Real and Virtual Photoproduction of Large-pt Particles at NLO

In the first part of this paper we assess the possibility of observing the gluon distribution in a real photon by measuring the photoproduction cross section of large-pt photons. In the second part we calculate the virtual photoproduction of large-pt forward pi0. The theoretical results are compared with data and with BFKL-inspired predictions. These studies are done at the NLO approximation.Comment: Latex, 8 pages with 4 figure

Is a Large Intrinsic k_T Needed to Describe Photon + Jet Photoproduction at HERA?

We study the photoproduction of an isolated photon and a jet based on a code of partonic event generator type which includes the full set of next-to-leading order corrections. We compare our results to a recent ZEUS analysis in which an effective k_T of the incoming partons has been determined. We find that no additional intrinsic k_T is needed to describe the data.Comment: 23 pages LaTeX, 12 figure

New NLO Parametrizations of the Parton Distributions in Real Photons

We present new NLO sets of parton distributions in real photons based on a scheme invariant definition of the non-perturbative input. We compare the theoretical predictions with LEP data and a best fit allows us to constrain the parameters of the distributions. The shape of the gluon distribution is poorly constrained and we consider the possibility to measure it in photoproduction experiments. Three parametrizations which aim to take into account the scattering of LEP data are proposed. They are compared to other NLO parametrizations.Comment: 38 pages, 23 Postscript figures, fig. 6,7,8,9 improved, comparisons with other NLO parametrizations, added reference

Real photon structure at an e^+e^- linear collider

Previous studies of the kinematic coverage for measuring the photon structure function F_2^gamma at a future 500 GeV e^+e^- linear collider are updated using current estimates of luminosities and important detector parameters. The perturbative expansion for the evolution of F_2^gamma is briefly recalled in view of a recent claim that all existing next-to-leading order analyses of the photon structure are incorrect. A simple illustration is given of the different sensitivities of hadronic and photonic structure functions on the strong coupling constant alpha_s.Comment: 6 pages LaTeX including 7 eps-figures, uses espcrc2.sty (included). Talk presented at PHOTON'99, Freiburg (Germany), May 1999. To appear in the proceedings [Nucl. Phys. B (Proc. Suppl.)

Next-To-Leading Order Determination of Fragmentation Functions

We analyse LEP and PETRA data on single inclusive charged hadron cross-sections to establish new sets of Next-to-Leading order Fragmentation Functions. Data on hadro-production of large-$p_{\bot}$ hadrons are also used to constrain the gluon Fragmentation Function. We carry out a critical comparison with other NLO parametrizations

A new critical study of photon production in hadronic collisions

In the light of the new prompt photon data collected by PHENIX at RHIC and by D0 at the run II of the Tevatron, we revisit the world prompt photon data, both inclusive and isolated, in hadronic collisions, and compare them with the NLO QCD calculations implemented in the Monte Carlo programme JETPHOX.Comment: 19 pages; 12 figure

A critical phenomenological study of inclusive photon production in hadronic collisions

We discuss fixed target and ISR inclusive photon production and attempt a comparison between theory and experiments. The dependence of the theoretical predictions on the structure functions, and on the renormalization and factorization scales is investigated. The main result of this study is that the data cannot be simultaneously fitted with a single set of scales and structure functions. On the other hand, there is no need for an additional intrinsic $k_{_T}$ to force the agreement between QCD predictions and experiments, with the possible exception of one data set. Since the data cover almost overlapping kinematical ranges this raises the question of consistency among data sets. A comparative discussion of some possible sources of experimental uncertainties is sketched.Comment: 22 pages, 3 tables, 10 figures, Late