Reggeon-calculus approach to high-energy scattering on nuclei

Abstract

We apply Reggeon calculus to high-energy scattering on nuclei. Using methods similar to those of Abramovskii, Gribov, and Kancheli, we show that intranuclear cascading is forbidden. The inclusive spectrum is shown to be similar to that on hydrogen targets for rapidities $\gtrsim \ln \mathrm{}\left(4Rm\right)\mathrm{}$. We give rough arguments to derive the spectrum for $y\lesssim y_0$ and show that our results are in qualitative agreement with the data. In weak-coupling theory elastic scattering from nuclei is shown to be factorizable and determined by one-Pomeron exchange. We speculate on the absorption length of the Pomeron in nuclear matter in "weak-coupling" and "strong-coupling" theories. Our model is compared with the "energy flux cascade" model of Gottfried and the Landau model. These have local particle production, in contrast to multiperipheralism, which involves large longitudinal distances. Crucial tests of our model are our predictions that the mean inelasticity of the leading particle is independent of $A$ and the spectrum $\frac{d\sigma }{\mathrm{dy}}$ is (almost) independent of projectile species.