Next-to-Leading-Order QCD Predictions for the Nucleon Form Factors

We accomplish for the first time the next-to-leading-order QCD computations of the leading-twist contributions to the Dirac nucleon form factors by applying the hard-collinear factorization theorem rigorously. Our predictions for these baryon form factors indicate that the one-loop perturbative corrections to the hard-gluon-exchange contributions are numerically substantial for a wide range of momentum transfers. Including further the soft nonfactorizable contributions, we then perform the state-of-the-art analysis of the Dirac nucleon form factors, allowing for the most robust determinations of the nucleon distribution amplitudes from the comparison with the experimental data.