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R. G. Roberts

Publications and source records attributed to R. G. Roberts.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv1999

Analysis of deep inelastic scattering with $z$-dependent scale

Evolution of the parton densities at NLO in $α_S$ using $\tilde W^2 = Q^2 (1-z)/z$ instead of the usual $Q^2$ for the scale of the running coupling $α_S$ is investigated. While this renormalisation scale change was originally proposed as the relevant one for $x \to 1$, we explore the consequences for all $x$ with this choice. While it leads to no improvement to the description of DIS data, the nature of the gluon at low $x$, low $Q^2$ is different, avoiding the need for a `valence-like' gluon.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1998

Scheme dependence, leading order and higher twist studies of MRST partons

We extend a recent global analysis of nucleon parton distributions carried out at next-to-leading order (NLO) in the MSbar scheme to provide distributions in the so-called DIS scheme. We pay particular attention to the translation of the heavy quark distributions in going from the MSbar to the DIS scheme. We repeat the global analysis at leading order (LO) and comment on the major effects produced when going from LO to NLO. Finally we include in the global analysis a freely parameterised form of possible higher twist contributions to make an exploratory study of the size of these effects as a function of x.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1998

Parton distributions: a new global analysis

We present a new analysis of parton distributions of the proton. This incorporates a wide range of new data, an improved treatment of heavy flavours and a re-examination of prompt photon production. The new set (MRST) shows systematic differences from previous sets of partons which can be identified with particular features of the new data and with improvements in the analysis. We also investigate the sensitivities of the results to (i) the uncertainty in the determination of the gluon at large x, (ii) the value of alpha_S(M_Z^2) and (iii) the minimum Q^2 cut on the data that are included in the global fit.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1997

A Practical Procedure for Evolving Heavy Flavour Structure Functions

The transition from the low $Q^2$ region in deep inelastic scattering where charm production is described by photon-gluon fusion to a region where the charm structure function $F_2^c$ is largely generated by a charm quark density should be a smooth passage. The all orders prescription for matching between the two schemes does not uniquely determine all the relevant coefficient functions (CF's) or guarantee the correct threshold behaviour at fixed order in $α_s$. The constraints of matching not only the value but also the evolution of $F_2^c$ order by order allows all CF's to be determined at any order, each of which reduces to the appropriate massless $\msb$ expression as $Q^2 \to \infty$, and leads to a smooth transition in the threshold region. This procedure gives an excellent description of the $F_2^c$ data for all $Q^2$.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1997

An Ordered Analysis of Heavy Flavour Production in Deep Inelastic Scattering

At low Q^2, charm production in deep-inelastic scattering is adequately described by assuming generation in electroweak boson-light parton scattering (dominantly boson-gluon fusion) which naturally incorporates the correct threshold behaviour. At high Q^2 this description is inadequate, since it does not sum logs in Q^2/m_c^2, and is replaced by the treatment of the charm quark as a light parton. We show how the problem of going from one description to the other can be solved in a satisfactory manner to all orders. The key ingredient is the constraint of matching the evolution of the physical structure function F_2 order by order in alpha_s(Q^2) in addition to the matching of the value of F_2 itself. This leads to new expressions for the coefficient functions associated with the charm parton which are unique in incorporating both the correct threshold and asymptotic behaviours at each order in perturbation theory. The use of these improved coefficients lead to an improvement in global fits and an excellent description of the observed F_2,charm.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1997

Phenomenology of Deep Inelastic Scattering Structure Functions

I review recent progress in analysing deep inelastic scattering structure functions in global analyses. The new ingredients are new data and attempts to incorporate heavy quarks consistently. A new way of including the resummation of large $\log 1/x$ terms is discussed.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1997

Consistent Treatment of Charm Evolution in Deep Inelastic Scattering

We present a formulation which allows heavy quark (c, b, ...) mass effects to be explicitly incorporated in both the coefficient functions and the splitting functions in the parton evolution equations. We obtain a consistent procedure for evolution through the threshold regions for c anti-c and b anti-b production in deep inelastic scattering, which allows the prediction of the charm and bottom quark densities. We use the new formulation to perform a next-to-leading order global parton analysis of deep inelastic and related hard scattering data. We find that the optimum fit has alpha_S(M_Z^2) = 0.118. We give predictions for the charm components of the proton structure functions F_2 and F_L as functions of x and Q^2 and, in particular, find that F_2^c is in good agreement with the existing measurements. We examine the Q^2 range of validity of the photon-gluon fusion model for c anti-c electroproduction. We emphasize the value of a precision measurement of the charm component F_2^c at HERA.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1996

Parton distributions: a study of the new HERA data, $α_s$, the gluon and $p\bar p$ jet production

New data, especially HERA measurements of the proton structure function at small $x$, allow the opportunity to improve our knowledge of the gluon and quark distribution functions. We perform a global analysis which incorporates these new precise data, and which extends down to $Q^2 = 1.5\; GeV^2$. We discuss the sensitivity to the value of $α_s$ and the improvement in the determination of the gluon. We compare the predictions of the single jet inclusive cross section with recent measurements from the Fermilab Tevatron.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1996

Can partons describe the CDF jet data?

