Target mass corrections revisited

We propose a new implementation of target mass corrections to nucleon structure functions which, unlike existing treatments, has the correct kinematic threshold behavior at finite Q2 in the x→1 limit. We illustrate the differences between the new approach and existing prescriptions by considering specific examples for the F2 and FL structure functions, and discuss the broader implications of our results, which call into question the notion of universal parton distribution at finite Q2. © 2006 The American Physical Society.