HERA-data in the light of small x evolution with state of the art NLO input

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that incorporating NLO corrections, including running coupling and energy conservation, into JIMWLK evolution equations enables a unified description of HERA's total and diffractive cross sections at small x, matching data up to Q^2 of 1200 GeV^2.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive NLO-corrected JIMWLK evolution framework that successfully describes HERA data for both total and diffractive cross sections at small x.

Findings

Successful description of HERA data with x < 0.02

Inclusion of energy conservation corrections improves fit quality

Analysis of quark mass effects and impact parameter uncertainties

Abstract

Both total and diffractive cross sections from HERA are successfully confronted with JIMWLK evolution equations in the asymptotic pseudo-scaling region. We present a consistent, simultaneous description of both types of cross sections that includes NLO corrections in the form of running coupling and energy conservation corrections. The inclusion of energy conservation corrections allows to match all available data with x below .02 i.e. up to Q^2 of 1200 GeV^2. We discuss the effects of quark masses including charm, contrast asymptotic and pre-asymptotic fit strategies, and survey non-perturbative uncertainties related to impact parameter dependence.