Two-loop QCD corrections to the scattering of massless distinct quarks☆

Abstract We present the two-loop virtual QCD corrections to the scattering of distinct massless quarks, q q →q′ q ′ , in conventional dimensional regularisation. The structure of the infrared divergences agrees with that predicted by Catani while expressions for the finite remainder are given for each of the s -, t - and u -channels in terms of polylogarithms. The results presented here form a vital part of the next-to-next-to-leading order contribution to inclusive jet production in hadron colliders and will play a crucial role in improving the theoretical prediction for jet cross sections in hadron–hadron collisions.