Longitudinal structure function at small x : The effect of next-to-leading-order QCD corrections and heavy-flavor thresholds

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Physical Review Letters; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.66.1673· OSTI ID:5592719

Orr, L H ^[1]; Stirling, W J ^[2]

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1. Enrico Fermi Institute and Department of Physics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637 (USA) Department of Physics, University of California, Davis, California 95616 (USA)
2. Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195 (USA)

The longitudinal structure function {ital F}{sub {ital L}} at small {ital x} is a very direct probe of the gluon distribution. Studies have shown that measurements at the DESY {ital ep} collider HERA can distinguish various possible theoretical small-{ital x} behaviors. Phenomenological analyses to date have used leading-order expressions for the structure function. We use the recent {ital O}({alpha}{sub {ital s}}{sup 2}) calculation of Kazakov {ital et} {ital al}. to extend the analysis to next-to-leading order. We also investigate the effect of the {ital b}-quark threshold on the longitudinal structure function. We show that both these effects are numerically under control, and therefore do not change the conclusion that there is indeed a very direct connection between {ital F}{sub {ital L}} and the gluon.

• DOE Contract Number: AS06-88ER40423; FG02-90ER40560
• OSTI ID: 5592719
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (USA) Vol. 66:13; ISSN PRLTA; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

645204* -- High Energy Physics-- Particle Interactions & Properties-Theoretical-- Strong Interactions & Properties
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ACCELERATORS
BEAUTY PARTICLES
BOSONS
COMPOSITE MODELS
CYCLIC ACCELERATORS
DESY
ELECTRON-NUCLEON INTERACTIONS
ELECTRON-PROTON INTERACTIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FIELD THEORIES
FUNCTIONS
GLUONS
INTERACTIONS
LEPTON-BARYON INTERACTIONS
LEPTON-HADRON INTERACTIONS
LEPTON-NUCLEON INTERACTIONS
LINEAR MOMENTUM
LONGITUDINAL MOMENTUM
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICS
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
PARTICLE MODELS
PARTON MODEL
PERTURBATION THEORY
POSTULATED PARTICLES
QUANTUM CHROMODYNAMICS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
STRUCTURE FUNCTIONS
SYNCHROTRONS