Deep inelastic scattering and “elastic” diffraction

Deep inelastic scattering and “elastic” diffraction

We examine the total cross section of virtual photons on protons, σγ∗p(W , Q), at low x ∼= Q/W 2 ≪ 1 and its connection with “elastic” diffractive production γ T,Lp → X T,L p in the two-gluon exchange dynamics for the virtual forward Compton scattering amplitude. Solely based on the generic structure of twogluon exchange, we establish that the cross section is described by the (imaginary part o...

Deep Inelastic Scattering, Diffraction

These lectures include an introduction to the partonic description of the proton, the photon and the ‘colour singlet’, as seen in inclusive and semi-inclusive DIS, in e+e− collisions, and in diffractive processes, respectively. Their formal treatment using structure, fragmentation, and fracture functions is outlined giving an insight into the perturbative QCD framework for these functions. Exam...

Diffraction in Deep Inelastic Scattering

Different theoretical methods used for the description of diffractive processes in small-x deep inelastic scattering are reviewed. The semiclassical approach, where a partonic fluctuation of the incoming virtual photon scatters off a superposition of target colour fields, is used to explain the basic physical effects. In this approach, diffraction occurs if the emerging partonic state is in a c...

Scaling and Diffraction in Deep Inelastic Scattering

We pursue the hypothesis that the events with a large rapidity gap, observed at HERA, reflect the scattering of electrons off lumps of wee partons inside the proton. A simple scaling behaviour is predicted for the diffractive structure functions, which are related to the inclusive structure function F2(x,Q ) at small values of the scaling variable x. The results are compared with recent measure...

Elastic and Inelastic Scattering in Electron Diffraction and Imaging Introduction