Precocious Scaling: Evidence for Field Theory

Abstract

We derive expressions for the Wilson coefficient functions in terms of moments of $W_{1,2}$ treating target-mass effects exactly. An analysis of existing electroproduction data indicates that scaling in the Wilson sense sets in for $Q^2$ as low as 2-3 ${\mathrm{GeV}}^2$. The effective charge ${\alpha }_s\left(Q^2\right)$ appears to be small and may have $Q^2$ dependence only within experimental errors. We consider these results as evidence that the underlying theory of strong interactions is a field theory.