Lattice hadron matrix elements with the Schrodinger functional: the case of the first moment of non-singlet quark density

We present the results of a non-perturbative determination of the pion matr ix element of the twist-2 operator corresponding to the average momentum of non-singlet quark densities. The calculation is made within the Schrodinge r functional scheme. We report the results of simulations done with the sta ndard Wilson action and with the non-perturbatively improved clover action and we show that their ratio correctly extrapolates, in the continuum limit , to a value compatible with the residual correction factor expected from p erturbation theory. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.