Hadron final states in deep-inelastic leptoproduction on nuclei

Abstract

We discuss some aspects of the formation of inclusive hadron final states in deep-inelastic electro-, muo- and neutrinoproduction on nuclear targets. The inclusive final states are known to possess a remarkable Q 2 independence in interactions with free nucleons. Nevertheless, we prove that the nuclear spectra and mean multiplicities should have a rather specific and appreciable dependence on Q 2. In leptoproduction on heavy nuclei the yields of particles in nucleus fragmentation rise by a factor of two, as at the fixed energy transfer v one passes from incoherent scattering to diffraction scattering, and the total multiplicities change by 20–40%. The effects predicted seem to be detectable with the current and the near-future experimental facilities. Fermilab bubble chamber neutrino experiments and the coming SPS muon and neutrino experiments deserve special attention in this respect. We also comment on the possibilities offered by leptoproduction on nuclei for testing some absorption models.