Phenomenology of IR-renormalons in inclusive processes

We have compared the existing experimental data on the leading power corrections to the structure functions $F_2(x,Q^2), F_3(x,Q^2)$, and $F_L(x,Q^2)$ with the IR-renormalon model predictions for higher-twist contributions. Our analysis shows that the model properly describes the x-dependence, but typically falls short by a factor 2 or 3 as far as the magnitude of higher twist corrections is concerned.Comment: revised version, figures modified, conclusions partially change

NLO Corrections to Deeply-Virtual Compton Scattering

We have calculated the NLO corrections to the twist-2 part of the deeply-virtual Compton scattering amplitude. Our results for the transverse and antisymmetric parts agree with recent calculations by Ji and Osborne and by Belitsky and M\"uller. In addition we present NLO results for the longitudinal part of the amplitude.Comment: 8 pages, Latex. Error in polarised gluonic coefficient in Eq.(8) correcte

Perturbative Part of the Non-Singlet Structure Function F_2 in the Large-N_F Limit

We have calculated $\bar{MS}$ Wilson coefficients and anomalous dimensions for the non-singlet part of the structure function F_2 in the large-N_F limit. Our result agrees with exact two and three loop calculations and gives the leading N_F dependence of the perturbative non-singlet Wilson coefficients to all orders in $\alpha_S$.Comment: 11 pages, including one figur

Vector meson electroproduction at next-to-leading order

The process of a light neutral vector meson electroproduction is studied in the framework of QCD factorization in which the amplitude factorizes in a convolution of the nonperturbative meson distribution amplitude and the generalized parton densities with the perturbatively calculable hard-scattering amplitudes. We derive a complete set of hard-scattering amplitudes at next-to-leading order for the production of vector mesons, $V=\rho^0, \omega, \phi$.Comment: latex, 6 pages, with corrected Eq. (12) and added remark on dimensional regularisatio

The intrinsic charm contribution to the proton spin

The charm quark contribution to the first moment of $g_1(x,Q^2)$ is calculated using a heavy mass expansion of the divergence of the singlet axial current. It is shown to be small.Comment: LATEX, 6 page

DVCS on the nucleon : study of the twist-3 effects

We estimate the size of the twist-3 effects on deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) observables, in the Wandzura-Wilczek approximation. We present results in the valence region for the DVCS cross sections, charge asymmetries and single spin asymmetries, to twist-3 accuracy.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figure

Helicity skewed quark distributions of the nucleon and chiral symmetry

We compute the helicity skewed quark distributions $\widetilde{H}$ and $\widetilde{E}$ in the chiral quark-soliton model of the nucleon. This model emphasizes correctly the role of spontaneously broken chiral symmetry in structure of nucleon. It is based on the large-N_c picture of the nucleon as a soliton of the effective chiral lagrangian and allows to calculate the leading twist quark- and antiquark distributions at a low normalization point. We discuss the role of chiral symmetry in the helicity skewed quark distributions $\widetilde{H}$ and $\widetilde{E}$. We show that generalization of soft pion theorems, based on chiral Ward identities, leads in the region of -\xi < x < \xi to the pion pole contribution to $\widetilde{E}$ which dominates at small momentum transfer.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figure