Constraining the Dipole Amplitude at NLO with HERA Data and Probing Gluon Saturation in SIDIS
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: We infer the initial condition for the Balitsky-Kovchegov (BK) evolution equation at next-to-leading order accuracy from HERA proton structure function data. A simultaneous description of both the total cross section and charm production measurements is obtained. We then show that inclusive hadron production in deep inelastic scattering can provide complementary constraints on the non-perturbative initial condition of the BK equation. As a more differential observable, it serves as a sensitive probe of gluon saturation phenomena. We demonstrate this by calculating predictions for the nuclear modification factor in hadron production in photon-nucleus scattering at leading order in the dipole picture. We find that saturation effects lead to significant nuclear suppression at small $x_\mathrm{Bj}$.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Institution: Helsinki Institute of Physics
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Award: G7567520714
OpenAlex ID: W7214901818