Hard Processes in Electron-Proton Scattering

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent HERA experimental results on hard electron-proton scattering processes, shedding light on proton structure, testing Quantum Chromodynamics, and exploring potential signs of new physics.

Contribution

It summarizes experimental findings from HERA on hard ep-scattering, emphasizing insights into proton structure and QCD validation.

Findings

Proton structure resolved through hard scattering data

Tests of perturbative QCD with experimental cross sections

Potential deviations indicating new physics or higher-order effects

Abstract

This report summarizes some of the recent HERA results obtained by studying hard processes in ep-scattering. By resolving the structure of the proton, hard ep-reactions provide information on the parton content of the proton and may give insight into the dynamics of the exchanged parton cascade. In addition, their study offers the possibility to test the Standard Model, in particular perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics, on which the theoretical predictions on ep-scattering cross sections are generally based. Any observed deviation between the data and existing theoretical models would either indicate the need to calculate higher order contributions or hint at signs of new physics.