The complete formula up to the next-to-leading order in quantum chromodynamics is derived for the Drell-Yan cross section: The two-loop anomalous dimension is included in the parton distribution functions and the one-loop finite part is taken into account in the parton hard scattering. It is found that the famous scheme dependence of the running coupling constant disputed in deep-inelastic scattering also shows up here in the Drell-Yan process and influences the magnitude of the next-to-leading-order corrections. The quantum-chromodynamics correction to the parton-model sum rule in the Drell-Yan process is also discussed and found to be large.

• Received 12 March 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.22.663