Semi-inclusive Deep Inelastic Scattering at small x

Abstract

We study the semi-inclusive hadron production in deep inelastic scattering at small $x$. A transverse momentum dependent factorization is found consistent with the results calculated in the small-$x$ approaches, such as the color-dipole framework and the color glass condensate, in the appropriate kinematic region at the lowest order. The transverse momentum dependent quark distribution can be studied in this process as a probe for the small-$x$ saturation physics. Especially, the ratio of quark distributions as a function of transverse momentum at different $x$ demonstrates strong dependence on the saturation scale. The $Q^2$ dependence of the same ratio is also studied by applying the Collins-Soper-Sterman resummation method.

Comments: 12 pages, 3 figures. v2: comments added, figures modified