Institut de Recherche sur les Lois Fondamentales de l'Univers

DAPNIA is closely involved in studying the structure of nucleons (i.e. neutrons or protons) and describing them in terms of their components, which are known as quarks and gluons. Its teams are helping to solve fundamental questions as to how these components define the quantum numbers which characterise nucleons and are investigating the contribution of strange quarks to electromagnetic structure, as well as the part played by gluons in nucleon spin structure. The recent concept of generalised parton distribution, which should open the way to a 3D description of nucleons, announces the dawning of a new era. DAPNIA contributes actively to this progress through its theoretical and experimental work.