Parton distribution function uncertainties and nuclear corrections for the LHC

We study nuclear effects of charged current deep inelastic neutrino-iron scattering in the framework of a chi^2 analysis of parton distribution functions (PDFs). We extract a set of iron PDFs which are used to compute x_Bj-dependent and Q^2-dependent nuclear correction factors for iron structure functions which are required in global analyses of free nucleon PDFs. We compare our results with nuclear correction factors from neutrino-nucleus scattering models and correction factors for charged lepton-iron scattering. We find that, except for very high x_Bj, our correction factors differ in both shape and magnitude from the correction factors of the models and charged-lepton scattering

The floor in the interplanetary magnetic field: Estimation on the basis of relative duration of ICME observations in solar wind during 1976-2000

To measure the floor in interplanetary magnetic field and estimate the time- invariant open magnetic flux of Sun, it is necessary to know a part of magnetic field of Sun carried away by CMEs. In contrast with previous papers, we did not use global solar parameters: we identified different large-scale types of solar wind for 1976-2000 interval, obtained a fraction of interplanetary CMEs (ICMEs) and calculated magnitude of interplanetary magnetic field B averaged over 2 Carrington rotations. The floor of magnetic field is estimated as B value at solar cycle minimum when the ICMEs were not observed and it was calculated to be 4,65 \pm 6,0 nT. Obtained value is in a good agreement with previous results.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, submitted in GR

Higher-Order QCD Corrections to Inclusive Particle Production in p anti-p Collisions

Inclusive single-particle production cross sections have been calculated including higher-order QCD corrections. Transverse-momentum and rapidity distributions are presented and the scale dependence is studied. The results are compared with experimental data from the CERN S(p anti-p)S Collider and the Fermilab Tevatron.Comment: 28 pages, [12 uuencoded PS figures, 3 available under request]. Preprint DESY 92-13

Nuclear Parton Distribution Functions

We study nuclear effects of charged current deep inelastic neutrino-iron scattering in the framework of a chi^2 analysis of parton distribution functions (PDFs). We extract a set of iron PDFs which are used to compute x_Bj-dependent and Q^2-dependent nuclear correction factors for iron structure functions which are required in global analyses of free nucleon PDFs. We compare our results with nuclear correction factors from neutrino-nucleus scattering models and correction factors for charged-lepton--iron scattering. We find that, except for very high x_Bj, our correction factors differ in both shape and magnitude from the correction factors of the models and charged-lepton scattering.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, to appear in the proceedings of the Ringberg Workshop "New Trends in HERA Physics 2008

Spin-dependent Parton Distributions from Polarized Structure Function Data

In the past year, polarized deep inelastic scattering experiments at CERN and SLAC have obtained structure function measurements off proton, neutron and deuteron targets at a level of precision never before achieved. The measurements can be used to test the Bjorken and Ellis-Jaffe sum rules, and also to obtain information on the parton distributions in polarized nucleons. We perform a global leading-order QCD fit to the proton deep inelastic data in order to extract the spin-dependent parton distributions. By using parametric forms which are consistent with theoretical expectations at large and small $x$, we find that the quark distributions are now rather well constrained. We assume that there is no significant intrinsic polarization of the strange quark sea. The data are then consistent with a modest amount of the proton's spin carried by the gluon, although the shape of the gluon distribution is not well constrained, and several qualitatively different shapes are suggested. The spin-dependent distributions we obtain can be used as input to phenomenological studies for future polarized hadron-hadron and lepton-hadron colliders.Comment: 23 pages, DTP/94/3

Double π0\pi^0 Photoproduction off the Proton at Threshold

The reaction $\gamma p \to \pi^0 \pi^0 p$ has been measured using the TAPS BaF$_2$ calorimeter at the tagged photon facility of the Mainz Microtron accelerator. Chiral perturbation theory (ChPT) predicts that close to threshold this channel is significantly enhanced compared to double pion final states with charged pions. In contrast to other reaction channels, the lower order tree terms are strongly suppressed in 2$\pi^0$ photoproduction. The consequence is the dominance of pion loops in the 2$\pi^0$ channel close to threshold - a result that opens new prospects for the test of ChPT and in particular its inherent loop terms. The present measurement is the first which is sensitive enough for a conclusive comparison with the ChPT calculation and is in agreement with its prediction. The data also show good agreement with a calculation in the unitary chiral approach.Comment: Submitted to PL

