Renormalization-group anatomy of transverse-momentum dependent parton distribution functions in QCD

The ultraviolet and rapidity divergences of transverse-momentum dependent parton distribution functions with lightlike and transverse gauge links is studied, also incorporating a soft eikonal factor. We find that in the light-cone gauge with $q^-$-independent pole prescriptions extra divergences appear which amount, at one-loop, to a cusp-like anomalous dimension. We show that such contributions are absent when the Mandelstam-Leibbrandt prescription is used. In the first case, the soft factor cancels the anomalous-dimension defect, while in the second case its ultraviolet-divergent part reduces to unity.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures; needs ws-mpla-hep.cls (supplied). Talk presented by the first author at Workshop on "Recent Advances in Perturbative QCD and Hadronic Physics", 20--25 July 2009, ECT*, Trento, Italy, in Honor of Prof. Anatoly Efremov's 75th birthda

Fully Unintegrated Parton Correlation Functions and Factorization in Lowest Order Hard Scattering

Motivated by the need to correct the potentially large kinematic errors in approximations used in the standard formulation of perturbative QCD, we reformulate deeply inelastic lepton-proton scattering in terms of gauge invariant, universal parton correlation functions which depend on all components of parton four-momentum. Currently, different hard QCD processes are described by very different perturbative formalisms, each relying on its own set of kinematical approximations. In this paper we show how to set up formalism that avoids approximations on final-state momenta, and thus has a very general domain of applicability. The use of exact kinematics introduces a number of significant conceptual shifts already at leading order, and tightly constrains the formalism. We show how to define parton correlation functions that generalize the concepts of parton density, fragmentation function, and soft factor. After setting up a general subtraction formalism, we obtain a factorization theorem. To avoid complications with Ward identities the full derivation is restricted to abelian gauge theories; even so the resulting structure is highly suggestive of a similar treatment for non-abelian gauge theories.Comment: 44 pages, 69 figures typos fixed, clarifications and second appendix adde

Nonlinearity of vacuum reggeons and exclusive diffractive production of vector mesons at HERA

The processes of exclusive photo- and electroproduction of vector mesons $\rho^0$(770), $\phi$(1020) and $J/\psi$(3096) at collision energies $30 GeV<W<300 GeV$ and transferred momenta squared $0<-t<2 GeV^2$ are considered in the framework of a phenomenological Regge-eikonal scheme with nonlinear Regge trajectories in which their QCD asymptotic behavior is taken into account explicitly. By comparison of available experimental data from ZEUS and H1 Collaborations with the model predictions it is demonstrated that corresponding angular distributions and integrated cross-sections in the above-mentioned kinematical range can be quantitatively described with use of two $C$-even vacuum Regge trajectories. These are the "soft" pomeron dominating the high energy reactions without a hard scale and the "hard" pomeron giving an essential contribution to photo- and electroproduction of heavy vector mesons and deeply virtual electroproduction of light vector mesons.Comment: 25 pages, 12 figure

Dihadron fragmentation functions and high Pt hadron-hadron correlations

We propose the formulation of a dihadron fragmentation function in terms of parton matrix elements. Under the collinear factorization approximation and facilitated by the cut-vertex technique, the two hadron inclusive cross section at leading order (LO) in e+ e- annihilation is shown to factorize into a short distance parton cross section and the long distance dihadron fragmentation function. We also derive the DGLAP evolution equation of this function at leading log. The evolution equation for the non-singlet quark fragmentation function is solved numerically with a simple ansatz for the initial condition and results are presented for cases of physical interest.Comment: Latex, 4 pages, 4 figures, talk given at Quark Matter 2004, To appear in J. Phys.

Next-to-Leading Order Hard Scattering Using Fully Unintegrated Parton Distribution Functions

We calculate the next-to-leading order fully unintegrated hard scattering coefficient for unpolarized gluon-induced deep inelastic scattering using the logical framework of parton correlation functions developed in previous work. In our approach, exact four-momentum conservation is maintained throughout the calculation. Hence, all non-perturbative functions, like parton distribution functions, depend on all components of parton four-momentum. In contrast to the usual collinear factorization approach where the hard scattering coefficient involves generalized functions (such as Dirac $\delta$-functions), the fully unintegrated hard scattering coefficient is an ordinary function. Gluon-induced deep inelastic scattering provides a simple illustration of the application of the fully unintegrated factorization formalism with a non-trivial hard scattering coefficient, applied to a phenomenologically interesting case. Furthermore, the gluon-induced process allows for a parameterization of the fully unintegrated gluon distribution function.Comment: 22 pages, Typos Fixed, Reference Added, Minor Clarification Adde

TGFβ1 orchestrates renal fibrosis following Escherichia coli pyelonephritis

Renal scarring after pyelonephritis is linked to long-term health risks for hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Androgen exposure increases susceptibility to, and severity of, uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) pyelonephritis and resultant scarring in both male and female mice, while anti-androgen therapy is protective against severe urinary tract infection (UTI) in these models. This work employed androgenized female C57BL/6 mice to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of post-infectious renal fibrosis and to determine how these pathways are altered by the presence of androgens. We found that elevated circulating testosterone levels primed the kidney for fibrosis by increasing local production of TGFβ1 before the initiation of UTI, altering the ratio of transcription factors Smad2 and Smad3 and increasing the presence of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like cells and Gli1 + activated myofibroblasts, the cells primarily responsible for deposition of scar components. Increased production of TGFβ1 and aberrations in Smad2:Smad3 were maintained throughout the course of infection in the presence of androgen, correlating with renal scarring that was not observed in non-androgenized female mice. Pharmacologic inhibition of TGFβ1 signaling blunted myofibroblast activation. We conclude that renal fibrosis after pyelonephritis is exacerbated by the presence of androgens and involves activation of the TGFβ1 signaling cascade, leading to increases in cortical populations of MSC-like cells and the Gli1 + activated myofibroblasts that are responsible for scarring

Diffraction and the Pomeron

Recent experimental results on inclusive diffractive scattering and on exclusive vector meson production are reviewed. The dynamical picture of hard diffraction emerging in perturbative QCD is highlighted.Comment: 25 pages, 21 postscript figures, contribution to the XIX International Symposium on Lepton and Photon Interactions at High Energies, Stanford University, August 9-14, 199