Target mass and finite $t$ corrections to diffractive deeply inelastic scattering

Understand

The quantum field theoretic treatment of inclusive deep--inelastic diffractive scattering given in a previous paper \cite{BGR2006} is discussed in detail using an equivalent formulation with the aim to derive a representation suitable for data analysis.

• We consider the off-cone twist--2 light-cone operators to derive the target mass and finite $t$ corrections to diffractive deep--inelastic scattering and deep--inelastic scattering.
• The corrections turn out to be at most proportional to $x |t|/Q^2, x M^2/Q^2, x = x_{\rm BJ} {\rm or} x_\PP$, which suggests an expansion in these parameters.
• Their contribution varies in size considering diffractive scattering or meson--exchange processes.