Correct Definition of the Gluon Distribution Function at High Energy Colliders

Abstract

Unlike QED, since F_{\mu \nu}^a(x)F^{\mu \nu a}(0) in QCD contains cubic and quartic powers of the gluon field the present definition of the gluon distribution function at high energy colliders is not consistent with the number operator interpretation of the gluon. In this paper we derive the correct definition of the gluon distribution function at high energy colliders from first principles which is consistent with the number operator interpretation of the gluon and is gauge invariant and is consistent with the factorization theorem in QCD.

Comments: 32 pages latex. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1506.02593