Single particle spectra in deep inelastic scattering as a probe of small $x$ dynamics

Abstract

We study the transverse momentum ($p_T$) spectrum of charged particles produced in deep inelastic scattering (DIS) at small Bjorken $x$ in the central region between the current jet and the proton remnants. We calculate the spectrum at large $p_T$ with the BFKL $\ln (1/x)$ resummation included and then repeat the calculation with it omitted. We find that data favour the former. We normalize our BFKL predictions by comparing with HERA data for DIS containing a forward jet. The shape of the $x$ distribution of DIS + jet data are also well described by BFKL dynamics.