Analytic Representation for Deep-Inelastic Electroproduction Structure Functions

Conformal mapping and the ideas of analytic data analysis are used to obtain a new variable for the parametrization of the deep-inelastic proton scaling function, $F_2\left(\omega \right)$. The resulting fits to the scaling-region data are excellent. We note that present scaling data do not uniquely constrain the threshold behavior. Extrapolations to large $\omega$ favor a decreasing $F_2$. Assuming that a simple analytic continuation to the $e^{+}{e}^{-}\to \overline{p}X$ channel is allowed, the fits are extrapolated to this region. The extended reciprocal relation is also discussed.