Large-p_T Inclusive pi^0 Cross Sections and Next-to-Leading-Order QCD Predictions

Abstract

We review the phenomenology of pi^0 production at large transverse momentum in proton-induced collisions. Uncertainties in the next-to-leading-order predictions of Quantum Chromodynamics are discussed. The comparison with data reveals that the disagreement between theory and experiment lies essentially in an overall normalization factor. The situation for pi^0 production is contrasted with that of prompt-photon production in hadronic collisions.Comment: 21 pages (Latex), 13 figures (Postscript