Extending QCD perturbation theory to higher energies

On the basis of the results of a new renormalisation group improved small-x resummation scheme, we argue that the range of validity of perturbative calculations is considerably extended in rapidity with respect to leading log expectations. We thus provide predictions for the energy dependence of the gluon Green function in its perturbative domain and for the resummed splitting function. As in previous analyses, high-energy exponents are reduced to phenomenologically acceptable values. Additionally, interesting preasymptotic effects are observed. In particular, the splitting function shows a shallow dip in the moderate small-x region, followed by the expected power increase. (orig.)