Global QCD Analysis and the CTEQ Parton Distributions

The CTEQ program for the determination of parton distributions through a global QCD analysis of data for various hard scattering processes is fully described. A new set of distributions, CTEQ3, incorporating several new types of data is reported and compared to the two previous sets of CTEQ distributions. Comparison with current data is discussed in some detail. The remaining uncertainties in the parton distributions and methods to further reduce them are assessed. Comparisons with the results of other global analyses are also presented.Comment: (Change in Latex style only: 2up style removed since many don't have it.) 35 pages, 23 figures separately submitted as uuencoded compressed ps-file; Michigan State Report # MSU-HEP/41024 and CTEQ 40

Deep Inelastic Scattering from off-Shell Nucleons

We derive the general structure of the hadronic tensor required to describe deep-inelastic scattering from an off-shell nucleon within a covariant formalism. Of the large number of possible off-shell structure functions we find that only three contribute in the Bjorken limit. In our approach the usual ambiguities encountered when discussing problems related to off-shellness in deep-inelastic scattering are not present. The formulation therefore provides a clear framework within which one can discuss the various approximations and assumptions which have been used in earlier work. As examples, we investigate scattering from the deuteron, nuclear matter and dressed nucleons. The results of the full calculation are compared with those where various aspects of the off-shell structure are neglected, as well as with those of the convolution model.Comment: 36 pages RevTeX, 9 figures (available upon request), ADP-93-210/T128, PSI-PR-93-13, accepted for publication in Physical Review

Origins of the Ambient Solar Wind: Implications for Space Weather

The Sun's outer atmosphere is heated to temperatures of millions of degrees, and solar plasma flows out into interplanetary space at supersonic speeds. This paper reviews our current understanding of these interrelated problems: coronal heating and the acceleration of the ambient solar wind. We also discuss where the community stands in its ability to forecast how variations in the solar wind (i.e., fast and slow wind streams) impact the Earth. Although the last few decades have seen significant progress in observations and modeling, we still do not have a complete understanding of the relevant physical processes, nor do we have a quantitatively precise census of which coronal structures contribute to specific types of solar wind. Fast streams are known to be connected to the central regions of large coronal holes. Slow streams, however, appear to come from a wide range of sources, including streamers, pseudostreamers, coronal loops, active regions, and coronal hole boundaries. Complicating our understanding even more is the fact that processes such as turbulence, stream-stream interactions, and Coulomb collisions can make it difficult to unambiguously map a parcel measured at 1 AU back down to its coronal source. We also review recent progress -- in theoretical modeling, observational data analysis, and forecasting techniques that sit at the interface between data and theory -- that gives us hope that the above problems are indeed solvable.Comment: Accepted for publication in Space Science Reviews. Special issue connected with a 2016 ISSI workshop on "The Scientific Foundations of Space Weather." 44 pages, 9 figure

Hadron Production in Diffractive Deep-Inelastic Scattering

Characteristics of hadron production in diffractive deep-inelastic positron-proton scattering are studied using data collected in 1994 by the H1 experiment at HERA. The following distributions are measured in the centre-of-mass frame of the photon dissociation system: the hadronic energy flow, the Feynman-x (x_F) variable for charged particles, the squared transverse momentum of charged particles (p_T^{*2}), and the mean p_T^{*2} as a function of x_F. These distributions are compared with results in the gamma^* p centre-of-mass frame from inclusive deep-inelastic scattering in the fixed-target experiment EMC, and also with the predictions of several Monte Carlo calculations. The data are consistent with a picture in which the partonic structure of the diffractive exchange is dominated at low Q^2 by hard gluons.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Phys. Lett.