Nuclear transparency from quasielastic A(e,e'p) reactions uo to Q^2=8.1 (GeV/c)^2

TL;DR

This study measures nuclear transparency in quasielastic electron-proton scattering on various targets up to high momentum transfer to search for Color Transparency effects, finding no evidence of such phenomena within the studied Q^2 range.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive measurement of nuclear transparency up to Q^2=8.1 (GeV/c)^2 across multiple targets, extending previous data and testing for Color Transparency onset.

Findings

No evidence of Color Transparency within the studied Q^2 range.

Nuclear transparency depends on the energy-dependent free proton-nucleon cross section.

Data aligns with predictions from the Plane-Wave Impulse Approximation.

Abstract

The quasielastic (e,e$^\prime$p) reaction was studied on targets of deuterium, carbon, and iron up to a value of momentum transfer $Q^2$ of 8.1 (GeV/c)$^2$. A nuclear transparency was determined by comparing the data to calculations in the Plane-Wave Impulse Approximation. The dependence of the nuclear transparency on $Q^2$ and the mass number $A$ was investigated in a search for the onset of the Color Transparency phenomenon. We find no evidence for the onset of Color Transparency within our range of $Q^2$. A fit to the world's nuclear transparency data reflects the energy dependence of the free proton-nucleon cross section.