Isolated photon cross section and resummation of the logarithms of the cone radius

Abstract

The cone isolation criterion used in large-pt photon experiments generates logarithms of the cone radius in the theoretical cross sections. When a small radius is used, unitarity is violated as the inclusive cross section is smaller than the isolated one. We show that unitarity is restored when these logarithms are resummed. We also study a criterion which offers a more precise description of the experimental procedure : no isolation is imposed in a very small cone inside the standard one. In this case as well unitarity is violated and the resummation of logarithms is required.