Abstract NLO evolution of the Jalilian-Marian-Iancu-McLerran-Weigert-Leonidov-Kovner (JIMWLK) equation with massless quarks was Vines derived a few years ago.We make a step further to compute the evolution kernels focusing on the effects due to finite quark masses.To this goal, the light-cone wave function of a fast moving dilute hadronic projectile is computed up to O $$ mathcal{O} $$ (g 3) in QCD coupling constant.
Compared with the massless case, a new IR divergence emerges, which is eventually canceled by a mass dependent Eyebrow Pencil counter term.Our results extend the theoretical tools used in physics of gluon saturation and aim at improving precision in future phenomenological applications.