Testing the Equivalent Photon Approximation of the Proton in the Process $e p\to \nu W X$

Abstract

The accuracy of the equivalent photon approximation (EPA) of the proton in describing the inelastic process $ep\to \nu W X$ is investigated. In particular, the scale dependence of the corresponding inelastic photon distribution is discussed. Furthermore, an estimate of the total number of events, including the ones coming from the elastic and quasi-elastic channels of the reaction, is given for the HERA collider.