Geometrical scaling of heavy-quark contributions in the low $x$ region

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that heavy-quark structure functions in the low x region exhibit geometric scaling, depending on a single variable, and provides a parameterization method validated against HERA data for reliable predictions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to determine heavy-quark structure functions using geometric scaling and analytical parameterizations, validated with experimental data.

Findings

Heavy-quark structure functions exhibit geometric scaling at low x.

The method reliably predicts structure functions across a wide Q^2 range.

Ratios of structure functions for charm and bottom quarks are obtained in HERA kinematics.

Abstract

We describe the determination of the heavy quarks structure functions $F_{2,L}^{\mathcal{Q}\bar{\mathcal{Q}}}$ with help of the scaling properties. We observe that the structure functions for inclusive charm and bottom production exhibits geometric scaling at low $x$. The geometrical scaling means that the heavy quark structure function is a function of only one dimensionless variable $\tau{\equiv}Q^{2}/Q^{2}_{sat}(x)$ including quark mass. These results are valid for any value of $\delta$, being $x^{-\delta}$ the behavior of the parton densities at low $x$. The determination of the heavy quark structure function is presented as a parameterization of the proton structure function $F_{2}(x,Q^{2})$ and its derivative. Analytical expressions for $F_{2,L}^{\mathcal{Q}\bar{\mathcal{Q}}}$ in terms of the effective parameters of the parameterization of $F_{2}(x,Q^{2})$ ,with respect to the BDH and ASW models, are presented. To study the heavy quark production processes, we use the collinear results in DAS approach. Numerical calculations and comparison with HERA data demonstrate that the suggested method provides reliable $F_{2}^{\mathcal{Q}\bar{\mathcal{Q}}}$, $R^{c\bar{c}}$ and $\sigma^{\mathcal{Q}\bar{\mathcal{Q}}}$ at low $x$ in a wide range of the low absolute four-momentum transfers squared ($4~\mathrm{GeV}^{2}<Q^{2}<2000~\mathrm{GeV}^{2}$). Also, in the HERA kinematic range, the ratio of $F_{2}^{c\bar{c}}/F_{2}^{b\bar{b}}$, $F_{2}^{c\bar{c}}/F_{2}^{BDHM}$ and $F_{2}^{b\bar{b}}/F_{2}^{BDHM}$ are obtained. Expanding the method to low and ultra low values of $x$ can be considered in the process analysis of the LHeC and FCC-eh colliders.