Two-loop effects in the evolution of non-forward distributions

We study the effects of next-to-leading order corrections on the evolution of the twist-two non-forward parton distribution functions in the flavour non-singlet sector. It is found that the deviation from leading order evolution is small for all values of the parton momentum fraction variable for moderately large values of the scale parameter.Comment: 10 pages, LaTeX, 8 figure

Drell-Yan forward-backward and spin asymmetries for arbitrary vector boson production at next-to-leading order

Longitudinally polarized, unpolarized and forward-backward mass differential cross sections for Drell-Yan lepton-pair production by arbitrary vector bosons are calculated in next-to-leading order (NLO) QCD. Analytical results are presented in a form valid for all consistent $n$-dimensional regularization schemes, with the mass factorization scheme kept general. NLO predictions for all Drell-Yan type processes ($W^\pm$, $Z$ and $\gamma^*$) at BNL's relativistic heavy ion collider (RHIC) are made using polarized parton distributions which fit the recent deep-inelastic scattering data. These are examined as tools in the determination of the polarized parton distributions and the unpolarized $\bar{u}/\bar{d}$ ratio. NLO predictions for the forward-backward lepton asymmetry at Fermilab are made and the precision determination of $\sin^2 \theta_W$ from future runs is studied. In all the above, the QCD corrections are found to be significant. An introductory discussion is given of various theoretical issues, such as allowable factorization and regularization schemes, and scale dependences.Comment: 34 pages, figures included, revtex. Some discussions and references added/modified. In more compact form. To appear in Phys. Rev.

Deeply virtual Compton scattering in next-to-leading order

We study the amplitude of deeply virtual Compton scattering in next-to-leading order of perturbation theory including the two-loop evolution effects for different sets of skewed parton distributions (SPDs). It turns out that in the minimal subtraction scheme the relative radiative corrections are of order 20-50%. We analyze the dependence of our predictions on the choice of SPD, that will allow to discriminate between possible models of SPDs from future high precision experimental data, and discuss shortly theoretical uncertainties induced by the radiative corrections.Comment: 10 pages, LaTeX, 3 figure

Broken conformal invariance and spectrum of anomalous dimensions in QCD

Employing the operator algebra of the conformal group and the conformal Ward identities, we derive the constraints for the anomalies of dilatation and special conformal transformations of the local twist-2 operators in Quantum Chromodynamics. We calculate these anomalies in the leading order of perturbation theory in the minimal subtraction scheme. From the conformal consistency relation we derive then the off-diagonal part of the anomalous dimension matrix of the conformally covariant operators in the two-loop approximation of the coupling constant in terms of these quantities. We deduce corresponding off-diagonal parts of the Efremov-Radyushkin-Brodsky-Lepage kernels responsible for the evolution of the exclusive distribution amplitudes and non-forward parton distributions in the next-to-leading order in the flavour singlet channel for the chiral-even parity-odd and -even sectors as well as for the chiral-odd one. We also give the analytical solution of the corresponding evolution equations exploiting the conformal partial wave expansion.Comment: 45 pages, LaTeX, 6 figures; typos fixe

Strongly Interacting Matter Matter at Very High Energy Density: 3 Lectures in Zakopane

These lectures concern the properties of strongly interacting matter at very high energy density. I begin with the Color Glass Condensate and the Glasma, matter that controls the earliest times in hadronic collisions. I then describe the Quark Gluon Plasma, matter produced from the thermalized remnants of the Glasma. Finally, I describe high density baryonic matter, in particular Quarkyonic matter. The discussion will be intuitive and based on simple structural aspects of QCD. There will be some discussion of experimental tests of these ideas.Comment: Presented at the 50'th Crakow School of Theoretical Physics, Zakopane, Poland, June 201