Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering to the twist-four accuracy: Impact of finite-$t$ and target mass corrections

Abstract

We carry out the first complete calculation of kinematic power corrections $\sim t/Q^2$ and $\sim m^2/Q^2$ to several key observables in Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering. The issue of convention dependence of the leading twist approximation is discussed in detail. In addition we work out representations for the higher twist corrections in terms of double distributions, Mellin-Barnes integrals and also within a dissipative framework. This study removes an important source of uncertainties in the QCD predictions for intermediate photon virtualities $Q^2\sim 1$-$5\,{\rm GeV}^2$ that are accessible in the existing and planned experiments. In particular the finite-$t$ corrections are significant and must be taken into account in the data analysis.