A Screened BFKL Interpretation of $F_2$ in the Exceedingly Small x Limit

Abstract

In this letter we show that the behaviour of $F_{2}$, at very small $x_B$, agrees with the behaviour expected from the BFKL evolution equation, when screening corrections are included. We obtain a description which is consistent with the data, however, we require the screening corrections to be relatively large (about a quarter of the total DIS cross section). The relation between the screening corrections and the diffractive DIS cross section is discussed.