Nuclear transparency in ${(e,e}^{\prime }p)$ reactions is evaluated in a fully relativistic distorted wave impulse approximation model. The relativistic mean field theory is used for the bound state and the Pauli reduction for the scattering state, which is calculated from a relativistic optical potential. Results for selected nuclei are displayed in a $Q^2$ range between $0.3$ and $1.8(\mathrm{GeV}{/c)}^2$ and compared with recent electron scattering data. For $Q^2=0.3\mathrm{}(\mathrm{GeV}{/c)}^2$ the results are lower than data; for higher $Q^2$ they are in reasonable agreement with data. The sensitivity of the model to different prescriptions for the one-body current operator is investigated. The off-shell ambiguities are rather large for the distorted cross sections and small for the plane wave cross sections.

• Received 28 November 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.65.044601