On the calculation of the NLO virtual photon impact factor Original Research Article

The definition of the virtual photon impact factor involves the integration of the s-channel discontinuity of the photon–Reggeon scattering amplitude over the right cut. It permits to formulate a new approach for the calculation of the impact factor based on analytical properties of the amplitude in question. In the next-to-leading order it may give a possibility for considerable simplification of the calculation. We have shown that a part of the diagrams contributing to the impact factor can be treated without their real calculation.