Nuclear Structure Functions at Small x from Inelastic Shadowing and Diffraction

Abstract

Nuclear structure functions at small x and small or moderate $Q^2$ are studied using the relation with diffraction on nucleons which arises from Gribov's Reggeon Calculus. A reasonable description of experimental data is obtained with no fitted parameters. A comparison with other models and predictions for future lepton-ion colliders are provided. Consequences for the reduction of multiplicities in nucleus-nucleus collisions at energies of RHIC and LHC are examined.