y-scaling in proton continuum scattering Original Research Article

Data for inclusive proton scattering spectra at kinematics suited to incoherent quasifree scattering from single nucleons bound within complex nuclei are analysed in the y-scaling format found to unify many electron scattering spectra into universal nuclear responses. Proton continuum spectra are analyzed for beam energies from 392 MeV to 19.2 GeV. Scaling is somewhat successful for proton scattering on light nuclei or at fixed angles, with differences from electron scattering that indicate modifications of proton scattering on nucleons within nuclei from scattering in free space. Comparisons to inclusive continuum meson scattering in the same y-scaling format are made, and a new hadronic scaling relation is demonstrated in light nuclei.