Large corrections to high-pT hadron-hadron scattering in QCD

We have computed the first non-trivial QCD corrections to the quark-quark scattering process which contributes to the production of hadrons at large p_T in hadron-hadron collisions. Using quark distribution functions defined in deep inelastic scattering and fragmentation functions defined in one particle inclusive e⁺e^? annihilation, we find that the corrections are large. This implies that QCD perturbation theory may not be reliable for large-p_T haron physics.     

Transverse momentum in Drell-Yan processes

We study the transverse momentum distribution of muon pairs from Drell-Yan processes in QCD. In particular the dependence of 〈k_⊥²〉 on Q² is considered. QCD predicts an approximately linear rise of 〈k_⊥²〉 with S or Q² only at fixed τ = Q²/S. The slope as a function of τ is quantitatively studied for P$\text{P}$ and P-nucleus scattering. The most recent data showing a rather flat 〈k_⊥²〉 in Q² at fixed S are found to be consistent with QCD.     

The effect of 1Q2 and αs corrections on tests of QCD

We discuss in detail the use of the structure function F₃(x, Q²) of deep-inelastic neutrino scattering for testing quantum chromodynamics. QCD is entirely consistent with all data. However, we show that higher-twist (order $\text{1}\text{Q}{}^2$) contributions, which are commonly neglected, can have a dramatic impact on interpretation of this result. At present the data are not accurate enough to determine the magnitudes of these $\text{1}\text{Q}{}^2$ contributions within the context of QCD. Furthermore, the possible presence of higher-twist terms makes it impossible to unambiguously detect the logarithmic Q² dependence and anomalous dimensions which distinguish QCD from hypothetical alternative theories. As a result, more precise data with higher Q² are needed to provide definitive tests of QCD. The corrections of second-order in α_s introduce fewer complications for testing QCD, and provide a useful context for understanding critical ambiguities in the definitions of α_s and Λ.     

Baryon production in QCD jets

Recent data from several sources—Υ decays, high energy deep inelastic scattering,e ⁺ e ^? annihilation at PETRA—reveal substantial baryon production in QCD jets. We discuss the likely mechanisms within the context of QCD, and formulate experimental tests to distinguish amongst them.     

Target independence of the EMC-SMC effect

An approach to deep inelastic scattering is described in which the matrix elements arising from the operator product expansion are factorised into composite operator propagators and proper vertex functions. In the case of polarised μp scattering, the composite operator propagator is identified with the square root of the QCD topological susceptibility √x′(0) , while the corresponding proper vertex is a renormalisation group invariant. We estimate x′(0) using QCD spectral sum rules and find that it is significantly suppressed relative to the OZI expectation. Assuming OZI is a good approximation for the proper vertex, our predictions, f₀¹ d x g₁^p (x; Q²= 10 GeV²) = 0.143 ± 0.005 and G_A⁰ = ΔΣ = 0.353 ± 0.052, are in excellent agreement with the new SMC data. This result, together with one confirming the validity of the OZI rule in the η′ radiative decay, supports our earlier conjecture that the suppression in the flavour singlet component of the first moment of gp observed by the EMC-SMC Collaboration is a target-independent feature of QCD related to the U(1) anomaly and is not a property of the proton structure. As a corollary, we extract the magnitude of higher twist effects from the neutron and Bjorken sum rules.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis><Superscript>±</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> elastic scattering in the QCD inspired eikonalized model

Based on our previous study of the QCD inspired eikonalized model for describing vector meson photoproduction, pp, and \(\bar p\) p elastic scattering at high energies, we apply the mode to high energy K ^± p elastic scattering. The total cross section σ _tot(s), differential cross section dσ/dt, the ratio of the real part to imaginary part of the forward scattering amplitude ρ(s), and nuclear slope parameter function β(s) are calculated in the model. Our results show that the theoretical prediction for σ _tot(s) is in a good agreement with the experimental data within error bars of the data. For the other theoretical predictions there are no data to test the predictive power of the model. We need the corresponding experimental data to examinate the validity of our QCD inspired eikonalized model. However, our calculations clearly show that the Odderon exchange in the process makes a significant contribution to the observable of ρ(s) and β(s). Therefore, we may conclude that there is a good opportunity to find the QCD Odderon in the K ^± p elastic scattering at high energies.     

Testing QCD scaling violations in the HERA energy range

High energy electron-proton colliders open new kinematical domains for the investigation of scaling violations in nucleon structure functions. Focussing on HERA as a definite study case we explore the precision which can be expected in determinations of the QCD scale parameter Λ and the running coupling constant α _s (Q ²). Our results provide a quantitative basis for discussions of the possibilities and requirements of QCD tests in inclusive deep inelastic scattering at HERA energies.     

Low-pt jets and the rise with energy of the inelastic cross section

The contribution of QCD jets to the rise with energy of the inelastic cross section is discussed quantitatively and found to be large. It is seen that the inclusive jet yield is the fastest growing component of the total cross section. The dependence of this yield upon the rapidity cuts, the choice of parton densities, the QCD scale Q² and the transverse momentum cutoff p_cut are examined. At higher energies, multiple parton scattering processes are seen to be non-negligible. Extrapolations of the low-p_t jet yield to the Tevatron are presented also.     

