Hard diffractive scattering: partons and QCD

Abstract

The HERA diffractive structure function data are interpreted in terms of `diffractive parton distributions' which satisfy DGLAP evolution. These distributions are modeled assuming that the scattering takes place off a colour singlet `pomeron' target. A quantitative test of the universality of diffractive parton distributions is proposed.

6 pages (LaTeX), including 1 embedded figure, uses epsfig.sty. Based on talks presented at the Workshop on HERA Physics (Durham, September 1995) and the DIS96 Workshop (Rome, April 1996)