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A. Hebecker

Publications and source records attributed to A. Hebecker.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2001

On Dynamical Adjustment Mechanisms for the Cosmological Constant

After recalling why dynamical adjustment mechanisms represent a particularly attractive possibility for solving the cosmological constant problem, we briefly discuss their intrinsic difficulties as summarized in Weinberg's no-go theorem. We then comment on some problems of the recently proposed `self-tuning' mechanism in 4+1 dimensions. Finally, we describe an alternative approach which uses the time-evolution of the universe to achieve a dynamical relaxation of the cosmological constant to zero.

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arXiv2000

Skewed Parton Distributions and F_2^D at beta -> 1

We show that the diffractive structure function is perturbatively calculable in the domain where the diffractive mass is small but still outside the resonance region. In this domain, which can be characterized by Lambda^2/Q^2 << 1-beta << (Lambda^2/Q^2)^1/2, the structure function represents a new observable, which is highly sensitive to the small-x skewed gluon distribution. Our leading order calculation and the estimate of next-to-leading order corrections are consistent with available data and demonstrate the potential of more precise data to put further constraints on skewing effects.

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arXiv2000

Natural Quintessence?

We formulate conditions for the naturalness of cosmological quintessence scenarios. The quintessence lagrangian is taken to be the sum of a simple exponential potential and a non-canonical kinetic term. This parameterization covers most variants of quintessence and makes the naturalness conditions particularly transparent. Several ``natural'' scalar models lead, for the present cosmological era, to a large fraction of homogeneous dark energy density and an acceleration of the scale factor as suggested by observation.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2000

Quintessential Adjustment of the Cosmological Constant

We construct a time dependent adjustment mechanism for the cosmological "constant" which could be at work in a late Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe dominated by quintessence and matter. It makes use of a Brans-Dicke field that couples to the evolving standard-model vacuum energy density. Our explicit model possesses a stable late-time solution with a fixed ratio of matter and field energy densities. No fine tuning of model parameters or initial conditions is required.

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arXiv1999

Diffractive Electroproduction

In these lectures, a simple introduction to the phenomenon of diffraction in deep inelastic scattering and its theoretical description is given. While the main focus is on the diffractive structure function F_2^D, some issues in diffractive vector meson production are also discussed.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1999

The Semiclassical Gluon Distribution at Next-to-Leading Order

The interaction of the partonic fluctuation of the virtual photon in deep inelastic scattering with soft color fields describing the hadron is treated in an eikonal approximation. It is known that, in this approach, the small-x limit of the leading-order gluon distribution xg(x,Q^2) is a constant characterizing the averaged local field strength in the target. Matching the next-to-leading order calculation in this semiclassical framework with the one-loop parton model result, we obtain the next-to-leading order contribution to xg(x,Q^2). It shows a ln(1/x) enhancement at small x and is sensitive to the large distance structure of the target. The final expression is a simple integral over non-Abelian eikonal factors measuring the target color field. We derive a quantitative relation between the short-distance cutoff of this integral and the scale of the gluon distribution function in the MS-bar scheme. Our calculation demonstrates that higher order contributions can be systematically included in the semiclassical approach.

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arXiv1999

Structure functions at small x_Bj in a Euclidean field theory approach

The small-x_Bj limit of deep inelastic scattering is related to the high-energy limit of the forward Compton amplitude in a familiar way. We show that the analytic continuation of this amplitude in the energy variable is calculable from a matrix element in Euclidean field theory. This matrix element can be written as a Euclidean functional integral in an effective field theory. Its effective Lagrangian has a simple expression in terms of the original Lagrangian. The functional integral expression obtained can, at least in principle, be evaluated using genuinely non-perturbative methods, e.g., on the lattice. Thus, a fundamentally new approach to the long-standing problem of structure functions at very small x_Bj seems possible. We give arguments that the limit x_Bj -> 0 corresponds to a critical point of the effective field theory where the correlation length becomes infinite in one direction.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1999

Combined analysis of diffractive and inclusive structure functions in the semiclassical framework

