Light-front Hamiltonian dynamics is used to relate low-energy constituent quark models to deep inelastic unpolarized structure functions of the nucleon. The approach incorporates the correct Pauli principle prescription consistently and it allows a transparent investigation of the effects due to the spin-dependent SU(6)-breaking terms in the quark model Hamiltonian. Both Goldstone-boson-exchange interaction and hyperfine-potential models are discussed in a unified scheme and a detailed comparison, between the two(apparently) different potential prescriptions, is presented.
We derive a second-order linear differential equation for the leading order gluon distribution function G(x,Q^2) = xg(x,Q^2) which determines G(x,Q^2) directly from the proton structure function F_2^p(x,Q^2). This equation is derived from the leading order DGLAP evolution equation for F_2^p(x,Q^2), and does not require knowledge of either the individual quark distributions or the gluon evolution equation. Given an analytic expression that successfully reproduces the known experimental data for F_2^p(x,Q^2) in a domain x_min<=x<=x_max, Q_min^2<=Q^2<=Q_max^2 of the Bjorken variable x and the virtuality Q^2 in deep inelastic scattering, G(x,Q^2) is uniquely determined in the same domain. We give the general solution and illustrate the method using the recently proposed Froissart bound type parametrization of F_2^p(x,Q^2) of E. L. Berger, M. M. Block and C-I. Tan, PRL 98, 242001, (2007). Existing leading-order gluon distributions based on power-law description of individual parton distributions agree roughly with the new distributions for x>~10^-3 as they should, but are much larger for x<~10^-3.
We calculate moments of the $O(alpha_s^3)$ heavy flavor contributions to the Wilson coefficients of the structure function $F_2(x,Q^2)$ in the region $Q^2gg m^2$. The massive Wilson coefficients are obtained as convolutions of massive operator matrix elements (OMEs) and the known light flavor Wilson coefficients. The calculation of moments of the massive OMEs involves a first independent recalculation of moments of the fermionic contributions to all 3--loop anomalous dimensions of the unpolarized twist--2 local composite operators stemming from the light--cone expansion cite{url}.
Structure function data provide insight into the nucleon quark distribution. They are relatively straightforward to extract from the worlds vast, and growing, amount of inclusive lepto-production data. In turn, structure functions can be used to model the physical processes needed for planning and optimizing future experiments. In this paper a machine learning algorithm capable of predicting, using a unique set of parameters, the $F_2$ structure function, for four-momentum transfer $0.055 leq Q^2 leq 800.0$ GeV$^2$ and for Bjorken $x$ from $2.8 times 10^{-5}$ to the pion threshold is presented. The model was trained and reproduces the hydrogen and the deuterium data at the 7~% level, comparable with the average uncertainty of the experimental data. Extending the model to other nuclei or expanding the kinematic range are straightforward. The model is at least ten times faster than existing structure functions parameterizations, making it an ideal candidate for event generators and systematic studies.
Measurements of the proton and deuteron $F_2$ structure functions are presented. The data, taken at Jefferson Lab Hall C, span the four-momentum transfer range $0.06 < Q^2 < 2.8$ GeV$^2$, and Bjorken $x$ values from 0.009 to 0.45, thus extending the knowledge of $F_2$ to low values of $Q^2$ at low $x$. Next-to-next-to-leading order calculations using recent parton distribution functions start to deviate from the data for $Q^2<2$ GeV$^2$ at the low and high $x$-values. Down to the lowest value of $Q^2$, the structure function is in good agreement with a parameterization of $F_2$ based on data that have been taken at much higher values of $Q^2$ or much lower values of $x$, and which is constrained by data at the photon point. The ratio of the deuteron and proton structure functions at low $x$ remains well described by a logarithmic dependence on $Q^2$ at low $Q^2$.
We investigate the one-gluon-exchange ($alpha alpha_s$) corrections to the polarized real photon structure function $g_1^gamma(x,Q^2)$ in the massive parton model. We employ a technique based on the Cutkosky rules and the reduction of Feynman integrals to master integrals. The NLO contribution is noticeable at large $x$ and does not vanish at the threshold of the massive quark pair production due to the Coulomb singularity. It is found that the first moment sum rule of $g_1^gamma$ is satisfied up to the NLO.