Simultaneous QCD analysis of diffractive and inclusive deep-inelastic scattering data

We perform a next-to-leading order (NLO) QCD analysis of deep-inelastic scattering data, in which we account for absorptive corrections. These corrections are determined from a simultaneous analysis of diffractive deep-inelastic data. The absorptive effects are found to enhance the size of the gluon distribution at small $x$, such that a negative input gluon distribution at $Q^2=1{\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}}^2$ is no longer required. We discuss the problem that the gluon distribution is valence-like at low scales, whereas the sea quark distribution grows with decreasing $x$. Our study hints at the possible importance of power corrections for $Q^2\simeq 1-2{\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}}^2$.