Saturation and Traveling waves

Abstract

High parton density effects with energy obey non-linear QCD evolution equations for which exact solutions are not known. The mathematical class to which the non-linear Balitsky-Kovchegov equation belongs is identified, proving the existence of asymptotic in energy traveling wave solutions which are ``universal'' i.e. independent of the initial conditions and of the precise form of the non-linearities. This has an direct impact on geometrical scaling and the diffusive transition to saturation, which is shown to be ``normal'' for constant QCD coupling and ``abnormal'' for running coupling.