QCD Effects in Particle Production on Nuclei

Abstract

I discuss some questions related to hard scattering processes in nuclei and corrections to the leading twist approximation. The QCD factorization theorem requires that high energy partons do not lose energy while traversing the nucleus. I explain the physical reason for this. The theorem also states that spectator partons, not involved in the hard collision, have no influence on the inclusive cross section. Important spectator effects are, however, seen in the data for certain reactions and in some kinematical regions. I discuss the reasons from a phenomenological and theoretical point of view. Finally, I mention some methods for analyzing hard processes in regions of very large $x$, where the leading twist terms are not dominant.