Nuclear EMC Effect in a Statistical Model

Abstract

A simple statistical model in terms of light-front kinematic variables is used to explain the nuclear EMC effect in the range $x \in [0.2,~0.7]$, which was constructed by us previously to calculate the parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the nucleon. Here, we treat the temperature $T$ as a parameter of the atomic number $A$, and get reasonable results in agreement with the experimental data. Our results show that the larger $A$, the lower $T$ thus the bigger volume $V$, and these features are consistent with other models. Moreover, we give the predictions of the quark distribution ratios, \emph{i.e.}, $q^A(x) / q^D(x)$, $\bar{q}^A(x) / \bar{q}^D(x)$, and $s^A(x) / s^D(x)$, and also the gluon ratio $g^A(x) / g^D(x)$ for iron as an example. The predictions are different from those by other models, thus experiments aiming at measuring the parton ratios of antiquarks, strange quarks, and gluons can provide a discrimination of different models.