On solutions of the Balitsky-Kovchegov equation with impact parameter

We numerically analyze the Balitsky-Kovchegov equation with the full dependence on impact parameter b. We show that due to a particular b-dependence of the initial condition the amplitude decreases for large dipole sizes r. Thus the region of saturation has a finite extension in the dipole size r, and its width increases with rapidity. We also calculate the b-dependent saturation scale and discuss limitations on geometric scaling. We demonstrate the instant emergence of the power-like tail in impact parameter, which is due to the long range contributions. Thus the resulting cross section violates the Froissart bound despite the presence of a nonlinear term responsible for saturation. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.