QCD Evolution Equations for High Energy Partons in Nuclear Matter

Abstract

We derive a generalized form of Altarelli-Parisi equations to decribe the time evolution of parton distributions in a nuclear medium. In the framework of the leading logarithmic approximation, we obtain a set of coupled integro- differential equations for the parton distribution functions and equations for the virtuality (``age'') distribution of partons. In addition to parton branching processes, we take into account fusion and scattering processes that are specific to QCD in medium. Detailed balance between gain and loss terms in the resulting evolution equations correctly accounts for both real and virtual contributions which yields a natural cancellation of infrared divergences.

47 pages, RevTeX, uuencoded file, 9 figures available on request, DUKE-TH-93-60/ NSF-ITP-93-149

References in corpus (5)

• Computing Quark and Gluon Distribution Functions for Very Large Nuclei
• Parton Equilibration in Relativistic Heavy Ion Collisions
• Dilepton and photon production in the 'hot-glue' scenario
• Color Diffusion and Conductivity in a Quark-Gluon Plasma
• Space-time Structure of Initial Parton Production in Ultrarelativistic Heavy Ion Collisions

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Space, Time and Color in Hadron Production Via e+e- -> Z0 and e+e- -> W+W-
• Quantum Field Kinetics of QCD: Quark-Gluon Transport Theory for Lightcone Dominated Processes
• Quark and gluon distributions at the earliest stage of heavy ion collision
• Effective Field Theory Approach to Parton-Hadron Conversion in High Energy QCD Processes
• Analytic Solutions of QCD Evolution Equations for Parton Cascades Inside Nuclear Matter at Small X