Mass divergences in two-particle inelastic scattering

Abstract

Feynman integrals for two-particle inelastic scattering are studied in the limit that the ratio of particle masses to all relevant invariants vanishes. The discussion applies to renormalizable field theories including quantum chromodynamics. Dominant contributions arise from momentum configurations which recall the parton model. The results can be applied to cross sections for single-particle or multiparticle inclusive reactions and to cross sections averaged over small regions of phase space.