A simple model for nuclear structure functions at small $x$ in the dipole picture
Abstract
Description
A simple model for nuclear structure functions in the region of small x and small and moderate $Q^2$, is presented. It is a parameter-free extension, in the Glauber-Gribov approach to nuclear collisions, of a saturation model for the nucleon. A reasonable agreement with experimental data on ratios of nuclear structure functions is obtained. Nuclear effects in the longitudinal-to-transverse cross section ratios are found to be small. Predictions of the model for values of $x$ smaller than those available to present experiments are given. The unintegrated gluon distribution and the behaviour of the saturation scale which result from this model are shown and discussed.
LaTeX, 27 pages, 9 postscript figures included using epsfig; final version: discussion on geometrical scaling clarified, comparison of gluon densities with other approaches added, Fig. 8 redone, references added and updated, some misprints corrected, results and conclusions unchanged
LaTeX, 27 pages, 9 postscript figures included using epsfig; final version: discussion on geometrical scaling clarified, comparison of gluon densities with other approaches added, Fig. 8 redone, references added and updated, some misprints corrected, results and conclusions unchanged