Convolution Model for the Structure Functions of the Nucleon

Abstract

We start from an MIT-bag model calculation which provides information about the constituent quark distributions in the nucleon. The constituent quarks, however, are themselves considered as complex objects whose partonic substructure is resolved in deep inelastic scattering. This gives rise to structure functions of the constituent quarks which, in the unpolarized case, are fitted to data at a fixed scale employing three model parameters. Using $Q^{2}$--evolution equations the data are also well described at other scales. For the spin\-dependent struc\-ture func\-tions $g_{1}^{p,n}$ we additionally have to introduce polar\-izat\-ion functions for valence and sea quarks which are determined by exploiting the $x$--dependence of the available proton data only. A negatively polarized sea in the range $x\geq 0.01$ is suggested. We are then capable of predicting the shape of the neutron structure function $g_{1}^{n}$ which turns out to be in good agreement with experiment. Finally we present an estimate for the trans\-versely polarized structure function $g_{2}$, offering the possibility of extrac\-ting the twist--3 con\-tri\-bution and rating its importance.