Incoherent rho^0 electroproduction off nuclei

Abstract

In the present paper we investigate incoherent rho^0 electroproduction off complex nuclei. We derive a novel, simple expression for the incoherent electroproduction cross section in which one can clearly separate the final state interactions of the reaction products from the 'initial state interactions' of the photon that give rise to nuclear shadowing. In the special case of purely absorptive final state interactions we deduce from our expression the known Glauber result. A more realistic treatment of the final state interactions within a transport model is then used to compare our predictions with experimental data from the HERMES experiment.