PARTON DISTRIBUTION BEYOND THE LEADING ORDER

The importance of properly taking into account the factorization scheme dependence of parton distribution functions is emphasized. A serious error in the usual handling of this topic is pointed out and the correct procedure for transforming parton distribution functions from one factorization scheme to another recalled. It is shown that the conventional MSBAR and DIS definitions thereof are ill defined due to the lack of distinction between the factorization scheme dependence of parton distribution functions and renormalization scheme dependence of the strong coupling constant alpha(s). A novel definition of parton distribution functions is suggested and its role in the construction of consistent next-to-leading-order event generators briefly outlined.