Polarized parton distributions from charged-current deep-inelastic scattering and future neutrino factories

We discuss the determination of polarized parton distributions from charged -current deep-inelastic scattering experiments. We summarize the next-to-le ading-order treatment of charged-current polarized structure functions, the ir relation to polarized parton distributions and scale dependence, and dis cuss their description by means of a next-to-leading-order evolution code. We discuss current theoretical expectations and positivity constraints on t he unmeasured C-odd combinations Deltaq-Delta(q) over bar of polarized quar k distributions, and their determination in charged-current deep-inelastic scattering experiments. We give estimates of the expected errors on charged -current structure functions at a future neutrino factory, and perform a st udy of the accuracy in the determination of polarized parton distributions that would be possible at such a facility. We show that these measurements have the potential to distinguish between different theoretical scenarios f or the proton spin structure. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. Ail rights res erved.