Inclusive scattering of electrons from nuclear matter in the GeV range

Abstract We study final-state interaction effects (FSI) in inclusive electron scattering of several GeV from nuclear matter. We consider separately the cases of “elastic” and “inelastic” knockout of, respectively, a nucleon and a non-nucleonic particle. For the former category FSI have been calculated, using the first cumulant approximation of a relativistic generalization of the theory of Gersch et al., including intermediate NN states with produced hadrons. We also discuss a formal expression for the first cumulant approximation on the basis of the PWIA. FSI between an inelastically knocked-out particle and core nucleons are neglected. We present two scaling analyses of the data, from which the above “inelastic” contributions have been removed. The data expressed in a relativistic West variable show scaling of a much better quality than the same in the IA scaling variable. Predictions for inclusive cross sections in the two first cumulant versions are presented and discussed. We make a critical comparison of the above with the IA approach of Benhar et al. and their results.