Inclusive Single Hadron Production in Neutral Current Deep-Inelastic Scattering at Next-to-Leading Order

TL;DR

This paper calculates and compares next-to-leading order QCD predictions for single hadron production in neutral current deep-inelastic scattering with HERA data, including Z-boson exchange effects at high Q^2.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed NLO QCD calculations for inclusive single hadron production in neutral current DIS, incorporating Z-boson exchange effects at high momentum transfer.

Findings

NLO QCD predictions agree well with HERA data.

Z-boson exchange effects are significant at high Q^2.

The study enhances understanding of hadron production mechanisms in DIS.

Abstract

A study of inclusive production of single hadrons with finite transverse momentum in neutral current deep-inelastic scattering has been carried out. Cross sections have been calculated using perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics at next-to-leading order and compared to HERA data. Predictions for light charged hadron production data were also calculated for large values of Q^2 to show the possible effects of the Z-boson exchange.