Inclusive Electron Scattering from Nuclei at x > 1 and High Q²

Author: Arrington, John R.

Year: 1998

Degree: Dissertation (Ph.D.)

Advisor: Filippone, Bradley W.

Committee Members: Filippone, Bradley W.; Frautschi, Steven C.; Hughes, Emlyn Willard; Porter, Frank C.

Option: Physics

DOI: 10.7907/wkge-my02

Abstract

CEBAF experiment e89-008 measured inclusive electron scattering from nuclei in a Q2 range between 0.8 and 7.3 (GeV/c)2 for xBjorken ≳ 1. The cross sections for scattering from D, C, Fe, and Au were measured. The C, Fe, and Au data have been analyzed in terms of F(y) to examine y-scaling of the quasielastic scattering, and to study the momentum distribution of the nucleons in the nucleus. The data have also been analyzed in terms of the structure function νW2 to examine scaling of the inelastic scattering in x and ξ, and to study the momentum distribution of the quarks. In the regions where quasielastic scattering dominates the cross section (low Q2 or large negative values of y), the data are shown to exhibit y-scaling. However, the y-scaling breaks down once the inelastic contributions become large. The data do not exhibit x-scaling, except at the lowest values of x, while the structure function does appear to scale in the Nachtmann variable, ξ.

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