Theoretical Analysis of Polarized Structure Functions

Abstract

We review the analysis of polarized structure function data using perturbative QCD at next-to-leading order. We use the most recent experimental data to obtain updated results for polarized parton distributions, first moments and the strong coupling. We also discuss several theoretical issues involved in this analysis and in the interpretation of its results. Finally, we compare our results with other similar analyses in the recent literature.

29 pages, Latex, uses epsfig, 11 eps figures included. Talks given by G. Altarelli and G. Ridolfi at the Cracow Epiphany Conference on Spin Effects in Particle Physics, January 9-11, 1998, Cracow, Poland. Fig. 5 added and a few typos corrected