QCD minijet cross sections

We calculate the lowest-order QCD jet cross section for a variety of different sets of structure functions, QCD scales, and parton minimum transverse momentum $p_T^{min}$. We compare our theoretical results with the experimental data for the jet differential and total cross sections including the minijet regime in order to study the correlations between the various parameters. We find that for a constant $K$ factor the choice of scale $Q^2=p_T^2$ provides the best representation of the experimental data. With a $K$ factor of order 2, a theoretical cutoff of $p_T^{min}\sim 3$ GeV seems to describe the observed total minijet cross section with $E_T^{\mathrm{jet}} \left(E_T^{\mathrm{raw}}\right)\ge 5$ GeV. We extrapolate our results to yield predictions for the expected minijet cross section at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider which should have some resolving power to distinguish the different sets of structure functions and choices of scale.