Polarized Parton Densities and Processes

Abstract

The main goals of `spin physics' are recalled, and some theoretical and phenomenological aspects of longitudinally polarized deep inelastic scattering and other hard processes are reviewed. The spin dependent parton densities of protons and photons and polarized fragmentation functions are introduced, and the relevant theoretical framework in next-to-leading order QCD is briefly summarized. Technical complications typical for spin dependent calculations beyond the leading order of QCD, like a consistent gamma_5 prescription, are sketched, and some recent results for jet and heavy quark production are discussed. Special emphasis is put on conceivable measurements at a future polarized upgrade of the HERA collider which is currently under consideration.