Calculations of quasielastic electron scattering from nuclei at high momentum transfers

Author: Allder, Anne

Year: 1992

Degree: Dissertation (Ph.D.)

Advisor: Koonin, Steven E.

Committee Member: Seki, Ryoichi

Option: Physics

DOI: 10.7907/d08g-aa33

Abstract

I perform calculations of high momentum-transfer, quasielastic electron scattering from nuclei using a relativistic, microscopic model of the reaction that includes the effects of final-state interactions via an eikonal approximation and the effects of color transparency via a cross-section that varies along the exit path of the proton. The results of this microscopic calculation agree to 5% with a semiclassical estimate based on the mean free path of the proton in the nuclear medium. The overall uncertainty in the calculation is on the order of 10%; this figure is dominated by uncertainties in the potential that describes the final state interaction. Color transparency effects an enhancement on the order of a few percent (in total cross-section) for Q^2=1 GeV^2, and ten percent for Q^2=10 GeV^2. The predictions of various specific transparency models differ by approximately 20%, and thus are probably not experimentally distinguishable for Q^2<10 GeV^2.

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