A New Approach to the Gluon Structure Function

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel method to compute the gluon structure function of a color dipole using near-light-cone Hamiltonian techniques and variational ground states, providing qualitative comparisons to experimental parameterizations.

Contribution

It presents a new approach evaluating SU(2) gluon field operators near the light cone with a variational vacuum, advancing the theoretical calculation of gluon structure functions.

Findings

Qualitative agreement with NLO MRST 2002 parameterization at Q^2=1.5 GeV^2

Use of a variational ground state for the near-light-cone Hamiltonian

Calculation of gluon structure function for a four-link dipole

Abstract

We calculate the gluon structure function of a color dipole in a new approach evaluating the matrix elements of SU(2) gluon field operators separated along a direction close to the light cone. As vacuum state in the pure glue sector, we use a variational ground state of the near-light-cone Hamiltonian. With a mean momentum fraction of the gluons fixed to the "experimental value" in a proton, the resulting gluon structure function for a dipole state with four links is compared qualitatively to the NLO \emph{MRST} 2002 parameterization at $Q^2=1.5 \mathrm{GeV}^2$.