https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s2004-02054-5
theoretical physics
Inclusive photoproduction of D * mesons with massive charm quarks
1
II. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
2
Institut für Physik, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität, Staudinger Weg 7, 55099, Mainz, Germany
* e-mail: hspiesb@thep.physik.uni-mainz.de
We have calculated the next-to-leading order cross sections for the inclusive production of D
* mesons in 
collisions at HERA in two approaches using massive or massless charm quarks. The usual massive theory for the direct cross section with charm quarks only in the final state was transformed into a massive theory with 
subtraction by subtracting the mass divergent and additional finite terms calculated earlier in connection with the process 
. This theory approaches the massless theory with increasing transverse momentum. The difference between the massive and the massless approach with subtraction is studied in detail in those kinematic regions relevant for comparison with experimental data. With these results and including the resolved cross section which is dominated by the part originating from the charm in the photon, we compute the fully inclusive 
cross section and compare it with preliminary data from the ZEUS collaboration at HERA. We find on average good agreement.
© Springer-Verlag, 2004
