Choosing the Factorization Scale in Perturbative QCD

Abstract

We define the collinear factorization scheme, which absorbs only the collinear physics into the parton distribution functions. In order to isolate the collinear physics, we introduce a procedure to combine real and virtual corrections, canceling infrared singularities prior to integration. In the collinear scheme, the factorization scale $\mu$ has a simple physical interpretation as a collinear cutoff. We present a method for choosing the factorization scale and apply it to the Drell-Yan process; we find $\mu \approx Q/2$, where $Q$ is the vector-boson invariant mass. We show that, for a wide variety of collision energies and $Q$, the radiative corrections are small in the collinear scheme for this choice of factorization scale.