Abstract
We argue that the distribution functions for quarks and gluons are computable at small for sufficiently large nuclei, perhaps larger than can be physically realized. For such nuclei, we argue that weak coupling methods may be used. We show that the computation of the distribution functions can be recast as a many-body problem with a modified propagator, a coupling constant which depends on the multiplicity of particles per unit rapidity per unit area, and for non-Abelian gauge theories, some extra media-dependent vertices. We explicitly compute the distribution function for gluons to lowest order, and argue how they may be computed in higher order.
- Received 21 September 1993
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.49.2233
©1994 American Physical Society
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Physical Review D 50th Anniversary Milestones
This collection of seminal papers from PRD highlights research that remains central to developments today in particle physics, quantum field and string theory, gravitation, cosmology, and particle astrophysics.