFT and examine the effect on the PDFs, determining the extent to which EFT signals could be reabsorbed into the large-$x$ quark and anti-quark PDFs. Finally, we present dedicated projections for the High-Luminosity LHC and evaluate its ultimate potential to constrain the EFT parameters, while taking into account potential modifications of the proton structure.