Physics:K-factor

This denomination is used in many contexts, the K standing for (the limits of) knowledge. Also called occasionally fudge factor, this is in general a way to express unknown (or difficult-to-express) effects by a correction factor. In high-energy physics, a K-factor is often used in comparing cross-sections calculated up to leading order (LO), to the same up to next-to-leading order (NLO) ( File:Hepb img371.gif ), or in comparing observed values of cross-sections to those calculated ( File:Hepb img372.gif ).