Intercepts of the non-singlet structure functions

Abstract

Infrared evolution equations for small-$x$ behaviour of the non-singlet structure functions $f_1^{NS}$ and $g_1^{NS}$ are obtained and solved in the next-to-leading approximation, to all orders in $\alpha_s$, and including running $\alpha_s$ effects. The intercepts of these structure functions, i.e. the exponents of the power-like small-$x$ behaviour, are calculated. A detailed comparison with the leading logarithmic approximation (LLA) and DGLAP is made. We explain why the LLA predictions for the small-$x$ dependence of the structure functions may be more reliable than the prediction for the $Q^2$ dependence in the range of $Q^2$ explored at HERA.