Parton physics from lattice gauge theory: past, present and future

Abstract: Understanding hadron structure and relevant aspects of quantum chromodynamics is one of the key topics in contemporary physics. Given the non-perturbative nature of such problems, lattice gauge theory is the most reliable tool for making progress. However, conventional lattice calculations are normally performed in Euclidean space, making it challenging to access light-cone dynamics that is crucial for parton physics. In this talk, I will briefly introduce this subject, and give an overview of current lattice methods for tackling this issue. Furthermore, a tensor-network approach will be discussed. This approach allows for direct lattice computations in Minkowski space and is applicable for future calculations carried out on quantum computers. I will show our numerical results of meson parton distribution functions in the Schwinger model from this tensor-network method.