Parton Content of Polarized Photons: Theoretical Status and Experimental Prospects

Abstract

The theoretical framework for a next-to-leading order QCD analysis of the spin-dependent parton densities Delta f^{gamma}(x,Q^2) of the longitudinally polarized photon and of its structure function g_1^{gamma}(x,Q^2) is reviewed in some detail. Special emphasis is given to the specific features of different factorization schemes. Two conceivable scenarios for the polarized parton densities Delta f^{gamma}(x,Q^2) are introduced, which are suitable to study the sensitivity of future experiments to the so far unmeasured Delta f^{gamma}. The experimental prospects of determining Delta f^{gamma} at a polarized collider mode of HERA or at a linear e^+e^- collider are outlined. Finally, the Q^2-evolution of the parton content of linearly polarized photons, which shows some remarkable differences, is briefly discussed.