Update of a Multi-Phase Transport Model with Modern Parton Distribution Functions and Nuclear Shadowing

A multi-phase transport (AMPT) model has been successful in explaining a wide range of observables in relativistic heavy ion collisions. In this work, we implement a modern set of free proton parton distribution functions and an impact parameter-dependent nuclear shadowing in the AMPT model. After refitting the parameters of the two-component initial condition model to the experimental data on $pp$ and $p \bar p$ total and inelastic cross sections from $\sqrt s \sim$ 4 GeV to 13 TeV, we study particle productions in $pp$ and $AA$ collisions. We show that the updated AMPT model with string melting can reasonably describe the overall particle yields and transverse momentum spectra for both $pp$ and $AA$ collisions at RHIC and LHC energies after we introduce a nuclear scaling of the minijet transverse momentum cutoff for $AA$ collisions at LHC energies that is motivated by the color glass condensate. Since heavy flavor and high-$p_{\rm T}$ particles are produced by perturbative-QCD processes and thus directly depend on parton distribution functions of nuclei, the updated AMPT model is expected to provide a more reliable description of these observables.