Study of the A(e,e'$\pi^+$) Reaction on $^1$H, $^2$H, $^{12}$C, $^{27}$Al, $^{63}$Cu and $^{197}$Au

TL;DR

This study measures the cross sections of the p(e,e'π+)n reaction on various nuclear targets at different momentum transfers to analyze nuclear transparency and reaction mechanisms, providing detailed experimental data and comparisons with theoretical models.

Contribution

It provides new experimental measurements of nuclear transparency and cross sections across multiple targets and Q^2 values, enhancing understanding of the reaction mechanism in pion electroproduction.

Findings

Nuclear transparency varies with target and Q^2.

Differential cross sections depend on pion momentum.

The data align with certain theoretical model predictions.

Abstract

Cross sections for the p($e,e'\pi^{+}$)n process on $^1$H, $^2$H, $^{12}$C, $^{27}$Al, $^{63}$Cu and $^{197}$Au targets were measured at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) in order to extract the nuclear transparencies. Data were taken for four-momentum transfers ranging from $Q^2$=1.1 to 4.8 GeV$^2$ for a fixed center of mass energy of $W$=2.14 GeV. The ratio of $\sigma_L$ and $\sigma_T$ was extracted from the measured cross sections for $^1$H, $^2$H, $^{12}$C and $^{63}$Cu targets at $Q^2$ = 2.15 and 4.0 GeV$^2$ allowing for additional studies of the reaction mechanism. The experimental setup and the analysis of the data are described in detail including systematic studies needed to obtain the results. The results for the nuclear transparency and the differential cross sections as a function of the pion momentum at the different values of $Q^2$ are presented. Global features of the data are discussed and the data are compared with the results of model calculations for the p($e,e'\pi^{+}$)n reaction from nuclear targets.