The Singlet Contribution to the Structure Function g₁(x,Q²) at Small x

The resummation of $O(\alpha_s^{l+1} \ln^{2l} x)$ terms in the evolution equation of the singlet part of $g_1(x,Q^2)$ is carried out. The corresponding singlet evolution kernels are calculated explicitely. The leading small-$x$ contribution to the three-loop splitting function matrix is determined in the $\overline{\rm MS}$ scheme. Relations are derived for the case of ${\cal N} = 1$ supersymmetric Yang--Mills field theory. Numerical results are presented for the polarized singlet and gluon densities, and the structure functions $g_1^{\, p}(x,Q^2)$ and $g_1^{\, n}(x,Q^2)$. They are compared for different assumptions on the non--perturbative input distributions, and the stability of the results against presently unknown subleading contributions is investigated.