Non-forward Balitsky-Kovchegov equation and Vector Mesons

TL;DR

This paper derives traveling wave solutions to the full momentum space Balitsky-Kovchegov equation, revealing nonlinear saturation effects and demonstrating compatibility with vector meson production data, including an enhanced saturation scale.

Contribution

It introduces a full momentum space formulation of the BK equation and derives traveling wave solutions that incorporate nonlinear saturation constraints.

Findings

Traveling wave solutions express saturation constraints.

Data supports an enhanced saturation scale at intermediate momentum transfer.

The approach aligns with experimental vector meson production results.

Abstract

Considering the Balitsky-Kovchegov QCD evolution equation in full momentum space, we derive the travelling wave solutions expressing the nonlinear saturation constraints on the dipole scattering amplitude at non-zero momentum transfer. A phenomenological application to elastic vector meson production shows the compatibility of data with the QCD prediction: an enhanced saturation scale at intermediate momentum transfer.