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Title: Scaling of the F_2 structure function in nuclei and quark distributions at x>1

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. Lett.

We present new data on electron scattering from a range of nuclei taken in Hall C at Jefferson Lab. For heavy nuclei, we observe a rapid falloff in the cross section for $x>1$, which is sensitive to short range contributions to the nuclear wave-function, and in deep inelastic scattering corresponds to probing extremely high momentum quarks. This result agrees with higher energy muon scattering measurements, but is in sharp contrast to neutrino scattering measurements which suggested a dramatic enhancement in the distribution of the `super-fast' quarks probed at x>1. The falloff at x>1 is noticeably stronger in ^2H and ^3He, but nearly identical for all heavier nuclei.

Research Organization:
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF), Newport News, VA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-06OR23177
OSTI ID:
1015432
Report Number(s):
JLAB-PHY-10-1238; DOE/OR/23177-1482; arXiv:1008.2713; PRLTAO; TRN: US1102844
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. Lett., Vol. 105, Issue 21; ISSN 0031-9007
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English