paper

Confronting next-leading BFKL kernels with proton structure function data

arXiv:hep-ph/0411338 · doi:10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2005.03.015

Abstract

We propose a phenomenological study of the Balitsky-Fadin-Kuraev-Lipatov (BFKL) approach applied to the data on the proton structure function F_2 measured at HERA in the small-x_{Bjorken} region. In a first part we use a simplified ``effective kernel'' approximation leading to few-parameter fits of F_2. It allows for a comparison between leading-logs (LO) and next-to-leading logs (NLO) BFKL approaches in the saddle-point approximation, using known resummed NLO-BFKL kernels. The NLO fits give a qualitatively satisfactory account of the running coupling constant effect but quantitatively the chi squared remains sizeably higher than the LO fit at fixed coupling. In a second part, a comparison of theory and data through a detailed analysis in Mellin space (x_{Bjorken} -> omega) leads to a more model independent approach to the resummed NLO-BFKL kernels we consider and points out some necessary improvements of the extrapolation at higher orders.

19 pages, 11 figures, minor corrections, one figure improved, LO fit with reunning coupling constant and references added, conclusions unchanged

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