Sofferʹs inequality in the QCD parton model

Higher-order corrections (HOC) to Sofferʹs inequality between the various parton distributions are determined within the QCD parton model. The resulting inequality gives an upper bound to the transversity distributions determined in the MS scheme; this bound may be used in any process where transversity distributions enter. For the u- and d-quarks, the HOC are negative and moderate in magnitude. For the sea quarks, the HOC are somewhat larger and also negative.