On the kinematics of (e, e′p) reactions

Abstract

The problem of interpreting experimental data on quasielastic electron scattering on nuclei in A(e, e′p)(A−1) reactions is considered. It is shown that the existing discrepancies in experimental data on the reaction 4He(e, e′p)T are associated with the fact that the residual-nucleus momentum pm as determined from the law of energy-momentum conservation cannot be treated as that which is equal to the momentum p of the primary intranuclear nucleon. Under the assumption that the momentum transferred from the electron to the intranuclear nucleon is redistributed during the divergence of the products of the (e, e′p) reaction in question, the method for extracting p is modified by introducing a kinematical correction, whereby the situation is considerably improved. For a first approximation, the correction can be evaluated on the basis of data on A(e, e′) inclusive reactions. The argument behind this evaluation is illustrated by considering the example of the reaction 4He(e, e′p)T.