Inelastic nucleon contributions in $(e,e^\prime)$ nuclear response functions

Abstract

We estimate the contribution of inelastic nucleon excitations to the $(e,e^\prime)$ inclusive cross section in the CEBAF kinematic range. Calculations are based upon parameterizations of the nucleon structure functions measured at SLAC. Nuclear binding effects are included in a vector-scalar field theory, and are assumed have a minimal effect on the nucleon excitation spectrum. We find that for $q\lsim 1$ GeV the elastic and inelastic nucleon contributions to the nuclear response functions are comparable, and can be separated, but with roughly a factor of two uncertainty in the latter from the extrapolation from data. In contrast, for $q\rsim 2$ GeV this uncertainty is greatly reduced but the elastic nucleon contribution is heavily dominated by the inelastic nucleon background.