Shadowing in deuterium and the small--$x$ limit of $F_2^n/F_2^p$ and $F_2^p - F_2^n$

Abstract

We discuss the updated NMC determination of $F_2^n/F_2^p$ and $F_2^p - F_2^n$. Shadowing effects in deuterium make the structure functions determined by the NMC sensibly different from the true ones in the low--$x$ region. We show that the departure of $F_2^n/F_2^p$ and $F_2^p-F_2^n$ from the Regge expectations at small $x$ observed by the NMC likely disappears if one takes into account the shadowing corrections.