Next-leading BFKL effects in forward-jet production at HERA

Abstract

We show that next-leading logarithmic (NLL) Balitsky-Fadin-Kuraev-Lipatov (BFKL) effects can be tested by the forward-jet cross sections recently measured at HERA. For dσ/dx, the NLL corrections are small which confirms the stability of the BFKL description. The triple differential cross section dσ/dxdk_T^2dQ^2 is sensitive to NLL effects and opens the way for an experimental test of the full BFKL theoretical framework at NLL accuracy.

5 pages, 4 figures, NLL-BFKL saddle-point approximation now compared with exact integration, version to appear in PLB