A phenomenological study of BFKL evolution

Abstract

The QCD dipole picture allows to build an unified theoretical description -based on BFKL dynamics- of the total and diffractive nucleon structure functions measured at HERA. We use a four parameter fit to describe the 1994 H1 proton structure function $F_{2}$ data in the low x, moderate $Q^{2}$ range. The diffractive dissociation processes are discussed within the same framework, and a 6 parameter fit of the 1994 H1 diffractive structure function data is performed. The BFKL dynamics can also be successfully tested at the $e^+e^-$ collider LEP and a future high energy linear collider. The total $\gamma^*\gamma^*$ cross-section is calculated in the Leading Order QCD dipole picture of BFKL dynamics, and compared with the one from 2-gluon exchange. Next to Leading order corrections to the BFKL evolution have been determined phenomenologically, and are found to give very large corrections to the BFKL cross-section, leading to a reduced sensitivity for observing BFKL effects. The Y dependence of the cross-section remains a powerful tool to increase the ratio between the BFKL and the 2-gluon cross-sections and is more sensitive to BFKL effects, even in the presence of large higher order corrections.