Initial condition for the Balitsky-Kovchegov equation at next-to-leading order
Published in Physical Review D, 2025
Abstract: We determine the initial condition of the Balitsky-Kovchegov (BK) evolution equation at next-to-leading order (NLO) accuracy using HERA deep inelastic scattering data. We use Bayesian inference to compare model values, derived from NLO impact factors and the BK evolution equation with kinematical constraint resumming most important higher order corrections, to precise data and to extract posterior distributions characterizing the initial condition. The total cross section and charm quark production data from HERA are found to provide stringent constraints on the posterior. These distributions quantify the uncertainty in the initial condition and serve as necessary input for propagating uncertainties to all NLO calculations within the color glass condensate framework.
Recommended citation: C. Casuga, H. Hänninen, H. Mäntysaari. (2025). "Initial condition for the Balitsky-Kovchegov equation at next-to-leading order" Phys.Rev.D 112 (2025) 3, 034003
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