Proton structure functions at low $x$: the Fractal distributions

Abstract

In this paper, we present the extraction of the Parton Distribution Functions (PDFs) at small momentum fractions x and at the next-to-leading order (NLO) accuracy in perturbative QCD. We show that the "sea quark distribution functions" have "Fractal" or self-similar behaviour with fixed exponent at $x<0.01$. To this end, a simple parametrization for the Parton Distribution Functions and especially for the sea quarks PDFs based on the "Fractal" approach is considered. The small $x$ experimental datasets on electron-proton ($e^-p$) and positron-proton ($e^+p$) in DIS processes at HERA for the range of $1.5< Q^2 < 650$ ($GeV^2$) and $x<0.01$ are included in this analysis. The estimations of the uncertainty in the present analysis are carried out using the standard "Hessian" method. In total, considering the overall value of $\chi^2/{\rm dof}$ and theory/data comparisons, the results indicate nice agreements between the experimental datasets and the theory predictions at small momentum fractions $x$. Finally, we present detailed comparisons between predictions for the relevant small-$x$ observables obtained with various recent models of proton PDFs available in literature.