Constraining the Proton's Gluon Density by Inclusive Charm Electroproduction at HERA

Abstract

We analyze the capability of charm production in deep-inelastic ep scattering at HERA to constrain the gluon distribution g(y,μ^2) of the proton. The dependence of the theoretical predictions for the charm structure function F_2^c on the mass factorization scale μand the charm mass is investigated. F_2^c seems to be well suited for a rather clean and local gluon measurement at small momentum fractions y.

6 pages LateX, 4 eps-figures, additional style file procl.sty included. Invited talk presented at the International Workshop on Deep Inelastic Scattering and Related Phenomena (DIS'96), Rome, Italy, April 15--19, 1996. To appear in the proceedings. Changes wrt original version of January: Numerical results updated using the improved coefficient function parametrization of Riemersma et al. (without changing any conclusions), text slightly modified (mainly shortened)