A simple model for nuclear structure functions at small $x$ in the dipole picture

Abstract

A simple model for nuclear structure functions in the region of small x and small and moderate $Q^2$, is presented. It is a parameter-free extension, in the Glauber-Gribov approach to nuclear collisions, of a saturation model for the nucleon. A reasonable agreement with experimental data on ratios of nuclear structure functions is obtained. Nuclear effects in the longitudinal-to-transverse cross section ratios are found to be small. Predictions of the model for values of $x$ smaller than those available to present experiments are given. The unintegrated gluon distribution and the behaviour of the saturation scale which result from this model are shown and discussed.