Pion Electroproduction from Nuclei

Abstract

Detailed understanding of hadron production in nuclei is important for nuclear physics, for the study of hadron-nucleon interactions, and for quantum-electrodynamic experiments involving nuclear targets. The double differential electron-nuclear cross section is calculated for the region of electron energy loss corresponding to excitation of the first nucleon resonance, using a Fermi-gas model of the nucleus. This simple model allows us to reach an analytic expression for the cross section and to tie directly onto the Czyz-Walecka threshold calculation. Further, the quasielastic scattering is calculated in exactly the same nuclear model to indicate the reliability of this approach. Since the results here are model-dependent, such experiments should allow some insight into the nuclear physics.