On extracting the deep inelastic structure of reggeons from high-energy muon-proton experiments

Abstract

We discuss how one can extract the reggeon structure functions from the inclusive distributions μp → μ + H + X, whereH = p, n, Δ(N π), … We concentrate mainly on the pion structure functions, which can be extracted from μp → μ + n + X and μp → μ + Δ(N π) + X, by virtue of the dominance of one-pion exchange (OPE). Here we include an estimate of the cross section and discuss in some detail the possible backgrounds, which, under certain plausible assumptions, we argue are small in an accessible experimental region, where the OPE cross section is largest. The discussion includes experimental tests for these backgrounds and procedures for disentangling the OPE from them, should they be important. We conclude by giving a possible experimental test of the validity of basic assumptions involved in showing that absorption corrections to OPE are small in the deep inelastic region.