The recent CDF single jet inclusive measurements at Fermilab are incorporated in a global next-to-leading order parton analysis of the available deep inelastic and related data. We find that it is impossible to achieve a simultaneous QCD description of both the CDF jet distribution for transverse energies $E_T > 200$~GeV and the deep inelastic structure function data for $x > 0.3$. However, the CDF data for $E_T < 200$~GeV and the deep inelastic data are adequately described provided that the QCD coupling $α_S(M_Z^2)$ is increased from its preferred deep inelastic value to $α_S (M_Z^2) \simeq 0.116 - 0.120$.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1996

Diffractive $J/ψ$ photoproduction as a probe of the gluon density

We use perturbative QCD, beyond the leading $\ln Q^2$ approximation, to show how measurements of diffractive $J/ψ$ production at HERA can provide a sensitive probe of the gluon density of the proton at small values of Bjorken $x$. We estimate both the effect of the relativistic motion of the $c$ and $\overline{c}$ within the $J/ψ$ and of the rescattering of the $c\overline{c}$ quark pair on the proton. We find that the available data for diffractive $J/ψ$ photoproduction can discriminate between the gluon distributions of the most recent sets of partons.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1996

Quark Model Description of Polarised Deep Inelastic Scattering and the prediction of $g_2$

We show how the operator product expansion evaluated in the approximation of ignoring gluons leads to the covariant formulation of the quark parton model. We discuss the connection with other formulations and show how the free quark model prediction, $g_2=0$, changes smoothly into the Wandzura-Wilczek (WW) relation for quark masses small relative to the nucleon mass. Previous contradictory parton model predictions are shown to follow from an inconsistent treatment of the mass shell conditions. The description is extended to include quark mass corrections.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1995

The $α_S$ Dependence of Parton Distributions

We perform next-to-leading order global analyses of deep inelastic and related data for different fixed values of $α_S (M_Z^2)$. We present sets of parton distributions for six values of $α_S$ in the range 0.105 to 0.130. We display the $(x, Q^2)$ domains with the largest parton uncertainty and we discuss how forthcoming data may be able to improve the determination of the parton densities.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1995

Pinning down the Glue in the Proton

The latest measurements of $F_2$ at HERA allow for a {\it combination} of gluon and sea quark distributions at small $x$ that is significantly different from those of existing parton sets. We perform a new global fit to deep-inelastic and related data. We find a gluon distribution which is larger for $x \lapproxeq 0.01$, and smaller for $x \sim 0.1$, and a flatter input sea quark distribution than those obtained in our most recent global analysis. The new fit also gives $α_s(M_Z^2) = 0.114$. We study other experimental information available for the gluon including, in particular, the constraints coming from fixed-target and collider prompt $γ$ production data.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1994

MRS(1994): parton distributions of the proton

To obtain improved parton densities of the proton, we present a new global analysis of deep-inelastic and related hard scattering data including, in particular, the recent measurements of F2 at HERA, of the asymmetry of the rapidity distributions of W+- production at the FNAL pbar p collider and of the asymmetry in Drell-Yan production in pp and pn collisions. We discuss the evolution of the new partons to low values of Q2.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1994

Parton Distributions of the Proton

To obtain improved parton densities of the proton, we present a new global analysis of deep inelastic and related data including, in particular, the recent measurements of $F_2$ at HERA, of the asymmetry of the rapidity distributions of $W^\pm$ production at the FNAL $pp$ collider and of the asymmetry in Drell-Yan production in $pp$ and $pn$ collisions. We also incorporate data to determine the flavour dependence of the quark sea distributions. We find that the behaviour of the partons at small $x$ is consistent with the precocious onset of BFKL leading $\log(1/x)$ dynamics. We discuss the ambiguities remaining in the gluon distribution. We present improved predictions for $W$ boson (and $t$ quark) production at the FNAL $\pp$ collider.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1994

Direct Photoproduction of Jets in the KT Factorisation Prescription

We study the cross section for dijet production via direct photons, as seen at the HERA collider. Rather than assuming the standard factorisation formula for the cross section (where the incoming partons are assumed to be on-shell), we use the $k_T$-factorisation formula. This formalism ought to be more appropriate for jet production in regions where the cross section is sensitive to the small-$x$ parton distribution functions. We study the rapidity distribution and the azimuthal angular distribution of the jets and compare with the traditional approach. Our calculations reveal a breakdown of the traditional approach as one moves into the regime of small $x$.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1993

Improved QCD sum rule estimates of the higher twist contributions to polarised and unpolarised nucleon structure functions

We re-examine the estimates of the higher twist contributions to the integral of $g_1$, the polarised structure function of the nucleon, based on QCD sum rules. By including corrections both to the perturbative contribution and to the low energy contribution we find that the matrix elements of the relevant operators are more stable to variations of the Borel parameter $M^2$, allowing for a meaningful estimate of the matrix elements. We find that these matrix elements are typically twice as large as previous estimates. However, inserting these new estimates into the recently corrected expressions for the first moments of $g_1$ leads to corrections too small to affect the phenomenological analysis. For the unpolarised case the higher twist corrections to the GLS and Bjorken sum rules are substantial and bring the estimate of $Λ_{QCD}$ from the former into good agreement with that obtained from the $Q^2$ dependence of deep inelastic data.

hep-ph↗