Nucleon-nucleon correlations and final state interaction in inclusive quasi-elastic electron scattering off nuclei at x≳1

Abstract

Inclusive quasi‐elastic electron scattering off nuclei is investigated at high momentum transfer (Q2≳1 (GeV/c)2) and x≳1 adopting a consistent treatment of nucleon‐nucleon correlations in initial and final states. It is shown that the inclusive cross section at 1.3≲x≲2 is dominated by the absorption of the virtual photon on a pair of correlated nucleons and by their elastic rescattering in the continuum, whereas at x≳2 it is governed by the rescattering of the outgoing off‐mass‐shell nucleon in the complex optical potential generated by the residual (A‐1)‐nucleon system in its ground state.