A new study has calculated the next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) quantum chromodynamics (QCD) corrections for exclusive Drell-Yan processes induced by pions and kaons. These processes, which correspond to inverse deeply virtual meson production, are crucial for future investigations at facilities like J-PARC. The calculations focus on the reactions $π^- p\to γ^*(\to l^+l^-) + n$ and $K^- p\to γ^*(\to l^+l^-) + Λ$, providing a more robust theoretical foundation for comparison with anticipated experimental data.

The research was conducted within the generalized parton distribution (GPD) factorization framework, ensuring accuracy to leading twist in the generalized Bjorken limit ($Q^2\gg |t|,\,Λ_{\rm QCD}^2$). This approach is essential for describing the internal structure of hadrons, such as pions and kaons, in terms of their fundamental constituents (quarks and gluons). The ability to model these processes with high theoretical precision is fundamental for extracting detailed information about GPDs, which encode the three-dimensional distribution of partons within nucleons and mesons.

The results indicate that the NNLO QCD corrections are substantial and positive. This means their inclusion is indispensable for obtaining reliable theoretical predictions that can be meaningfully confronted with experimental data generated in upcoming experiments. Omitting these corrections could lead to erroneous interpretations of data and an incomplete understanding of parton dynamics at high energies. This theoretical advancement sets the stage for a new era of precision in the study of hadronic structure.