Nucleon Momentum Distributions From a Modified Scaling Analysis of Inclusive Electron-Nucleus Scattering

Abstract

Inclusive electron scattering from nuclei at low momentum transfer (corresponding to x>1) and moderate Q^2 is dominated by quasifree scattering from nucleons. In the impulse approximation, the cross section can be directly connected to the nucleon momentum distribution via the scaling function F(y). The breakdown of the y-scaling assumptions in certain kinematic regions have prevented extraction of nucleon momentum distributions from such a scaling analysis. With a slight modification to the y-scaling assumptions, it is found that scaling functions can be extracted which are consistent with the expectations for the nucleon momentum distributions.