Position:  Assistant Professor

Educational Background: B.S. 2010, Nankai University, China; M.S. equiv 2013, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Ph.D. 2018, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN

Research Interests: 

Quantum Chromodynamics, Small x Physics, Gluon Saturation and Partonic Structure of Proton/Nucleus

My primary research revolves around the high-energy limit of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), the fundamental theory of strong interaction, with specific emphases on small x physics,  gluon saturation and proton spin structure at small x. Perturbative QCD predicts that the number of gluons within a hadron increases with rising collision energy or decreasing Bjorken-x, the longitudinal momentum fraction. Because of nonlinear interactions, these small-x gluons eventually reach an equilibrated state resembling the Bose condensate state known as gluon saturation. Discovering and studying the properties of gluon saturation, along with deciphering its role in the spin structure of hadrons, constitutes one of the central scientific themes for the upcoming Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) to be constructed at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) in the United States.

In recent years, I have been actively engaged in developing an effective theoretical framework to describe small x physics beyond the eikonal approximation. In particular, our work focuses on a class of observables known as double‑spin asymmetries in longitudinally polarized collisions, which have been measured in polarized proton‑proton experiments at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at BNL. Instead of relying on the traditional collinear factorization formalism, we aim to establish a transverse‑momentum‑dependent (TMD) factorization framework that remains valid in the small x regime. These studies open the door to incorporating polarized proton‑proton collision data to place stronger constraints on the proton spin structure at small x.

Selected Publications (Full List on INSPIRE):

• Yuri V. Kovchegov and Ming Li, “Weizsacker-Williams Gluon Helicity Distribution and Inclusive Dijet Production in Longitudinally Polarized Electron-Proton Collisions”,  arXiv: 2504.12979. (to appear in JHEP)
• Ming Li, “Quasiclassical Evaluation of Gluon Saturation Induced Helicity Effects”, Rev. D. 111 (2025) 3, 034027.
• Yuri V. Kovchegov and MingLi, “Gluon double-spin asymmetry in the longitudinally polarized p+p collisions”, JHEP 05 (2024) 177.
• Ming Li, “Quasiclassical Gluon Fields and Low’s Soft Theorem at Small Momentum- Fraction x”,  Rev. Lett. 133 (2024) 2, 021902. [DOE Nuclear Physics Highlights]
• Ming Li, “Small x physics beyond eikonal approximation: an effective Hamiltonian approach”,  JHEP 07 (2023) 158.
• Alexander Kovner, Ming Li and Vladimir V. Skokov , “Probing gluon Bose correlations in deep inelastic scattering”,  Rev. Lett. 128 (2022) 18, 182003.
• Ming Li and Vladimir V. Skokov, “First saturation correction in high energy proton-nucleus collisions. Part II. Single inclusive semi-hard gluon production”,  JHEP 06 (2021) 141.
• Ming Li and Vladimir V. Skokov, “First saturation correction in high energy proton-nucleus collisions. Part I. Time evolution of classical Yang-Mills fields beyond leading order”,  JHEP 06 (2021) 140.
• Ming Li and Alex Kovner. “JIMWLK evolution, Lindblad equation and Quantum- Classical Correspondence”,  JHEP 2020, 36 (2020)
• Ming Li and Joseph I. Kapusta. “Large Baryon Densities Achievable in High Energy Heavy Ion Collisions Outside the Central Rapidity Region”,  Rev. C 99, 014906 (2019)