Deep inelastic prompt photon production at HERA in the kT factorization approach

We investigate the prompt photon production in deep inelastic scattering at HERA in the framework of kT-factorization QCD approach. Our study is based on the off-shell partonic amplitude eq* → eγq, where the photon radiation from the leptons as well as from the quarks is taken into account. The unintegrated quark densities in a proton are determined using the Kimber-Martin-Ryskin prescription. The conservative error analysis is performed. We investigate both inclusive and jet associated prompt photon production rates. Our predictions are compared with the recent experimental data taken by the H1 and ZEUS collaborations. We demonstrate that in the kT-factorization approach the contribution from the quark radiation subprocess (QQ mechanism) is enhanced as compared to the leading-order collinear approximation. (orig.)