Parton physics involves non-perturbative dynamics on the light cone. Therefore it poses a challenge for lattice QCD calculations that are normally performed in Euclidean space. In this talk, I discuss a method of obtaining higher Mellin moments for parton distribution functions and light-cone distribution amplitudes (LCDAs). The key ingredient of this approach is the introduction of a fictitious, propagating heavy quark that facilitates an operator product expansion, leading to the numerical determination of matrix elements related to the Mellin moments. I present an implementation of this strategy for the extraction of the second and the fourth moments of the pion LCDA.
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