Deep Inelastic Electropion Production*

This paper is devoted to a study of possible scaling laws, and their logarithmic corrections, occurring in deep inelastic electropion production. Both the exclusive and semiexclusive processes are considered. Scaling laws, originally motivated from PCAC and current algebra considerations are examined, first in the framework of the parton model and QCD peturbation theory and then from the more formal perspective of the operator product expansion and asymptotic freedom, (as expressed through the renormalization group). We emphasize that these processes allow scaling to be probed for the full amplitude rather than just its absorbtive part (as is the case in the conventional structure functions). Because of this it is not possible to give a formal derivation of scaling for deep inelastic electropion production processes even if one believes that they are unambiguously sensitive to the light cone behavior of the operator product. The origin of this is shown to be related to its behavior near x ≈ 0. Investigations, both theoretical and experimental, of these processes is therefore strongly encouraged.