A Comprehensive Approach to Structure Functions

Abstract

We present a model based on a dipole picture with a hard and a soft pomeron in which large dipoles couple to the soft pomeron and small dipoles couple to the hard pomeron. The parameters in the model are fixed by proton-proton scattering and the proton structure function. The model is then applied successfully to the proton charm structure function, the proton longitudinal structure function, J/psi photoproduction, deep virtual Compton scattering, the real photon-proton total cross section, the real photon-photon cross section, and the photon structure function. Differences between our predictions and data on charm production in real photon-photon interactions and the virtual gamma-gamma cross section are discussed.