LargeP T photoproduction in the hard scattering expansion

Largep _T photoproduction is studied in the hard scattering expansion, including both three- and four-jet processes. The higher twist corrections (∝p _T ^?6 andp _T ^?8 ) to the basic QCD hard scattering process (∝p _T ^?4 ) are estimated using the constituent interchange model and the various terms compared. Both single jet inclusive cross sections and single particle inclusive π⁰ cross sections are evaluated, the latter using scale violating fragmentation functions. We find that the higher twist terms are significant at present energies, particularly for three-jet events, though the four-jet anomalous photon contribution can be measured. Three-jet QCD processes require considerably higher energies to provide a significant contribution to the cross section. Methods of separating the different processes experimentally are discussed.     

Evidence for planar events and a forward double jet structure in deep inelastic Muon scattering

The final states of charged hadrons produced in 280 GeV μp scattering are analysed with respect to their planarity and jet structure. Distributions of p_⊥² in and p_{⊥ out}² are presented. A two jet structure in the forward hemisphere is observed for events with high p_⊥ tracks are predicted by QCD models.     

Transverse momentum of charged hadrons observed in deep inelastic muon scattering

The transverse momenta of charged hadrons produced in high energy muon-proton scattering have been studied. The average squared transverse momentum 〈p²_⊥〉 shows a strong dependence on z = E_h/v characteristic of intrinsic momentum effects and a significant rise as a function of s = W². The W², q², x and z dependences of the data are compared with the predictions of a perturbative QCD model.     

Soft gluon corrections to large-pT direct photon and dilepton production

QCD O(α_s²) corrections to large-p_T real and virtual photon production from scattering in the quark-gluon channel are studied in the soft gluon limit. In this limit we carefully preserve the analytic structure of amplitudes in the small-momenta integration regions. The result is a rather large correction to the Born term which significantly improves the agreement with data on p + p → γ + X. The application of the approach to other processes is discussed and the dominant terms of the O(α_s²) correction to e⁺e^? → three jets are reproduced.     

QCD cascade model in deep inelastic scattering

We develop a new QCD cascade model for jets in deep inelastic scattering. We use the light-like axial gauge whose gauge vector is parallel to momentum of the initial parton so that only final partons cascade. Due to this feature we can generate events for any given virtualityQ ² andx _B =Q ²/2Pq.     

Direct photon production beyond leading order in QCD

The significance of the quark-quark scattering process (quark+quark→quark+quark+photon) for the production of large-q_T real photons is discussed in the framework of perturbative QCD. To extract the finite contribution of this process to the differential cross section dσ/dy d²q_T (hadron 1+hadron 2→photon+anything) we define the gluon distribution and the quark-to-photon fragmentation function beyond the leading approximation. The calculations are performed consistently in the dimensional regularization scheme. Our numerical estimates show the resulting finite qq→qqγ contribution to be a small (order α_s/2π) correction in comparison with the basic QCD subprocesses.     

F L structure function and heavy quark contributions

In this paper we obtain the heavy-quark contribution to the longitudinal structure functions F _L (x, Q ²). Since F _L structure functions contains rather large heavy flavor contributions in the small x region, we need to use the massive operator matrix elements, which contribute to the heavy flavor Wilson coefficients in unpolarized deeply inelastic scattering in the region Q ²?>?>?m ². The method of QCD analysis, based on the Jacobi polynomials method, is also described. Our results for longitudinal structure function are in good agreement with the available experimental data.     

QCD at lowQ 2—A correspondence relation for moments of structure functions

The precocious validity of QCD predictions in deep inelastic lepton nucleon scattering ande ⁺ e ^? annihilation is interpreted as a signal for an underlying “correspondence principle” relating perturbative and nonperturbative physics on theQ ² average. Correspondence relations for nonsinglet moments of deep inelastic structure functions are formulated, discussed and successfully tested against experiment. The relations provide an independent determination of the QCD ?-parameter from lowQ ² data in perfect agreement with results from largeQ ² analyses.     

Hard-thermal-loop QCD trace anomaly

In this proceedings I summarize results of QCD trace anomaly from recent three-loop hard-thermal-loop perturbation theory (HTLpt) calculations. I focus on the trace anomaly scaled by T ² for pure-glue and N _f = 3 QCD. The comparison to available lattice data suggests that for pure-glue QCD agreement between HTLpt results and lattice data for the trace anomaly begins at temperatures above 8 T _c while when including quarks (N _f = 3) agreement begins already at temperatures above 2 T _c . The results in both cases indicate that at very high temperatures the T ²-scaled trace anomaly increases with temperature in accordance with the predictions of HTLpt.     

Leading non-cancelling infrared divergences in perturbative QCD

In perturbative QCD, for the inclusive cross section for the scattering of two coloured particles, we identify graphs which contribute to the general leading order α_s(α_s lnλ)ⁿ of uncancelled IR divergences, and we sum these contributions (λ is the IR cut-off). The work is done in the Coulomb gauge; an appendix discusses the Feynman gauge.