Gluons in small-$x_B$ deep-inelastic scattering

Abstract

The existing data obtained in deep-inelastic scattering (DIS) experiments in the kinematical region $x_B \approxle 10^{-2}$ and $Q^2 \ge 5 {GeV}^2$ are examined to gain further insight into the dynamics of interacting gluons. It is shown that not only the regularities observed in diffractive scattering and those found in large-transverse-momentum jet production, but also the striking features of the structure function $F_2(x_B,Q^2)$ observed in normal DIS-events in this kinematical region can be understood as direct consequences of self-organized criticality. The results explicitly demonstrate the usefulness of concepts and methods of Complex Sciences in understanding the various striking features observed in high-energy collision processes in which ``soft'' gluons play the dominating role.