HEAVY-QUARK COEFFICIENT FUNCTIONS AT ASYMPTOTIC VALUES Q(2) MUCH-GREATER-THAN M(2)

In this paper we present the analytic form of the heavy quark coeffici ent functions for deep inelastic lepton-hadron scattering in the kinem atical regime Q(2) >> m(2). Here Q(2) and m(2) stand for the masses sq uared of the virtual photon and heavy quark, respectively. The calcula tions have been performed up to next-to-leading order in the strong co upling constant alpha(s) using operator product expansion techniques. Apart from a check on earlier calculations, which however are only acc essible via large computer programs, the asymptotic forms of the coeff icient functions are useful for charm production at HERA when the cond ition Q(2) >> m(c)(2) is satisfied. Furthermore, the analytical expres sions can also be used when one applies the variable flavour number sc heme up to next-to-leading order in alpha(s).