Mass dependence of inclusive nuclear $\phi$ photoproduction

Abstract

Based on a prior determination of the $\phi$ selfenergy in a nuclear medium we perform a theoretical study of inclusive $\phi$ photoproduction in nuclei, looking at the $A$ dependence of the cross sections for different $\phi$ momenta. We find sizeable reductions in the nuclear cross sections with respect to the elementary one, using a $\phi$ selfenergy which implies a width about six times the free one at normal nuclear density. The calculations are done to match the set up for an ongoing experiment at {\it SPring8/Osaka} which should provide valuable information on the renormalization of the $\phi$ properties in nuclei.