Small-x DIS is described as the scattering of a partonic fluctuation of the photon off a superposition of target color fields. Diffraction occurs if the emerging partonic state is in a color singlet. Introducing a specific model for the averaging over all relevant color field configurations, both diffractive and inclusive parton distributions at some low scale Q_0^2 can be calculated. A conventional DGLAP analysis results in a good description of diffractive and inclusive structure functions at higher values of Q^2.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1999

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 colour singlet, thus fragmenting independently of the target. Other approaches, such as the idea of the pomeron structure function and two gluon exchange calculations, are also discussed in some detail. Particular attention is paid to the close relation between the semiclassical approach and the method of diffractive parton distributions, which is linked to the relation between the target rest frame and the Breit frame point of view. While the main focus is on diffractive structure functions, basic issues in the diffractive production of mesons and of other less inclusive final states are also discussed. Models of the proton colour field, which can be converted into predictions for diffractive cross sections using the semiclassical approach, are presented. The concluding overview of recent experimental results is very brief and mainly serves to illustrate implications of the theoretical methods presented.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1998

Inclusive and Diffractive Structure Functions at Small x

In the semiclassical approach, inclusive and diffractive quark and gluon distributions are expressed in terms of correlation functions of Wilson loops. Each Wilson loop integrates the colour field strength in the area between the trajectories of two fast partons penetrating the proton. We introduce a specific model for averaging over the relevant colour field configurations. Within this model, all parton distributions at some low scale Q_0^2 are given in terms of three parameters. Inclusive and diffractive structure functions at higher values of Q^2 are determined in a leading-order QCD analysis. In both cases, the evolution is driven by a large gluon distribution. A satisfactory description of the structure functions F_2(x,Q^2) and F_2^D(3)(xi,beta,Q^2) is obtained. The observed rise of F_2^D(3) with xi is parametrized by a non-perturbative logarithmic energy dependence, compatible with unitarity. In our analysis, the observed rise of F_2 at small x is largely due to the same effect.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1998

Elastic Meson Production - Factorisation and Gauge Invariance

The factorisation of the hard amplitude for exclusive meson production in deep inelastic scattering is considered in the framework of a simple model. It is demonstrated explicitly how gauge invariance ensures the cancellation of non-factorising contributions.

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arXiv1998

Small-x Parton Distributions of Large Hadronic Targets

A simple and intuitive calculation, based on the semiclassical approximation, demonstrates how the large size of a hadronic target introduces a new perturbative scale into the process of small-x deep inelastic scattering. The above calculation, which is performed in the target rest frame, is compared to the McLerran-Venugopalan model for scattering off large nuclei, which has first highlighted this effect in the infinite momentum frame. It is shown that the two approaches, i.e., the rest frame based semiclassical calculation and the infinite momentum frame based McLerran-Venugopalan approach are quantitatively consistent.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1997

Hard and Soft Colour Singlet Exchange in the Semiclassical Approach

In the present talk diffraction in deep inelastic scattering is discussed in the framework of the semiclassical approach. The main emphasis is on the possibility of a consistent semiclassical description of both hard and soft colour singlet exchange processes. This approach allows the comparison of hard and soft colour neutralization in diffractive electroproduction of high-$p_\perp$ jets or heavy quarks.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1997

Gluon Radiation in Diffractive Electroproduction

Order $α_s$-corrections to the diffractive structure functions $F_L^D$ and $F_2^D$ at large $Q^2$ and small $x$ are evaluated in the semiclassical approach, where the initial proton is treated as a classical colour field. The diffractive final state contains a fast gluon in addition to a quark-antiquark pair. Two of these partons may have large transverse momentum. Our calculations lead to an intuitive picture of deep-inelastic diffractive processes which is very similar to Bjorken's aligned-jet model. Both diffractive structure functions contain leading twist contributions from high-$p_{\perp}$ jets.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1997

Semiclassical Calculation of Diffractive Parton Densities

In this talk the relation between the semiclassical approach and the concept of diffractive parton densities is discussed. The proton rest frame calculation is organized in a way that exhibits the hard partonic cross section and the diffractive parton density as the two fundamental ingredients. The latter one is a non-perturbative quantity which, in the present model, is explicitly given by integrals of non-Abelian eikonal factors in the colour background field.

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